Everyone is complaining that Doug Ford didn't give Ontario the day off
The day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral has officially arrived, with millions of people around the globe already avidly watching — unless you live in Ontario, where you are likely at work.
While Canada is marking September 19 as an official one-time holiday for residents to mourn the monarch, who passed away 11 days ago at the age of 96, only those in federal workplaces will actually get the day off, unless you live in a province that has decided to similarly recognize the occasion.
Frankly I don’t think I would get up at 6 AM even for my own funeral.
— Paul 🇨🇦🍺🏌🏼♀️🏒🇺🇦 (@Paulintoronto47) September 13, 2022
While the Maritime provinces are all observing that stat in some way by shuttering provincial offices, schools and more, others, such as Ontario and Quebec, are not.
Premier Doug Ford announced last week that while Monday is a provincial Day of Mourning during which he encourages residents to "honour Her Majesty and pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind" with a moment of silence, the majority of the population will be doing so from their desks (or wherever they do their job from).
Of course, social media has been rife with complaints since first thing this morning, with most of the ire tagging Ford directly.
I can’t believe Doug Ford is making us work today instead of mourning the queen🫣
— God abeg! (@shalzi_jay) September 19, 2022
People are clearly not happy to be at work today after it was teased that we may all be getting a day at home to watch the state funeral — which is being attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a bevy of other prominent Canadian figures — or otherwise commemorate the day however we want.
me bc doug ford refuses to see me happy and says we don’t have a holiday even if there is a federal holiday pic.twitter.com/MzzSv5L78O
— mari. (@rosewatersugar) September 19, 2022
While some appear to be very serious about the Queen's death and their right to properly mourn it and take in today's procession...
I am hurt. I feel destroyed. I am distraught. I cannot control my emotions right now. My eyes are balling out as I wail for the queen, distraught that I cannot watch her funeral. This is all your fault @fordnation
— ZK 🌎☄️💕🔰 (@crainingaming) September 19, 2022
...others are just pissed off that some people are getting a paid day to do as they wish while they do not.
I would love but can’t. Working……. But hey, enjoy your paid day off, sir!
— RR❤️🌏 (@RuruZrs) September 19, 2022
Those who are able appear to be watching the event regardless, though they would have had to be awake since the wee hours of the morning to catch it from the beginning: the Queen laid in state until 6:30 a.m. U.K. time (1:30 a.m. in Ontario) before her coffin was loaded onto a carriage for the procession two hours later.
Doug Ford won’t stop me pic.twitter.com/7MQ1xlBJyL
— KellyKash (@kellykashB) September 19, 2022
Many were not all that surprised that Ontario isn't honouring the day given that the province also isn't doing much for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation later this month, but the public is still wondering why Ford chose this course, in the case of both days.
bro why ain’t u give us a holiday @dougford
— portal (@EvinMarsh2007) September 19, 2022
Some are going as far as saying Ford hates the Queen and is a "disgrace" for not acknowledging the federal holiday, while others feel that it was Trudeau's job to push premiers harder to do so.
Clearly @fordnation hates the monarch!
— itsPurpleRob (@PurpleRob) September 13, 2022
Though the majority seem passionately against Ford's move, others are saying they don't much care about the holiday anyway, and are more concerned about other, more pressing governmental issues, like the province's floundering healthcare system.
Sorry this is below your comprehension level. WE DONT WANT OR EXPECT THE DAY OFF. WE want to take care of the patients not mourn the queen. I bet you'll be crying all day NOT
— Natasha (@Footballmummy) September 19, 2022
Those who want to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event, whether while off at home or sneakily at work, can do so on any major news network's TV station or website.
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