Premier Doug Ford is fuming over a scathing auditor general report criticizing Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The special report determined that Dr. David Williams did not fully exercise his powers under the Health Protections and Promotions Act.
Ford says he has some serious, serious problems with the Bonnie Lysyk report.
“To say that Dr. Williams wasn’t leading this response. It just isn’t right. It’s actually wrong. This does nothing but undermine our entire health team. I can’t stand for this and I tell you I won’t stand for this!”
The report states a slow and reactive government response contributed to “fragmentation and inconsistencies” across the province.
It adds Dr. Williams did not issue directives to local medical officers of health to ensure a consistent response, and did not issue directives on their behalf to Ontarians.
Ford notes “Ultimately, as your elected Premier, the buck stops with me. But Dr. Williams has been riding shotgun with me from day 1. No daylight between us. These are people who have put everything they have into guiding us through an impossible situation, an unprecedented crisis, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
An visibly upset Ford added “2,744 work hours. Well over a year of work. Was taken away from our efforts to fight COVID-19, to support the auditor general in this report.”
