York Region council has rejected a motion asking the provincial government to end the COVID-19 lockdown, but the debate is far from over.
The motion, made by Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Carmine Perrelli on Jan. 28 but deferred until today, called on the province to not extend the grey zone lockdown and stay at home order currently set to expire Feb. 9.
But the majority of councillors were unwilling to disregard a warning from York Region's medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji, that easing any restrictions could be "rather catastrophic" without a clearer picture on how many cases of the faster spreading variant strain of COVID-19 are in the region.
READ: 'Stakes are very high': Delay any move out of COVID-19 lockdown, York Region's top doc urges
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said delaying the motion doesn't mean that council and Kurji are doing nothing to advocate for businesses and residents suffering as a result of lockdown.
"We are probably the regional jurisdiction that has been the most outspoken on (reducing restrictions to support businesses), and certainly our medical officer of health has. But that person somehow came to the conclusion that's not where we stand, is really unfortunate," said Taylor.
"The majority (of council) has been consistent in following the advice of our medical officer of health, and we have done that by advocating for not going into lockdown and for reopening. Now our medical officer of health is telling us that the new variants are significant and serious and that we should at least take a pause to understand the data better."
No one on council was under the impression that passing the motion would unduly influence the province's decision, which is why supporters of the motion like Vaughan Regional Councillor Linda Jackson argued there was nothing wrong with taking a public stand.
"We need to say to residents that we are listening to you and we understand that it's important to get things reopened. We are not making the rules, but let's show people we are behind them. The province will still do what they want," said Jackson.
When the motion was defeated in a vote of 14-7, Taylor immediately moved that the subject be re-examined at another council meeting in the next two weeks when data regarding the COVID-19 variants is better understood.
"This motion puts on the table the position most of us hold; that we just want to wait the seven to 12 days requested by our medical officer of health," said Taylor.
Still, the decision will be a disappointment to the seven people who spoke to council on Thursday to support the motion, as well as 35 others who sent letters.
Many of the people who gave deputations were small business owners who said they are on the verge of financial ruin and just want to make a living, especially if they are already taking steps to prevent transmission of the virus.
Vaughan tattoo parlour owner Ariana Scarello argues that infection control measures have always been a part of her business and believes her sterilization and PPE policies rival those of hospitals.
"What we are being told is that our livelihoods do not matter, that our ability to provide for our families is not important, that we are 'not essential.' I can tell you, as the sole source of income for a family of five, I am very much essential," said Scarello.
Vaughan salon owner Robert Amado echoed the sentiment that his business should be allowed to open if he continues to follow a strict cleaning regiment. He is upset that while his business is not allowed to open, other services such as massage are.
Amado said he has resorted to setting up a hair product delivery service to maintain relationships with customers, but it hasn't stopped him from going into massive debt. And despite government promises of support for small businesses, accessing that help has been next to impossible.
"I called the bank to see if I could have payments deferred, I was told they could not do so this time around. I asked if I could lower my mortgage rate, and I was told I would be penalized if I do so. I asked my accountant to look into a rent subsidy and was told I would get $75. I can tell you, $75 won't even pay for my utilities," said Amado.
Concerns that small businesses have been left to fall through the cracks were echoed by many people who spoke to the regional council on Thursday. Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said the situation is very frustrating.
Regional council has called for gaps in those supports to be addressed, he noted, only to see small businesses suffer while large companies like Bell get federal support and then lay off 210 people on Tuesday.
"Something here is broken," said Lovatt.
Other deputants demanded regional council to stand against what they see as government tyranny and the erosion of rights.
Dayna Gerrad drew comparisons to the treatment of people not wearing masks in public to that of Black Americans during Jim Crow.
"Earlier in the week, I had been waiting outside while a masked family was served before me even though I had ordered before them ... I imagine that this is how Black people felt when they were told to drink from a different fountain and sit at the back of the bus," said Gerrard, who noted she has a disability exemption for mask-wearing.
She also suggested regional council would be held to account for "just following orders" like the Nazis were at the Nuremberg trials.
Markham Regional Councillor Jack Heath bristled at comparisons to Nazism and criticisms from another resident that Kurji should give up his own savings if he thinks the lockdown should continue.
"These are people who are taking this to an unfair level that Canadians should not be touching or getting into," said Heath.
