■ BUREAUCRATS’ ROLE TO COME UNDER SCRUTINY:

Commission will look at role of bureaucrats: Ford

A planned independent commission into long-term care will examine the role of the bureaucrats who’ve been responsible for the LTC file, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday.

“That’s going to come up, and people will be held accountable,” said Ford. The premier also expects investors in the large companies operating the homes where the worst conditions have been reported will “start holding the CEO and chair accountable.”

“That’s what happens in the real world. You put a lousy product out there, something happens to your product — well, they have to be held accountable. Because guess what, we’re going to hold them accountable.”

Meanwhile, the premier acknowledged that he’s facing many questions, even from his own MPPs, about taking a regional approach to continuing to reopen the Ontario economy, given that many areas of the province are seeing relatively few COVID-19 cases.

Personally, Ford said, he doesn’t disagree with that proposal.

“But I have to follow science and the medical advice … if (medical officer of health Dr. David Williams) doesn’t think it’s the right thing to do, then I’m following his advice.”

The number of new cases reported Thursday were higher compared to those reported on Wednesday. There were 383 new confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the most recent available figures. There were 292 new confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

“(The new numbers are), in part, a reflection of the opening of the economy last week, but there was also some long-term care data that was still involved in that,” said Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott. She said both she and Williams feel “relatively comfortable” with this number.

“But I think we still need to have another week at least go by before we can contemplate going into Stage Two,” she said, referring to the second stage of Ontario’s plan to reopen its economy.

Dentists, optometrists and massage therapists are among the health-care providers that Ontario is allowing to reopen.

The list includes several dozen health-related professions, including chiropractors, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, denturists, and midwives.

The province says the reopening of the clinics must be done in compliance with the respective regulatory colleges that oversee the providers.