Horwath assigns new critic responsibilities to push for more help for people to get through pandemic

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontarians need more help and hope to make it through COVID-19, says Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition New Democrats, who has asked her MPPs to take on new critic responsibilities to push for better support for everyday families in the face of the brutal pandemic.

“People deserve hope,” said Horwath. “They deserve a government that gives them that hope by going all-in on stopping the spread, and they deserve a government that gives them the help they need to make it to the other side.

“Doug Ford was cutting long-term care, education and public health before the pandemic — and he doesn’t want to spend on those things now. That choice is making this pandemic longer, with more agony and more tragic loss, and leaving us vulnerable to the new COVID-19 variants.

“I’m assigning my incredible team of NDP MPPs to tackle some new portfolios, lean in to our alternative vision for a provincial government that puts people at the heart, and fight like hell to push this government to do better for folks.”

Horwath was joined by four key critics — Seniors, Home Care and Long Term Care, Deputy Leader Sara Singh (Brampton Centre); Health, France Gélinas (Nickel Belt); Education, Marit Stiles (Davenport); and Finance and Treasury Board, Catherine Fife (Waterloo) for a news conference Monday.

“Ontarians elected an Official Opposition that’s full of everyday people who are deeply caring, diverse, rich in real-world experience and hard-working,” said Horwath. “It’s an honour to work with this team of 40 New Democrat MPPs every day. I’m thankful for the difficult work they’ve done over the last couple years, I’m inspired by their passion, and I’m very pleased that they’re enthusiastically taking on new assignments to make life better for people.”

Background:

• Unlike ministers, critics in the Official Opposition are not given any additional pay, benefits or budget to do the work within their critic portfolio
• Click here for the complete list of NDP Caucus Critic Portfolios.