QUEEN’S PARK — NDP MPPs Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls), Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines) and Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) released the following statement in response to the Niagara region being moved to the Red-Control Zone for COVID-19 restrictions:

“Our communities are facing longer and deeper lockdowns, once again, because Doug Ford failed to take action and invest the money we needed in our health and safety. It should never have come to this. If Ford had stepped up earlier with paid sick days and family care days so people didn’t have to go to work when they’re unwell, testing in our schools and workplaces and more funding for our local health units to test and contact trace, we could have avoided this.

Instead, Ford decided to sit back and wait for the vaccine, knowing it’s still months before everyone is vaccinated.

Our thanks and praise go to everyone in the Niagara region, particularly our frontline heroes, who are working hard to prevent the spread, and our condolences go out to all those that have had their lives touched by COVID.”