doug ford announcement

Doug Ford is confusing the heck out of people with contradictory COVID advice

You can be with up to 75 strangers inside a Toronto restaurant this Thanksgiving, but don't invite anyone over for dinner. Scratch that, you can invite ten people over for dinner. Nevermind, you can only hang out with those you live with? I think?

Ontario residents remain incredibly confused about how they're supposed to celebrate the upcoming holiday weekend as messages from different levels of government, and from different officials within these different levels of government, dish out inconsistent reccomendations.

Chief among the confused appears to be Premier Doug Ford, who during the same press conference today told reporters that nobody should have more than ten guests at their home this Thanksgiving, but also that celebrations should be kept strictly within our own households.

Toronto Public Health is advising the latter, for the record, and in no uncertain terms: "Please, do not hold a big Thanksgiving dinner. Please limit your thanksgiving dinner to the people you live with," said the city's medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, during a press conference on Monday.

Ford, for his part, asked Ontarians on Monday to use their best judgement when planning for Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, he seemed exasperated when asked for clarification.

"Please, it's very simple: There's rules and there's guidelines," said Ford when asked about the confusion surrounding Ontario's official Thanksgiving COVID advice.

"The rules are very clear: 10 indoors, 25 outdoors. I would really, really discourage people from having 25 people, even if it's outdoors. Stick within 10 people."

Ford continued on to share his own plans for Thanksgiving.

"You know, I have a big family, and I told Karla, I said 'We have no more than 10. It's as simple as that.' And that's what we're gunna obey by as well."

"When it comes to having everyone over, your aunts and uncles… you know, hang off on the hugging' and kissing' and everything else," advised the premier.

And yet, a few minutes later, he told everyone to "stick within your household."

So which is it? Eat only with the people you live with, unless you're at a restaurant, in which case you can dine with a group of six? Hang out with ten relatives but refrain from kissing them?

Ford clarified his comments not long after the press conference on Twitter, writing:

"This year, Ontarians should celebrate Thanksgiving with members of their household only. I just spoke with my wife Karla and we'll follow the same advice as we stick to our immediate household for Thanksgiving dinner."

Immediate household for Thanksgiving dinner, 75 strangers (100 outside of Toronto!) at the bar. Makes sense.

Lead photo by

Premier of Ontario


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

A brief history of one of Toronto's pioneering industrial families

Canadians rip on the wealthy upset by the capital gains tax hike

Japanese person shares brutally honest guide to living in Canada

Most Canadian millennials think conventional approach to retirement is outdated

Here are all the Toronto parks where drinking will be permanently allowed

Alcohol in parks in Toronto is now permanent but some neighbourhoods are not happy

Video shows Ontario police throw flashbangs at suspect car in movie-level takedown

City of Toronto has been awarding multimillion-dollar contracts to single bidders