I hope this update finds you well. 

A few new announcements this week:

The Prime Minister fleshed out his wage subsidy program for businesses bringing the subsidy up to 75% of wages that people had earned for businesses that have been hit hard. The hope is to make sure people can avoid being laid off and will have the money they need to hold things together until the crisis is over. This is a good step. Summary in this Global article: https://globalnews.ca/news/6750050/justin-trudeau-coronavirus-wage-subsidy/

The most up to date information about federal supports and announcements can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

On Monday morning the Ontario NDP came out with a plan to put a four month moratorium on residential evictions and commercial evictions. Included in the plan is the provision of a rent subsidy for those who have lost income up to 80% of the rent to a maximum of $2500. This applies to residential and commercial rents. In addition we have proposed a rent freeze so people won’t have to contend with rents going up on top of everything else. People need to feel that they won’t lose their home or business right now, in this crisis, and small landlords need to know that they won’t face a cash crunch that could force many to sell. We have asked the Ford government to implement this as soon as possible. You can see details here: https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/people-need-rent-subsidy-get-through-covid-19-horwat

This past weekend we experienced some much needed nice weather which led many of our public spaces to be packed. The risk of disease transmission just rockets up when people aren’t physically distancing from each other. Yesterday   the Premier stated that ongoing failure to physically distance could lead to much tougher legal measures to keep people apart in the near future. The Chief Medical officer of Health also issued a statement asking people who were 70 or over, or were immune compromised, to isolate themselves – see the statement here: https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/statement-from-the-chief-medical-officer-of-health.html

You deserve the best up-to-date public health information about COVID-19.

Updates are available daily on the following websites:

Hamilton.ca/coronavirus

Information from Hamilton Public Health on local cases, how to protect yourself and where to seek further medical support.

Ontario.ca/coronavirus

Information from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Find out how to protect yourself, what to do if you’re sick and how to recognize possible symptoms. Updated twice daily, in 30 languages.

Canada.ca/coronavirus

Information from the Government of Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Updates on the national response, travel advice and preparedness.

Travel.gc.ca

Important travel advisories and restrictions related to COVID-19, from the Government of Canada.

Telehealth Ontario

For medical advice, you may contact Telehealth Ontario, a free, confidential service. 

Telephone: 1-866-797-0000

Hamilton Public Health Hotline

Contact Hamilton Public Health Services for information related to COVID-19:

Phone:
COVID-19 hotline at 905-546-2424 ext. 7970

Email:
Send questions to phscovid19@hamilton.ca

To help prevent further spread of COVID-19, our constituency office will be closed to walk-in visits until April 6th. Our office will be fully operational and our staff available, however our services will only be offered over the phone at 905-628-2755 and online via email: sshaw-co@ndp.on.ca.

As always my office is here to help.