Sarnia-Lambton's MPP supports extending Ontario's COVID emergency orders until the spring.
On Monday, the province proposed that orders made in response to the pandemic under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act be extended until March 28, 2022.
Sarnia News Today asked Bob Bailey why it's necessary to extend the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA).
"Well I think it's important. It's how we've gotten to where we are today to combat COVID-19."
In May, the Ford Tories, the Ford Tories voted to extend the ROA to December 1, 2021 -- 36 supported the extension, 22 voted no, and 65 MPPs, including Bailey, did not vote.
Bailey said these measures will now come to an end in March.
"And they can't be extended past then, and we don't envision introducing anything, unless [things change] in the future."
Bailey said the act helps protect the health system and keep ICU beds available for hospitals and operations.
"Our numbers are relatively stable. The hospitals across Ontario -- now there's been the odd spike here and there, but each medical officer of health, like Lambton health, have done a great job. And of course we take all of our advice from the chief medical officer of health, who is guiding the premier and his cabinet on these decisions."
Bailey is a member of a provincial emergency management committee, which has met with the premier's designate, the solicitor general, and/or the minister of health a dozen times during the pandemic. He said the province is taking a slow and steady approach when it comes to removing further public health measures.
"And they're going to do an ongoing assessment of healthcare indicators, such as new COVID-19 variants, any increases in hospitalizations and ICU, any rapid increases in transmission, and that's to ensure the public health and workplace safety."
Bailey believes that if we lift public health measures too soon, we'll be right back where we started.
