Card distribution continues despite criticism

(Update)

With more winter weather bearing down, the Ontario PC’s are calling for a review of the province’s emergency preparedness policies. Conservative MPP’s are demanding a committee to review Ontario’s plan for future storms saying missteps by the Liberals must not be repeated.

Monday’s words about the Liberal party’s response to the ice storm were by far the harshest we’ve heard. The grocery gift card program has come under fire by residents in the past week, but Monday, the opposition stepped in calling it a debacle and an abuse of taxpayer money.

PC energy critic Lisa MacLeod accused Premier Kathleen Wynne and her party of “postal code politics” focusing recovery efforts in Liberal-held ridings. She and fellow PC’s questioned why gift cards were only distributed in Toronto when other communities were clearly in need. But the deepest criticisms focused on the chaos surrounding the handout process, saying Wynne was rushing to gain political favour instead of making sure the gift cards went to people who really needed them.

Lisa MacLeod, PC Energy Critic: “You have an option to plan properly, work with agencies who are already doing the job and do it right and help the people who need it the most. But she didn’t do that because that would have been politically inconvenient for her and wouldn’t have come with a photo op.”

PC MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore Doug Holyday: “This is so political and blatant that it defies logic, actually. And these cards had everything but the Premier’s picture on them.”

The Premier’s office responded to the criticism saying “We had the option to do something and the option to do nothing to help those most in need. We took action and as a result over 85-hundred families and individuals have now received assistance.”

As promised, the province is distributing gift cards to other areas of the province. They’ll be available in Hamilton and Halton Tuesday.

To be eligible, you must have lost power for at least 48 hours and must either receive Ontario Works or disability or fall under the low income cut-off.

$450-thousand dollars worth will be divided among 9 of the hardest hit areas of Ontario. For more information, visit the participating communities’ websites, or call for more information.

Dufferin County: 519-941-6991, extension 2404
Durham Region: 1-888-721-0622
Halton Region: 905-825-6000
City of Hamilton: 905-546-CITY (2489) and http://www.hamilton.ca/hottopics/Jan7GroceryStoreGiftCards
Northumberland County: 905-372-3329, extension 2445
Peel Region: 905-791-7800
Waterloo Region: 519-883-2100
Wellington County: 519-937-2670, extension 4794
York Region: 1-888-256-1112, TTY: 905-762-0401