COVID-19: The Latest
- There are some positive signs today, with the seven-day average of daily cases dropping to 2,703, marking 11 straight days of decreases (Find out more using the COVID-19 data tool). At the same time, officials are warning us not to be complacent and that things could easily surge back. 87 more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
- A provincial State of Emergency was declared on January 12, 2021, and a Stay-at-Home order was issued on January 14. Both remain in effect. Learn more about the current public health restrictions here.
- Schools in Toronto remain closed to most in-person learning until February 10, 2021. On Wednesday evening, the government announced that schools in schools in Grey Bruce, Peterborough, Haliburton and Kingston could reopen on January 25. In my role as Opposition Critic for Education, I continue to call for more protective measures to ensure schools can safely reopen, and for better supports for families still learning remotely.
- Ontario has completed the first round of vaccinations ahead of schedule in all long-term care homes in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex, the four regions with the highest COVID-19 transmission rates. Despite this positive development, only 50% of all LTC residents province-wide have been inoculated so far, and cases of the new, more contagious variant of the virus have been found in a LTC home in Barrie.
- The NDP is calling on Ford to speed up vaccinations in long-term care, a move the government’s own COVID-19 Science Table says could save as many as 580 lives by the end of January.
- After a sluggish rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, Canada’s federal vaccination logistics lead, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin confirmed that Canada will not receive any new shipments of the Pfizer vaccine next week, with shipments reduced by 50% for the next four weeks. Despite this setback, the Prime Minister insists that Canada will receive its promised doses by the end of March as planned. Ontario continues to use the Moderna vaccine, but the delays will further impact roll-out timelines.
- Learn more about the phases of Ontario’s 3-phase vaccine roll-out plan, and when you can expect to be vaccinated here.
- Metrolinx is making temporary service changes, starting next week, that particularly impact weekend and evening GO Transit and UP Express riders.
- An enforcement blitz that uncovered numerous violations of COVID-19 prevention protocols across big-box retailers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas will broaden its scope to include the rest of the province in the weeks ahead. The government has faced criticism for allowing big-box retailers to operate with few restrictions while small businesses are forced to close.
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Residential Eviction Moratorium
Thanks to massive public pressure, the Ford government finally issued the order to suspend eviction enforcement for the duration of the State of Emergency. If you were one of the hundreds who took action, or signed my online petition. Thank you.
While I'm glad to see the order, the threat of eviction still looms. The NDP is calling on Ford to enforce a real ban on all eviction notices, hearings and orders. Because you can’t stay home if you haven’t got one.
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New Small Business Support Grant announced
Late last week, after some pressure from Davenport BIAs and my office, the provincial government finally opened applications for their Small Business Support Grant.
You can find the application and instructions here: www.ontario.ca/covidsupport
I know that this grant falls far short of what’s needed by our struggling local businesses, and that many will not even be eligible. The Opposition continues to call for the government to recall the legislature in order to deal with the pressing issues facing the province right now, including the need for direct financial supports for small businesses faced with this lockdown. My colleagues and I continue to raise concerns about the lack of fairness in the emergency orders, where big box retailers are able to continue to sell non-essential items to the disadvantage of small businesses.
I reiterated these issues in a letter to the federal and provincial Ministers responsible for small business, sent before the holidays. I have yet to receive a reply.
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Davenport BIAs continue their advocacy
It was a pleasure to join the annual general meetings of the Corso Italia BIA and the Little Portugal on Dundas BIA this week. I have heard loud and clear the issues facing our small businesses in Davenport and I will be taking those concerns forward to the government. Thank you to our local BIAs for their staunch support for local businesses trying to get through this difficult time. I encourage everyone to do their part to patronize our local businesses online, and through curbside pick up.
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Internal documents show government ignored safe schools advice
On Thursday, the Toronto Star published a bombshell report that revealed internal government documents recommending robust safety measures for schools that were later ‘watered down,’ including recommendations made in July to bring in a testing and tracing program. In-school testing only began in late November, and only in select schools.
The story backs up what I and my NDP caucus colleagues have been saying for months – that when it came down to it, Doug Ford chose saving money over saving kids’ health and their education. We continue to demand investments in comprehensive, province-wide asymptomatic in-school testing program, a cap on class sizes and paid sick and family-care days. We need to end the stop-start opening and closing of our schools and bring in a real plan to safely reopen them, and keep them open.
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I want to hear from you: Education Roundtable
I’m teaming up with our neighbouring MPP Jessica Bell for a special town hall next week to hear from parents, students, teachers and education workers about how school is going for you right now. I know this is a really challenging time and getting through remote learning has placed a big strain on students and families (and educators!) Join us to talk coping strategies and to share your concerns. RSVP HERE!
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Important information regarding provincial document renewal
Service Ontario continues to expand services so more people can renew their provincial documents online. Recent new measures allow for most Ontarians to renew Ontario Issued Photo ID including driver’s licenses, license stickers and health cards online.
If you have been previously denied online renewal, you are encouraged to attempt to access online renewal options for your ID. To help ensure your safety and the safety of others, please consider completing your transactions online and staying home if you are sick.
Some Service Ontario locations remain open operating with reduced hours and some Service Ontario locations are closed. Click here to find a complete list of centres that are open. You can also sign up for renewal reminders to make sure you don’t forget to renew your driver’s license and/or license plate sticker. Click here to sign up for email reminders
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Metrolinx: Upcoming overnight work on Davenport Diamond
Metrolinx has distributed notice of overnight work taking place between the CP diamond and Wallace Avenue, within the rail corridor, from February to July, 2021. Find out more about what this will involve on the Metrolinx website.
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Stay Safe
Find links to information on the COVID-19 pandemic from all levels of government at maritstiles.ca/coronavirus.
Need help? Resources and supports are available at maritstiles.ca/help or in Portuguese at maritstiles.ca/ajuda
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