Premier Doug Ford was in some of his most quotable form Friday to end off the week, including as he took aim at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation for executives being eligible for bonuses.
CBC reports that despite $200 million in lost revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic and thousands of casino workers out of a job, executives can still receive bonuses because of pre-pandemic work.
Ford said he learned about it yesterday and inquired about why it would happen.
"Guys, think before you start giving out all these bonuses, like give me a break, they sometimes they just don't think, for all these big smart guys, they aren't too frigging smart," he said.
Ford said when he asked about the bonuses, he was informed that putting them off would lead to legal ramifications including lawsuits.
He suggested in that case, simply put off the bonuses until later given the circumstances.
When challenged on how Ford himself appointed the chair of the board and that the ministry of finance oversees the agency, the premier said there would be accountability.
"The finance minister knows about this, he's going to deal with this issue," he said. "I don't care if it's my grandmother at the chair, they're getting a tongue-lashing, simple as that."
LONGER STAGGERED START?
Ford was joined once again by Education Minister Stephen Lecce regarding the government's back-to-school plan.
The government has already said boards will be allowed to stagger the school year during the first week of school reopening - the week of Sept. 8th - with kindergarten one day, the next couple of grades the next and so on.
When asked if that process could be extended beyond a week, Lecce said he's open to the idea, albeit not for an overly-extended time.
"If they believe it's really important to take a few extra days to restart the school year, stagger the start, to reduce the volume of kids coming into those schools, I'm going to work with them in partnership of keeping the kids safe," he said.
He was also questioned on the reality that some elementary class sizes can get to around 30 students and whether it's acceptable given the pandemic and the need for health guidelines.
"The quantum is sort of not the fundamental issue, it's the distancing, we want to ensure distancing can be respected, at least one metre, coupled with all the other preventative measures we put in place," he said.
HAMILTON TICKETING
While he was aggressive on OLG, he pushed for leniency from Hamilton Police, after the force issued 369 tickets to people drinking in parks between March and July.
"If you're responsible and the few of you are sitting down there and you want to have a little glass of wine or a can of beer, big deal, who cares?" he said. "They're making it legal to go out and smoke a joint, a doobie, a refer, whatever the heck they call it nowadays."
"If a couple of guys are sitting there quietly on a picnic bench having a cold little beer, who cares?"
WATCH: I’ll say this, it was a newser of GOLD @fordnation quotes :
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) August 14, 2020
OLG executives: “aren’t too frigging smart”
Hamilton ticketing: “smoking a joint, a doobie”
Brass Rail COVID case: “practice social distancing, I know it sounds crazy.” #onpoli #covid19 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/0DSYoL5xqd
BRASS RAIL
Ford also commented on the situation at Toronto's Brass Rail Tavern, after Toronto Public Health reported that 550 people could've been exposed to the virus earlier this month, saying an employee tested positive and was in the club over four days.
TPH is advising anyone who attended for the times the employee was there should monitor themselves for symptoms for the 14 days after their last visit and the agency says it's followed up with all known close contacts.
They're also attempting to notify people who gave their name and contact information in a tracing log.
"It's about follow-up and we're going to show how contact tracing works," he said. "It's like any other business."
"But what can I say about that, they've got to follow the protocols, practice social distancing, I know it sounds crazy when you're talking about the Brass Rail, but you've just got to do it."