June 26, 2020, Premier Doug Ford and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, announced an additional investment of $4 million for Ontario seniors through the Seniors Community Grant Program.

In addition to this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott provided an update on Ontario’s COVID-19 response and took questions from media.

Further Details

Seniors Community Grant Program

This afternoon, Premier Ford announced an additional investment of $4 million for Ontario seniors through the Seniors Community Grant Program. This funding will help support non-profit organizations, local services boards, or Indigenous groups develop programs for seniors that focus on combating social isolation, promoting seniors’ safety and well-being, improving financial security and making communities age-friendly.

COVID-19 Update and Questions from Media

Premier Ford also provided an update on the province’s COVID-19 numbers. Despite processing over 30,000 tests yesterday, only 111 new cases were reported in Ontario. These are the lowest numbers to be reported since late March.

In response to questions about stage three, Premier Ford said that he could not provide exact timing for when Ontario would be prepared to begin entering the next stage. He added that he expects stage three will also follow a regional approach, and that communication with the province’s local medical officers of health will continue to be an important factor.

Premier Ford was also asked about a COVID-19 outbreak at a Kingston nail salon which resulted in 18 cases. He responded that while the outbreak is concerning, the province was able to quickly contact trace the 500 people who had visited the salon since it reopened, demonstrating that Ontario’s contact tracing approach is working.

Minister Elliott was asked whether the province had a plan to manage the staffing shortage in long-term care homes now that Canadian Armed Forces personnel are leaving. She responded that many staff members who left homes while they were in outbreak have returned to their positions now that the homes have stabilized. The government is also in the process of training more staff and ensuring that public health precautions are followed across the sector, so that long-term care staff remain at work.