QUEEN'S PARK - "I rise today on behalf of the people of Oakridge, a quiet residential neighbourhood in my riding of London West. The Oakridge COVID-19 assessment centre, one of London’s two centres, opened on March 15 in the Oakridge Arena. It is directly across from Riverside Public School and within a kilometre of two other elementary schools, operating Monday to Friday, from 9 to 5.
Last week, I spoke in this House about the horrendously long lineups experienced by Londoners waiting for COVID tests—lineups that are putting vulnerable people at risk and could deter those who need tests from getting tested. At the Oakridge assessment centre, cars are lined up around the block from early morning, creating safety hazards for children walking to school and making it difficult for school buses to turn into the school. Residents fear that a child will almost certainly be hit.
On weekends, only the Carling assessment centre is open, and yesterday it reached capacity less than two hours after opening its doors.
Speaker, London urgently needs more assessment centres, extended hours, more staffing and more public health resources to respond to local testing needs. The provincial command table and, ultimately, the Minister of Health have the ability to direct these changes. Londoners and the people of Oakridge deserve to have these critical testing issues addressed now."