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Expressions of frustration from local school board heads Wednesday, showing disappointment that schools are closed to in-person learning now until September.
“We have advocated for a return to school over the last couple of weeks on a regional basis,” said Ian MacRae, the Director of Education with Lakehead Public Schools. “We felt that given the number of cases we’re dealing with here in Thunder Bay that it would be manageable to have children back in class.”
Heading into Thursday, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit had an active case count of 52.
Liberal MPP, Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay-Superior North) said the province ignored the advice of medical experts.
“The Ontario Medical Officer of Health, our own medical officer of Health in Thunder Bay and even the Ontario Science Advisory Table felt it would be safe to send our kids back to school,” stressed Gravelle.
“The Premier is encouraging people to get vaccinations but can’t make them do it. I think the fact is that most people are getting vaccinated and are keen to do so,” Gravelle added.
NDP MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell, (Thunder Bay-Atikokan) also questioned the vaccination plea from Ford.
“From a government that said that schools are safe and now they’re not, and they also point to the COVID-19 variants,” mentioned Monteith-Farrell. “We know that almost 70 per cent of the population is vaccinated and so I’m not sure where he’s coming from.”
As of Thursday, the Health Unit reported 104,078 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered. Fifty-four per cent of the population have had their first dose, while over 12 per cent have had their second dose.
The Ford government has indicated it would to launch its Roadmap To Reopen plan the week of June 14.
Ontario decided to shift all elementary and secondary schools to remote learning as of April 12.
