Trudeau campaign event breaks Ontario’s COVID gathering restrictions
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Justin Trudeau came to the Toronto area Friday and tried to pick a fight with Ontario Premier Doug Ford over following public health advice.
It was Trudeau though who ended up with egg on his face for packing media and supporters into a small restaurant for a campaign event.
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Trudeau was unveiling his plans for a $1 billion fund the provinces could draw upon to develop provincial vaccine passports.
Standing inside a packed Mississauga restaurant, Trudeau said he hoped Ford would join British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba in adopting the policy.
“I certainly hope that here in Ontario, Premier Ford steps up,” Trudeau said. “It’s time for him to listen to public health officials.”
As Trudeau was taking questions though, he was asked about breaking Ontario’s indoor gathering restrictions.
“Are you breaking the spirit if not the letter of the law to hold a party event and lecture the premier of Ontario on vaccine passports?” Trudeau was asked by CBC reporter Raffy Boudjikanian.
Trudeau didn’t even attempt to answer the question, instead speaking about the important choice Canadians are facing and the work the Liberal government has undertaken during the pandemic.
Boudjikanian asked Trudeau again about capacity limits and whether he had received special permission for the event.
“We’re going to continue to do everything we can to keep people safe. We will always follow the public health guidance,” Trudeau said.
Ontario’s ongoing restrictions cap restaurants at 50% capacity with the caveat that social distancing must be maintained. Private indoor events are capped at 25 people.
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Trudeau’s campaign event was private and held inside a restaurant with more than 25 people and no social distancing. Reporters, supporters, tech crews and campaign workers were jammed into the location and not everyone was comfortable.
“I am fully vaccinated, as are my reporter colleagues. We were all wearing masks. But respectfully, I don’t want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them during a fourth wave as an immune compromised journalist trying to do my job,” wrote Globe and Mail reporter Kristy Kirkup.
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