All eight of Durham’s mayors and Regional Chair John Henry say they have been forced to watch from the sidelines, as the province makes major decisions about local COVID-19 restrictions.
In a joint statement, the group says Durham Region should remain in the red level, based on the current numbers.
However, the Ford government has said that all options are on the table, including a full GTHA lockdown in the coming days or weeks.
The local leaders say they have not been consulted on this, nor has the province asked for their comments or suggestions.
As elected officials, the group says their thoughts and experience with the local COVID-19 response should be taken into account before any lockdown decisions are made. The statement adds that Durham isn’t like other GTA regions, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.
Read the full statement below:
“Recently, there have been several reports about support of a Grey-Lockdown approach for Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
First, let me reiterate that we fully support the protection of our public’s health. We will do whatever is needed to help flatten the curve—provided the data confirms it for our region.
However, recent reports, about Durham possibly moving into a lockdown, were not driven by Durham Region or any of the eight local-tier mayors. We were not consulted, nor given the opportunity to comment. Yet, we were elected by the people; chosen to make decisions on their behalf. Because we know our region best; and, we should be helping to shape these decisions for our local communities.
Since the start of this pandemic, all nine of us have committed to trusting the advice of our Medical Officer of Health. He is there to protect the health of our community; providing advice to elected officials that allows us to make informed decisions on behalf of our residents and business owners.
Yet, many people still struggle to understand provincial parameters related to complex medical analysis. Or why different regions move into various zones.
We do know that to help flatten the curve, we need people to stay in their own regions. To continue to shop local. Our local businesses are doing everything to help keep customers safe.
Durham Region would like to be consulted before any decisions are made. Our region is vastly different from others in the GTHA. As the largest geographical jurisdiction in the Greater Toronto area—totalling over 2,500 square kilometres—the needs of our residents and business owners are vastly different from surrounding regions.
Based on the numbers, Durham Region should remain in the red zone. We will continue to stand behind and support our front-line workers, who are truly #DurhamStrong.”
So guess what’s going to happen. People from other areas will come out and shop . People will still get together . People that work shoulder to shoulder besides there co worker will pass it around. and in 2 weeks we are in a lockdown anyway. Might as well close it now
As a citizen of Durham region I wish for a shut down to help protect us. There are always those who do not comply and that also brings others into our shopping areas. I don’t fancy having to line up outside at a grocery store due to out of zone shoppers doing the same.
Ford keeps talking about everything being on the table. My goodness that table must be huge as those lad can’t seem to come to a decision. Too many statistics, graphs and phone calls to look at. Just listen to the doctors in the hospitals, that is where the buck stops.
If Durham is moved into lockdown there should be huge civil disobedience. Everything north of highway 7 has next to no cases.
Yes we should stay in the red as locking it down to gray doesn’t help I think you should make mask menitory everything we should try this
If our area is within driving distance of the GTA,then we ought to be covered by the same rating, or we will see folks from that area shopping here
Instead of locking Durham down maybe restrict retail stores by requiring proof of address before entering and maybe outsiders will then stop coming?
Local retail manager in Whitby here. We are seeing increasing numbers of people with addresses in Scarborough/York region shopping in our store. This is adding to increased customer presence in the building. Add to this that numbskulls don’t want to wear masks and you are just asking for more cases.
As someone who manages retail I can confirm that my store doors don’t need to be open. All my employees will continue working and we can easily fulfill all our customers needs via online/phone sales and curbside pickup or shipping. Sorry if you can’t walk in the door and browse for 40 minutes. We all lost that privilege months ago, get over it.
I agree one size does not fit all. We have to suffer because the people in lockdown don’t follow the rules. The people breaking the rules aren’t being fined enough. It seems that a lot of restaurants are asking if they live in Durham and other businesses should also do the same. The Premier should also take in consideration that our numbers were up because of LTC in Whitby and Oshawa and that should not be counted. It should be obvious that the lockdowns aren’t working because they are not following the rules. Just curious what does Lorne Coe, haven’t heard anything from him.
Locking down Durham without relevant number of deaths/ICU/ hospitalizations is complete garbage. Also allowing businesses to stay open but not allowing small family gatherings is a joke. These kinds of restrictions will increase already high depression and subsequent suicide rates which always occur during the holidays. Unfortunately, public health officials continue to neglect mental health when looking at public health, especially during this pandemic. Shame shame. # of cases should not be the metric. We should be looking at hospital capacity and deaths as our metrics for closures, especially since the testing is so unreliable.
People should be asked to provide there address we’re they live and if there not from Durham refuse them service and be given a huge fine. And if the stores allow them to shop they should be fined also . That may stop people from coming here and spreading the Covid . Lock us down. The sooner the better so we can get this over with for once and for all.
