January 15th, 2021

Gates calls on Ford and Oosterhoff to explain why vaccines were diverted away from Niagara

NIAGARA FALLS — Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates has responded to comments made by PC MPP Sam Oosterhoff to the St. Catharines Standard following the Ford government’s decision to divert vaccines away from Niagara:

“Our long-term care homes are in crisis, people are dying, then we find out that Sam Oosterhoff’s own government has diverted life-saving vaccines away from Niagara against the wishes of our public health doctors and he’s refused to explain why.

I have seniors and worried front-line staff calling my office every day. They are sacrificing to keep us safe from COVID-19 and now they are told the vaccines they were promised will not be arriving here after all. Niagara Health doctors sent a letter this week to the Ford government demanding that Niagara get a fair share of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

When asked by the St. Catharines Standard why his government is refusing to listen to this request, and has instead held back vaccines from Niagara, Oosterhoff would not agree to an interview or provide an explanation to our community, despite his promise that vaccines were on the way.

Residents of Niagara need answers, not talking points and misleading statements. Premier Ford and his MPP needs to tell Niagara why our vaccines were diverted and tell us when we’ll be getting them.”