On May 13, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that the Ontario government is working with the province’s education sector to allow for the voluntary redeployment of education workers to fill staffing shortages in congregate care settings.

Premier Ford and Minister Lecce were joined by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford, Minister Lecce and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media regarding stage one of Ontario’s “restart” phase, support for sectors struggling financially as a result of COVID-19, and Ontario’s testing approach.

Earlier today, the government took additional steps to protect long-term care residents and staff by adopting an emergency order allowing the province to issue a mandatory management order for a long-term care home struggling to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak.

Further Details

Voluntary Redeployment of Education Workers to Congregate Care Settings

This afternoon, Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that the Ontario government is working with the education sector to voluntarily place available employees in staffing roles needed at congregate care settings.

Today’s announcement is part of a broader government initiative to redeploy public sector workers to areas where their skills are needed most, including hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, women’s shelters and homes serving those with developmental disabilities.

A framework has been development by the Ontario government, trustees’ associations, and provincial union representatives that will enable staff within the education sector to be voluntarily redeployed to help the province’s most vulnerable populations. Education staff willing to be redeployed will be fully trained, provided necessary personal protective equipment and will maintain their employment status with their school boards. Volunteers who are redeployed will also be eligible for Ontario’s temporary pandemic premium and emergency child care.

Beginning later this week, eligible education sector staff who volunteer to be redeployed will be able to register through an online portal, which will match staff skillsets with congregate settings facing shortages. Available positions may include custodial, maintenance, food preparation, children and youth service workers, social workers, and educational assistants.

When asked whether today’s announcement should be interpreted as an indication that schools will not reopen in June, Minister Lecce encouraged Ontarians not to make any assumptions. He emphasized that the redeployment is voluntarily and can be terminated at any point by either the employee or employer. Minister Lecce added that an update on the school year will be provided early next week, based on updated COVID-19 Ontario modelling.

Questions from Media – Stage One of Ontario’s “Restart” Phase

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media regarding stage one of Ontario’s “restart” phase, after Premier Ford indicated that he would announce good news tomorrow, May 14, related to broader plans for reopening Ontario.

Premier Ford was asked about a possible disconnect between Cabinet and provincial health officials after Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said yesterday that Ontario has not yet met the threshold to begin the “restart” phase. Premier Ford confirmed that the government continues to act on the advice of Dr. Williams. Premier Ford added that while “we are not there [at stage one] yet,” tomorrow’s announcement will feature guidelines in order to give people and businesses time to prepare for stage one of the “restart” phase.

In response to questions about when widespread community testing can begin, Minister Elliott confirmed that testing in Ontario’s long-term care sector is going well and is expected to be completed in the coming days. The province is in the process of developing a plan, which will be rolled out soon, for testing the general population. Minister Elliott emphasized that community testing will be important as Ontario reopens parts of the economy, in order to understand the health impacts of reopening.

Questions from Media – Support for Sectors Struggling Financially

Premier Ford and Minister Lecce also responded to questions from media regarding financial support for sectors struggling as a result of COVID-19, including public transit and school boards.

When asked about a motion from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) requesting funding to help with the costs associated with remote learning, Minister Lecce acknowledged that all school boards are working hard to help transform learning and may have incurred new costs during the closure period. The government is having ongoing discussions with school boards, educators and parents.

In response to questions about the Toronto Transit Commission’s projected $550 million shortfall by Labour Day, Premier Ford confirmed that the Ontario government will provide support but called on the federal government to provide additional assistance.

Emergency Order – Management Orders in Long-Term Care Homes Struggling with Outbreaks

Earlier today, the government took additional steps to protect long-term care residents and staff by adopting an emergency order allowing the province to issue a mandatory management order for a long-term care home struggling to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak.

Issuing such an order would enable immediate management alternatives, including a corporation or hospital, in homes struggling to contain COVID-19. Decisions regarding when and where to assign management support will be made on a case-by-case basis, but could be taken to resolve any of the following challenges:

  • A high number of COVID-19 cases among residents and/or staff;
  • A high number of deaths;
  • An ongoing outbreak;
  • Significant staffing issues;
  • Outstanding requirements from infection prevention and control assessments.

In response to questions about why the government waited until now to adopt this emergency order, Minister Elliott said that this action has not been necessary up until now. She commended the cooperation between hospitals, long-term care homes and public health units and emphasized that the emergency order announced today is in place as a precautionary measure. The emergency order will only be used if there are homes that continue to face issues and require immediate action.