The Ontario Liberals are contacting on Health Minister Christine Elliott to veto the appointment of a new local acting healthcare officer of health because of to social media posts indicating he is towards lockdowns and other COVID-19 security safety measures.

The call was produced in a news launch issued Friday afternoon by Liberal Wellness Critic John Fraser. In the release, Fraser phone calls for the fast veto of Dr. Matt Strauss’ appointment in Haldimand-Norfolk, arguing that he has “publicly opposed daily life-saving public health steps.”

“We cannot have a health care officer of well being who publicly opposes lifesaving public wellbeing measures as we head into the fourth wave of COVID-19,” he wrote.

“Should Minister Elliott approve this appointment, or let Dr. Strauss to provide as interim health care officer of wellness during the fourth wave, it will imply Doug Ford’s government is blatantly pandering to the anti-science fringe.”

The Haldimand-Norfolk Overall health Unit announced Strauss’ appointment as interim healthcare officer of overall health before in the working day, saying that his encounter and fascination in the region’s agriculture local community was what manufactured him stand out from other candidates.

Strauss is currently an assistant professor of medicine at Queen’s University and formerly held a posture as an assistant medical professor at McMaster College.

The appointment was verified unanimously, the general public well being device mentioned. Strauss is scheduled to start off his new function on Sept. 14.

Quite a few of Strauss’ recent tweets more than the earlier couple months have indicated that he is opposed to lockdowns. He seems to argue several moments that they are unethical and not helpful at blocking COVID-19-linked fatalities.

On Aug. 29, as Ontario logged 750 new circumstances of COVID-19 and two further deaths, he tweeted, “live totally free or die.”

In other posts to social media, Strauss indicated that he would rather stay in Florida, a state that has seen a surge in COVID-19 scenarios and deaths after loosening public overall health steps.

A spokesperson for Elliott’s office environment claimed in a statement late Friday night that whilst the Minister of Overall health is accountable for approving the appointment of entire-time healthcare officers of wellness, but they do not have any say in the appointment of an performing health care officer.

However, the spokesperson also mentioned that Elliott would not approve an officer of wellbeing who does not support public overall health steps.

“While the ministry will evaluation any software acquired from the health and fitness unit, less than no instances would we at any time approve the appointment of a local healthcare officer of health who does not support the general public well being steps that have saved plenty of life and protected our hospital capability during the pandemic,” Alexandra Hilkene mentioned in the statement.

Hilkene has stated the Ministry of Wellness has not received a request from the Haldimand-Norfolk Wellbeing Device to approve Strauss as a comprehensive-time appointment.

CTV Information Toronto has arrived at out to Strauss and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health and fitness Unit but did not obtain an instant reply.