Ontario Conservative MP calls for end to lockdowns, wants entire province in green zone | CTV News - Katherine DeClerq:
March 3, 2021 - "An Ontario Conservative Member of Parliament has publicly come out in favour of ending the province’s lockdown measures and moving all regions into the least restrictive tier of the government’s COVID-19 shutdown framework. David Sweet, an MP representing Flamborough-Glanbrook in the Hamilton area, made the comments Wednesday alongside now Independent York Centre MPP Roman Baber, who was kicked out of Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative caucus for calling lockdowns 'deadlier than COVID'....
"Sweet added that the lockdown has crippled the province’s economy, forced restaurants to shutter and resulted in $135 million in debt for small businesses. 'Much of this debt was mandated by governments who wanted PPE, sanitization, Plexiglas barriers and the list goes on. It was assumed by businesses that these expenditures came with the promise that they could operate with these safety protocols in place. If they feel betrayed. I could surely sympathize with them.'
"Sweet emphasized that his perspective on lockdowns is not the same as that of his political party, but that he felt it was his responsibility to 'speak up and say enough is enough.'
"The Hamilton-area MP was one of numerous politicians who faced criticism after travelling abroad over the holiday season. In January, he resigned as chair of the House of Commons ethics committee after a trip to the United States. Sweet has also publicly said he will not be running for re-election....
"Speaking after Sweet, Baber thanked him for his 'courage' in coming out against the lockdowns in Ontario, adding that many conservative politicians are opposed to the restrictive measures in private.
"'People all over the province, are hurting, and they're reaching out to their elected representatives,' Baber said. 'Together, we're calling on Premier (Doug) Ford to move the entire province into the green zone. All measures such as distancing will remain in place, but there is no underestimating the psychological benefit his will make for all Ontarians.'"
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