Catherine Fife MPP, Waterloo

Government of Ontario

Fife demands Waterloo Region residents get their fair share of vaccines

Published on March 30, 2021

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo) demanded answers from the Ford government Tuesday on why residents in Waterloo Region are being denied their fair share of vaccines.
 
“Experts advising the government on COVID-19 reveals a province at a tipping point, and while vaccines won’t get us totally out of this mishandled mess – they are one tool. But in Waterloo Region, we aren’t receiving our fair share,” said Fife during question period Tuesday at the Ontario legislature.
 
Region of Waterloo's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said Friday, “Right now, it isn't equitable.” Waterloo Region should have received 89,000 doses, but instead they only received 66,000.
 
“Why are the people of Waterloo Region not receiving their fair share?”, Fife asked Ford.
 
“This isn’t an issue of supply from the federal government. This is about the province distributing vaccines equally to all communities. It's about the provincial government following their own rules.” added Fife, after Ford’s health minister Christine Elliott tried to pass the buck and blame the federal government.
 
On Monday evening, Fife held a telephone town hall with Regional Chair Karen Redman, Dr. Sharon Bal, Connie MacDonald from the Region of Waterloo to answer peoples’ questions about vaccines. Many callers were frustrated with the unfair treatment that Waterloo Region is receiving.
 
"There is no time to waste, the situation is urgent. Our community deserves its fair share of vaccines so we can save lives and protect our hospitals from being overwhelmed," Fife said.