| Toronto, Nov. 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the lives of Canadians. In its most recent study – conducted by The NPD Group – the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), found that Canadians are increasing their levels of video gameplay as a way to stay connected and entertained during these difficult times. Every two years ESAC, the national trade association for Canada’s video game industry, conducts a study on video game consumers to identify how, what, where and why Canadians are playing video games. Today, ESAC released its latest study entitled Real Canadian Gamer – Essential Facts 2020. This study provides an in-depth look at the video game player community and consumers in Canada; which is already one of the world’s largest video game hubs with 61% of our population reporting regularly playing video games. Key Findings Although the pandemic has not resulted in substantial new video game consumers – with less than 2% of Adult Canadians (18 to 64) deciding to take up a controller for the first time during the pandemic – it has significantly boosted the amount that existing video game consumers played in Canada.  Flashback 2011. Nick Bodemer from Red Deer, Alberta captured the Virgin Gaming Sony PlayStation EA SPORTS NHL 11 Championship. 58% of Adult Gamers and 80% of Teen Gamers reported playing more video games during the pandemic. Not only are Canadians playing more video games, but a majority of them say it is helping them feel better emotionally and mentally while following stay-at-home measures. Games are also helping parents find common ground with their kids while helping them spend time connecting. 65% of Adult Gamers and 78% of Teen Gamers find that gaming while supporting stay-at-home health measures makes them feel better. 70% of Teen gamers reported using online video games to stay connected while isolating at home. 65% of Adult Gamers with children ages 6 to 17 reported playing video games with their children and 44% reported playing more often during COVID-19. Many also identified video games as a means of helping family and friends stay bonded and connected throughout the pandemic. “COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. Canadians are finding ways to stay connected and engage their minds in positive ways; they are looking for joy and entertainment in what can only be characterized as one of the most difficult times in modern human history. We have found that Canadian gamers recognize the power of play and they are engaging more and more in the immersive and connected experiences that our industry creates. We will get through this period together and video games will continue to be both an outlet for people but also an important way to keep them connected to their families and friends.”  Jayson Hilchie, President & CEO, Entertainment Software Association of Canada Quick facts 61% of Canadians reported playing video games in the past four weeks. -The gender split between Adult Gamers in Canada was 50/50 male to female, which is the same as 2018. -The average age of Adult Gamers in Canada is 38. -Mobile devices continue to be the primary way Adult Gamers access and play video games, with consoles overtaking mobile devices as the most popular among Kids and Teens. -Saskatchewan has the most video game players per capita in Canada with 68% reporting regular gameplay with an average of 10 hours per week spent among those who play. -Digital downloads of full games continue to grow with retail purchases continuing to decline in both Adults and Teens. -The most popular genres of video games in Canada are puzzle and word games. -More Canadians are participating in esports as viewers (spectators) than ever before. -40% of Canadian gamers view game streaming content; specifically, 41% of Adults and 46% of kids and Teens. -40% of Canadian Adult Gamers play games online solo, 40% play with others online, 20% play online with other players in the room, and 30% of Canadian Adult Gamers play online with players. Featured image- Red Deer’s Keynes Ng, emerged as champion of Canada’s first multiplayer national eSports tournament, Toronto 2016. |
UPDATE
Unless it’s essential, all are asked to stay home
Following the December 26 province-wide shutdown, Premier Ford, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, has now declared a second provincial emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
Given the continuing spread of coronavirus, increasing pressures on intensive care
units and troubling future projections, it was decided additional measures outside
of existing legislative authority were necessary.
As of January 14, everyone is subject to a stay-at-home order with exceptions for
permitted activities, such as going to a grocery store or drug store, accessing
health care, exercising, or working where the work cannot be done online. People are
required to wear a mask inside businesses, and also when outside if not physically
distanced.
Learn more at Ontario.ca/covidresponse
The OPP, local police, bylaw officers, and workplace inspectors have the authority
to ticket people and businesses that do not comply. However, in terms of enforcement
of the stay-at-home order, no element of it provides law enforcement with either the
power to enter dwellings nor the authority to stop a vehicle for the singular
purpose of checking compliance with the emergency order.
If you have questions about what businesses will be open or impacts to your business
or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-441-3659.
The new Ontario Small Business Support Grant provides a minimum of $10,000 and up to
$20,000 to help navigate this challenging period. For example, some businesses may
need support to pay wages, rent or maintain inventory.
Long-term care remains at the front of the line to receive the vaccine during phase
1 of the distribution program. Phase 2 will see approximately 8.5 million people,
for example those over the age of 70, immunized by the end of July.
When vaccines are available – which is under the control of the federal government –
phase 3 will be for everyone who wants to be immunized. Vaccines will not be
mandatory. Public health units and hospitals are playing an essential role in
distribution. For information, go to
https://covid-19.ontario.ca<https://covid-19.ontario.ca/>
Remote learning is extended until January 25 for both secondary and elementary
school students. A determination will be made on January 20 which public health unit
regions will be permitted to resume in-person instruction. Special education
students who cannot learn at home can return to school, as advised by special
education experts.
