Update:
Premier Doug Ford announced Saturday as of April 24, frontline workers will receive a $4 per hour pandemic pay premium (on top of regular wages) for every hour they work over the next 16 weeks as a reward for placing themselves at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of that, those who work over 100 hours per month will receive a $250 bonus per month over the next 16 weeks.
That means about an extra $3,560 for over 350,000 frontline workers such as nurses, PSWs, long term care staff, hospital staff, home care workers, those who work in homeless and women's shelters, correctional officers and others.
The COVID-19 pay increase over the next 16 weeks comes as a result of a partnership with the federal government.
Ford also thanked Canadian Army personnel for helping out in long term care homes.
Ford described a group of approximately 100 people, gathered outside Queen's Park, not practicing social distancing and calling for an end to the provincial shutdown, as 'yahoos,' describing their behaviour as "irresponsible, reckless and selfish."
Ford said he would leave the matter to police.
Original Story:
Premier Doug Ford holds a press conference today at 12:30 p.m. from Queen's Park in Toronto.
He will be joined by Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, and Peter Bethlenfalvy, Treasury Board President.
The press conference will be streamed live on Ford's YouTube channel, and Village Media will carry the livestream feed.
