June 18th 2020 | Weekly Update

Published on June 18, 2020

On Monday, the Ontario Government announced seven more regions in Ontario will move to Stage 2 of the Framework for Reopening the Province, but Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex remain in Stage 1.

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Dear Neighbour,

Father's Day is this weekend, and I want to begin by thanking all the amazing fathers and father figures who have provided the love and guidance we've needed. My father passed away a couple of years ago and I continue to remember him every day. Happy Father's Day to all the dads, near or far!

Today, the Government of Ontario announced additional steps to enhance contact tracing and stop the spread of COVID-19. These additional steps include a comprehensive case-management and contact management strategy, Protecting Ontarians through Enhanced Case and Contact Management, and in partnership with the federal government, a new made in Ontario mobile app called COVID Alert that will become available in the coming weeks.

The government's enhanced strategy focuses on strengthening and standardizing case and contact management by:
→ Launching a privacy-first exposure notification app to alert Ontarians when they may have been exposed to COVID-19;
→ Ensuring that all new cases and their close contacts are identified early, contacted quickly, investigated thoroughly and are followed up with daily for;
→ Supporting public health units with up to 1,700 additional staff from Statistics Canada; and
→ Improving technology tools by replacing the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) with a new custom-built case and contact management system that is integrated with the Ontario Laboratory Information System.

This app will also provide quick access to Public Health advice and resources, recommend necessary action and keep Ontarians safe regardless of which province they are in, helping us towards the goal of ensuring we can all move more freely and safely.

Recently, the Ontario Government announced the expansion of the number of people allowed to attend an indoor wedding ceremony to a maximum of 30% capacity of the ceremony venue indoors, or 50 attendees outdoors. These guidelines will also apply to funeral ceremonies. Wedding and funeral receptions continue to be subject to a limit of 10 people.

On Monday, the Ontario Government announced seven more regions in Ontario will move to Stage 2 of the Framework for Reopening the Province, but Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex remain in Stage 1. The government will provide a further update on the status of these regions on Monday.

This morning my private member's bill, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act received Royal Assent today by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. With this, it is officially law and will come in to force on a date to be determined in the future by the government. Thank you to everyone who advocated for and supported this idea.

As the weather gets better and people start going out, continue to keep in mind physical distancing and other health and safety guidelines that will keep us all safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Once again, Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! Stay safe, enjoy the weather and have a relaxing weekend.

Sincerely,

Robin Martin, MPP
Eglinton-Lawrence

(416) 781-2395 - robin.martin@pc.ola.org

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COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Ontario

HIGHLIGHTS
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Informed by public health advice and workplace safety guidance, and supported by the collective efforts of businesses, workers and families to limit the potential spread of the virus, the latest public health unit regions allowed to move into Stage 2 on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. are:

- Durham Region Health Department;
- Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
- Halton Region Health Department;
- Hamilton Public Health Services;
- Lambton Health Unit;
- Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
- York Region Public Health Services.

Currently, the following regions will remain in Stage 1 under ongoing assessment until trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 2:

- Peel Public Health
- Toronto Public Health; and
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Based on positive public health trends the government is extending the number of people allowed to attend an indoor wedding or funeral ceremony to a maximum of 30 per cent capacity of the ceremony venue. Wedding and funeral ceremonies taking place outdoors will be limited to 50 attendees.
Today, the Ontario Government announced a new app called COVID Alert which will aims to enhance case and contact management to quickly test, trace and isolate cases of COVID-19 to stop the spread of the virus and prepare for any potential future waves.
Starting Monday, June 22, 2020, Ontario's driver testing services provider, DriveTest, will begin to gradually offer limited driver testing services in a staggered, phased approach across the province. Driver Examination services will be reintroduced in three phases until full services are restored this fall.
The Ontario government passed the Protecting Small Business Act, temporarily halting or reversing evictions of commercial tenants and protecting them from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19. The legislation applies to businesses that are eligible for federal/provincial rent assistance for evictions from May 1, 2020 until August 31, 2020.
The Ontario government is investing more than $500 million over five years to transform correctional facilities across the province.This major investment will support the hiring of more than 500 new staff to help address challenges within the correctional system such as mental health and addiction issues. The additional funding will also be used to modernize outdated infrastructure to address overcrowding and to improve services.
The Ontario Government is providing employers with a new general workplace guide, which will help them develop a safety plan to better protect workers, customers and clients. The new downloadable toolkit offers tips on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workforce.
The Ontario Government is investing up to $46 million over the next five years to increase community-based and Indigenous-specific supports for child and youth victims of sex trafficking.
The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This extension will be in effect until June 30, 2020.

For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information from the Government of Ontario visit ontario.ca/coronavirus

HIGHLIGHTS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Government of Canada announced that starting June 22, 2020, Parks Canada will begin to offer some camping services at select national parks and national historic sites across the country. Initially, camping will be available only to visitors with existing reservations. Parks Canada will gradually begin to accept new online reservations for some campgrounds over the coming weeks.
The Government of Canada will be expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). This means that owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll will become eligible this week.
The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers.
The Government of Canada announced the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund, a $62.5 million initiative to help fish and seafood processors in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the West adapt to the challenges of COVID-19, such as market instability and compliance with new safety guidelines, and to effectively deal with inventory.

HIGHLIGHTS
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

The City of Toronto has opened the online application process for CaféTO. Local restaurants and bars can apply online to receive assistance to safely expand to outdoor dining. The City of Toronto is expediting applications and permit and waive fees for sidewalk and curb lane cafés.
The City of Toronto has begun a phased approach to reopen City-run licensed Child Care Centre(s).
The City of Toronto is working with market organizers to safely reopen farmers' markets located across 22 City-sites.
Toronto Public Health released a new COVID-19 monitoring dashboard which will provide a progress assessment for the local COVID-19 response. The COVID-19 monitoring dashboard will provide the public with a current summary on how the city is progressing in the response to COVID-19, as Toronto moves to recovery.

Digital Activity Book for Kids

June 18th 2020 | Weekly Update

Digital Activity Book for Kids

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What's Your Biggest Concern for Ontario?

June 18th 2020 | Weekly Update

Digital Activity Book for Kids

Click on the photo to download it for free!

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What's Your Biggest Concern for Ontario?