Giving police arbitrary powers and closing playgrounds ‘came out of nowhere,’ says source
Apr 22, 2021
The decision by Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet to give police arbitrary powers and shut playgrounds across Ontario was made in a rush and without evidence that the moves would help rein in the third wave of COVID-19, multiple sources tell CBC News.
Various sources close to the government say the decisions came amid panic over the latest modelling for the pandemic and fears that Ford’s approval among voters would suffer badly if he was not seen to be taking action.
There’s no consensus among Progressive Conservative insiders about who’s actually responsible for proposing the controversial measures that were approved by cabinet late Friday afternoon, only to be rescinded 24 hours later.
Some are blaming the premier’s key political aides, chief of staff James Wallace and principal secretary Amin Massoudi. Other sources say Health Minister Christine Elliott and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones own the playground closure and police powers, respectively.