Article content

The Canadian Forces are preparing to deploy medical personnel to Ontario, where COVID-19 has ripped through the province’s long-term care system like “raging wildfire,” leaving staff overworked and desperate as they try to curb a mounting death toll.

During a Wednesday press conference, Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario is formally requesting assistance from the federal government, including Canadian Forces personnel and Public Health Agency of Canada resources. Initially, those personnel will be directed to deploy to five “priority homes,” Ford said. Personnel will provide staffing relief and other support for the day-to-day operations of the homes.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Canadian military asked to provide medical personnel to help Ontario long-term care homes Back to video

“We’re in the thick of a raging battle against COVID-19 in our long-term care homes. And when you’re in a fight like this, you leave nothing on the table,” said Ford.

Planning staff at national defence headquarters in Ottawa had been given an earlier heads-up that Ontario was expected to request assistance similar to that provided to Quebec. The Canadian Forces has already sent about 125 military health-care personnel and support staff to Quebec after the federal government received a request last week for assistance from that provincial government.