I strive to represent everyone in Haldimand Norfolk, regardless of who they voted
for or their position on how to deal with this infectious disease. The Province of
Ontario has made the decision that the best path forward is to continue to tackle
this pandemic by following the advice of health care professionals. I also recognize
that dealing with this global pandemic means different things to different people.
We are all worried about the health of our friends, families and our communities,
our jobs and our businesses, and our rights in a free and democratic society. We
must constantly strive to find a balance.
When we defeat Covid, our single focus will return to doing what we as a government
can do to help grow the economy, restore balance to our finances, strengthen our
communities and make our province the best place to live, work, and build a future.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE Another Difficult but Necessary Decision
Ontario announces province-wide shutdown to stop spread of COVID-19 and save lives
Government providing grants of up to $20,000 to small businesses impacted by new public health measures
TORONTO — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, has imposed a Provincewide Shutdown. Additional restrictions will be put into place and reinforce that Ontarians should stay at home as much as possible to minimize transmission of the virus and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. The Provincewide Shutdown will go into effect as of Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.
More details on the shutdown, and which businesses can be open, are available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-provincewide-shutdown
“The number of daily cases continue to rise putting our hospitals and long-term care homes at risk,” said Premier Ford. “We need to stop the spread of this deadly virus. That’s why, on the advice of Dr. Williams and other health experts, we are taking the difficult but necessary decision to shutdown the province and ask people to stay home. Nothing is more important right now than the health and safety of all Ontarians.”
The New Ontario Small Business Support Grant
The government recognizes that small businesses impacted by these necessary public health measures will require additional support so they can continue serving their communities and employing people in Ontario once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. That is why the government is announcing the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period.
Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown will be able to apply for this one-time grant. Each small business will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. For example, some businesses will need support paying employee wages or rent, while others will need support maintaining their inventory.
Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.
Essential businesses that are allowed to remain open will not be eligible for this grant. More information about the Ontario Small Business Support Grant is available here. Further details, including how to apply, will be announced in January 2021.
Businesses that are impacted by the Provincewide Shutdown will also be eligible for the property tax and energy cost rebates. In November, the government launched a program to provide rebates to offset fixed costs such as property tax and energy bills for businesses that are required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures. These Ontario Small Business Support Grant rebates will continue to be available for businesses impacted by the Provincewide Shutdown and earlier restrictions. Business can apply for the rebates here.
New School Protocols
While transmission in schools remains low, all publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools are to move to teacher-led remote learning when students return from the winter break on January 4, 2021. This action is being taken in support of the Government’s broader efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For schools in all other Public Health Unit regions, elementary school students are planned to be able to return to in-person learning on January 11, 2021, and secondary school students will continue learning remotely until January 25, 2021, at which point they may resume in-person learning. During this period, child care centres, authorized recreational and skill building programs and home-based child care services will remain open. From January 4-8, 2021, when elementary students move to remote learning, before and after school programs will be closed and emergency child care for health care and frontline workers will be provided. As part of the government’s efforts to protect the most vulnerable, boards will be required to make provisions for continued in-person support for students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning for whom remote learning is challenging.
Quick Facts
Currently, hospitalizations for COVID-19 have increased by 74 per cent over the last four weeks and are more than 15 times higher than they were at the beginning of September. Intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy for COVID-19 has more than doubled over the last four weeks and is 20 times higher than at the beginning of September.
Ontario currently has 915 COVID-19 patients requiring acute care, 265 patients in ICU, with 152 on a ventilator.
Based on the latest modelling data, cases across the province are continuing to grow and the number of people requiring an intensive care bed is projected to rise well above 300 people within the next 10 days.
Some jurisdictions around the world, including those in Canada have implemented similar time-limited measures to respond to a dramatic resurgence in cases. Based on their experiences, measures of four to six weeks are expected to interrupt transmission of COVID-19 in Ontario.
Municipalities and local medical officers of health may have additional restrictions or targeted requirements in their region.
If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
Get tested if you have symptoms compatible with COVID-19, or if you have been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the COVID Alert App. Visit Ontario.ca/covidtest to find the nearest testing location.
The Ontario Small Business Support Grant is part of the Province’s more than $13.5 billion in support for people and jobs outlined in the 2020 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover. It is also in addition to $4.8 billion to address critical areas to support a strong long-term recovery that helps workers, employers and communities get back on their feet, while building the foundation for recovery and growth.
To find the right supports, visit COVID-19: Support for People, which has information about the many available and free mental health services and supports.
To stay safe you ca
n download the COVID Alert App free from the Apple and Google Play app stores.
To date, as part of the province’s COVID-19 immunization program, over 3,000 frontline health care workers have been vaccinated.
Schools continue to be safe, and according to data reported by school boards, as of Friday, December 18: approximately 99.64 per cent of students in Ontario have not reported a case of COVID-19; approximately 92 per cent of schools across the province have had either no cases or one case reported within the last 14 days; and approximately 80 per cent of schools do not have an case of COVID-19.
Additional Resources
Ontario Supporting High Priority Communities
Ontario Building On Supports for Employers During COVID-19
The Digital Main Street program helps main street businesses build their online presence and reach more customers.
Property Tax and Energy Cost Rebates
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from COVID-19.
COVID-19: provincewide shutdown