Take a look at the 401,407 and specifically
#7 ***EAST BOUND anytime after 2:30pm. The traffic congestion is almost back to pre COVID bumper to bumper lines.
After years of seeing the congested traffic flow OUT of Toronto between 2 and 6pm this clearly indicates Durham people ARE willing to travel into York and Toronto.
For work? Hospital appointments? Family visiting?
There is a Durham shop where staff were wearing either no mask (people in back room) or not covering their nose and touching their face very frequently. I was astounded.
If Durham residents are continuously leaving Durham …….is that not a issue?
Just curious. .
Stop the lockdowns! They cause more harm than good. Lockdowns won’t stop people from just going to other regions to shop. And if you opened up all businesses you wouldn’t have everyone going to Walmart and Costco for stuff. How does limiting options help? Not to mention the livelihood of people being destroyed causing more deaths from addiction, abuse, depression, and suicide from the lockdowns. The numbers show on par deaths compared to the last 5 years yet the flu has disappeared miraculously! Jan and Feb are the worst months for suicide and depression and lockdowns will kill way more people than the virus.
It’s quite simple Peel and Toronto have been locked down for more than over two weeks are the cases keep going up as someone who works in the GTA I watch everyone walking everyone doing their part wearing their masks out in the street washing hands in the job site sanitize keeping their distance and the fires keeps coming lockdown does not work and Wendy working-class and middle-class can’t pay the taxes because love and buttons don’t pay the people that do want to lockdown are the ones already in a position where they get a pay whether it’s lockdown or not.
If our leaders in our Durham area say not to lockdown we voted them in I didn’t vote to have Toronto or peel or York tell us what to do.
If our head of Health mr. Kyle can’t speak up and use common sense they can remove him and send them to Toronto.
Again it’s those who are guaranteed a paycheck that don’t mind the lockdown
I vote shut it down if you care about people’s lives. Stores aren’t abiding by laws nor are the people in them.
Do it for future gains. I know small business will hurt, but what price do you put on a life?
Of course LTC should be counted, 90% of people on LTC never leave the compound where do you think they get COVID
From the people who work inside these facilities who go from Job to Job and from nursing home to nursing home so yes it should be counted
We need to lock things down for a month and allow things to cool down
People are not following the rules, have you walked inside Costco Ajax I refuse to go back into that place until they start acting more responsible
I absolutely think we should go in a lock down it doesn’t make any sense you locking little parts of the city people travel to different parts lock it down they should have did this from the beginning. Our mall is completely packed. People are coming from the city so do the right thing you need to protect the people of Durham
I am definitely not for a lockdown.I think we can be smart on our own. We can wash our hands, treat this like a virus with the protocols already in affect. The badgering and nagging we get from our politicians is crazy, the last time I checked we lived in Canada the land of the free. People need to work to put food on their table and children need to go to school to make that happen in a lot of households. It isn’t as easy as saying lock it down, Ford isn’t looking at the bigger picture and he never has. He doesn’t care about anyone else except him and his government. You can tell he has a great job which will be there after this pandemic is over. The numbers aren’t there to shut Durham down so Ford needs to stop being so righteous and listen to our politicians and do as Durham politicians want him to.
John (not a tory) Tory was flapping his gums about all GTA mayors want the grey/lock down. That useless P O S cannot manage a one person parade unless it is to let the homeless/drug addicts run wild! None of our Durham Region Leaders(sic) had been contacted. And Turdeau still encourages flights and people from all over the world to visit their relatives in Canada, most with high Covid-19 numbers too.
I find some of these comments ridiculous. High suicide rates and depression during the holidays is a real thing but those are people who wouldnt have anyone to gather with anyway. Not dismissing them but your logic makes no sense. Stop giving people mental illness they DONT have and pick up a phone and call. i live far away from my “family” but i can call them ANY time i want.
I saw my neighbours family of 4 pile into their van and have been gone for 4 days now. Harldy believe they’ve gone camping. This is why we’ll stay in Pandemic for two years, just like the influenza pandemic of the 1920’s
Disgraceful.I have always supported John Henry but not in this situation.The mayors and John Henry are putting business ahead of peoples health.It makes no sense to lockdown all of the GTA except for durham region. Imagine boxing day if the OC and Pickering Town Centre are the only malls open. It makes us sitting ducks for covid 19. You cant expect retail workers to ask people for ID. I dont like the lockdowns either but it has to be all or nothing. Someone please wake up
I agree full lockdown.Im beside a adult massage parlor and I’m terribly scared I’m gonna catch covid just from the amount of people going in and out from all areas.
People need to stay home and stay away from each other for a couple weeks and watch the numbers drop and allow this to pass. I’m not a supporter of masks but my family and myself wear them to do our part. It’s a responsibility and if we make it a big deal to stay home it will be longer periods away from people outside our homes. STOP. THINK. LETS GET OVER THIS QUICKER.