Highway signs asking Ontario drivers to telework during solar eclipse not approved [Video]

The Ford government has removed digital messaging along Ontario’s 400-series highways that encouraged drivers to consider working from home during next week’s solar eclipse.

On Monday night, signs on provincially-run highways had advised drivers to avoid traffic by staying at home on April 8, when a historic solar eclipse is set to be visible across Ontario — a message that was inconsistent with the government’s approach to the high-interest event.

“Skip traffic: telework,” the Ministry of Transportation signs read in classic yellow and light-blue colouring.

The message, the government said, was not approved by senior political figures and the signs have been taken down.

Parts of the province will be plunged into darkness during a total eclipse on the afternoon of April 8, the first time since 1979. Other areas will see a rare partial eclipse when the moon obscures part of the sun.

Despite the historic occasion, the provincial government …