Schools to remain closed until May 31
On Sunday, the Minister of Education announced that the school closure will be extended until May 31. While I agree that schools should remain closed until we can be sure it is safe, and as recommended by Public Health authorities, I also know that families are looking for more clarity about what the expectations are this year. I reiterated those comments to the media, and I’ll keep bringing your concerns forward to the government.
What are your thoughts on the closure date and the supports made available thus far for emergency remote learning? Send me your comments at MStiles-QP@ndp.on.ca
Earlier this afternoon, I participated in a Facebook Live conversation about education issues with our neighbouring MPP Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale--High Park) and TDSB Chair Robin Pilkey. You can watch the conversation here.
Wage top-up for emergency workers
The provincial government also announced over the weekend that it would be providing some frontline staff with a temporary pandemic payment of $4 an hour on top of their existing wage.
Those eligible to receive the payment will be staff working in long-term care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, social services congregate care settings, corrections institutions and youth justice facilities, as well as those providing home and community care and some staff in hospitals.
Our caucus has called for this pay to be retroactive to the beginning of the pandemic and have also questioned why some important frontline workers were left out of this announcement:
Federal wage subsidy application now open
CRA is now accepting applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy - meant to help businesses get Canadians back on their payroll retroactive to March 15
Find out more here.
Good news on Community Gardens
Revisions to the emergency orders issued under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act will now allow for the use of allotment and community gardens “in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting.”
As mentioned in a previous newsletter, my colleague MPP Ian Arthur, has written to the Chief Medical Officer of Health for guidance on safely operating community gardens in the interest of food security. Thanks to everyone who joined us in advocating for this!
Government releases “Framework for reopening Province”
Today, the provincial government released A Framework for Reopening our Province, which outlines the criteria Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will use to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures, as well as guiding principles for the safe, gradual reopening of businesses, services and public spaces. While committing to following the advice of public health, and re-opening cautiously and in phases is the right approach, the NDP is calling on the government to dramatically ramp up testing of people in the community, including asymptomatic people, as well as containment efforts in long-term care and other congregate care settings, before moving to re-open businesses.
We have also said that any loosening of restrictions must include expanding the availability and use of personal protective equipment in workplaces that are re-opening, and proactive and on-site inspections of re-opened workplaces to ensure physical distancing and infection control.
Learning from Portugal’s Carnation Revolution
Portugal's 1974 Carnation Revolution ended fascism in Portugal and ushered in a new democracy, and it had a ripple effect throughout the world, including with the Portuguese-Canadian diaspora here in Davenport.
On April 23, 2020, I brought together a panel of Portuguese-Canadians with academic and lived experience related to the revolution to discuss what it means to the community and what we can learn from it today.
My guests:
Marcie Ponte, Community organiser and Executive Director of Working Women's Community Centre
Dr. Gilberto Fernandes, Professor of Portuguese Diaspora and Lusophone Studies at York University and author of This Pilgrim Nation
Ashley DaSilva, Community worker, second-generation Portuguese-Canadian (and my fantastic Constituency Assistant!)
Listen to our full discussion here on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-732029352-893331902/learning-from-portugals-carnation-revolution
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