June 4, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Todd Smith, and Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities, Jamil Jivani, announced the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity. This advisory group will advise government on how young people can overcome social and economic barriers and achieve success, as well as long-term actions that can be taken to support youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Ford, Minister Smith and Mr. Jivani were joined by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott.

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott took questions from media regarding Ontario’s next steps for reopening.

Earlier this afternoon, the Ministry of Long-Term Care appointed William Osler Health System as interim manager at Woodbridge Vista Care Community long-term care home in Vaughan.

This morning, the Ontario government also announced the appointment of Dr. Jane Philpott as the special advisor to support the design and implementation of the new Ontario Health Data Platform.

Further Details

Questions from Media – Next Steps for Reopening

Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott took questions from media regarding Ontario’s next steps for reopening.

Premier Ford was asked about reports that the province will be allowing short-term rentals to resume operations soon. He confirmed that this is being considered by the COVID-19 Command Table and would hopefully be in effect by next week.

In response to questions about preparations to begin moving into stage two of reopening, Minister Elliott explained that the COVID-19 Command Table is considering both when this transition should occur, as well as which specific sectors should be permitted to reopen next. Factors being considered to determine a timeline for stage two include the number of new cases, continued increased testing, continued hospital capacity, and effective contact tracing and case management.

Management Order – Woodbridge Vista Care Community

Earlier this afternoon, the Ministry of Long-Term Care appointed William Osler Health System as interim manager at Woodbridge Vista Care Community long-term care home in Vaughan. This management order will be in effect for 90 days, and may be extended, if necessary.

Appointment of Special Advisor to Develop Health Data Platform

This morning, the Ontario government also announced the appointment of Dr. Jane Philpott as the special advisor to support the design and implementation of the new Ontario Health Data Platform (formerly known as PANTHR). This data platform will provide recognized researchers and health system partners will access to anonymized health data that will allow them to better detect, plan, and respond to COVID-19. This platform will also support projects from the Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund.

The information gathered on the Ontario Health Data Platform will break down barriers and allow researchers to help with the following in relation to COVID-19:

  • Increasing detection
  • Discovering risk factors for vulnerable populations;
  • Predicting when and where outbreaks may happen;
  • Evaluating how preventative and treatment measures are working;
  • Identifying where to allocate equipment and other resources.

Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity

This afternoon, Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Todd Smith, and Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities, Jamil Jivani, announced the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity. This group will advise government on how young people can overcome social and economic barriers to achieve success, as well as long-term actions that can be taken to support youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council will have up to 20 members, and membership will be inter-generational and cross-sector, including youth between the ages of 18 to 29 and adults with expertise from community organizations, not-for-profit businesses, education, and government services.