QUEEN’S PARK – Teresa Armstrong, MPP for London-Fanshawe, has introduced legislation to officially declare the third Monday of March every year as COVID-19 Memorial Day.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of many Ontarians forever. For too many families in our province life will never return to normal. We have already lost over 3,800 Ontarians, and for each life cut short, there is a family left behind suffering the pain and grief of losing someone they love who can never be replaced.
The fight against COVID-19 is not over, and we know this pandemic continues to be felt the most by Ontarians who live and work in long-term care homes, and those who are serving us all on the front line of the battle against this virus working in our hospitals, public health units, congregate living homes, grocery stores and pharmacies to keep us healthy, who are predominantly women and racialized.
The bill I have introduced proclaims the third Monday of March every year as COVID-19 Memorial Day. This will be a day to remember the lives of those we’ve lost, to share the grief of their families, and to pay tribute to the sacrifices that frontline workers are making for us every day. It will be a powerful reminder to all of us that we must never let those made vulnerable by this pandemic be denied the protection they deserve ever again, and that we have a responsibility to address the inequalities in our province that have been tragically exposed by this pandemic.
By establishing a COVID-19 Memorial Day we pledge to stand with all those who have suffered, and make a solemn commitment to do everything possible to ensure this never happens again.”