Throughout the world people and their governments are making a myriad of decisions that are risking lives, risking freedoms, and risking livelihoods. To continue to take on the challenges of coronavirus, Ontario has extended its Declaration of Emergency to May 12.
First announced on March 17, these measures under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, mean that non-essential workplaces will remain closed, gatherings will continue to be restricted to five people, price-gouging remains outlawed, and restaurants will be limited to takeout. Students will not be going back to school May 4 and there is no set date for their return.
The legislation also permits Haldimand, Norfolk and all municipalities to extend their own state of emergency – with measures sometimes at odds with the province, and also with varying levels of support. Canada’s proposal to bring in sweeping powers to deal with Covid-19 under the Emergencies Act has been opposed by most of the provinces, including Ontario.
During these times, all levels of government justify restrictions to offer support and every power possible — and justifiably so – to help our health sector fight the spread of corona virus. People understand this disease constitutes a danger of major proportions. However more recently our office is fielding complaints of too many rules lacking common sense, and clarity, and by extension effectiveness. Ultimately deterrents don’t work if people have reason to defy.
There is confusion.
For example, Ontario advises that green spaces in parks, trails, ravines, and conservation areas remain open for walk-through access. However, residents of certain municipalities, including Haldimand-Norfolk are not permitted to use or access any open space, including parks, trails, piers, beaches, community gardens, or other open spaces usually accessible to the public, whether publicly or privately owned. By no means is it time for us to get complacent, but if people perceive new rules to be contradictory, or unfair, or out of proportion to the necessity they are less inclined to comply.
The mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces continues to at least May 12, with the extension of the state of emergency.
As the situation evolves, Premier Ford has been clear that every option is on the table. Businesses and individuals who want to get back to work are contacting my office and we advocate on their behalf with various ministries, and collaborate on suggested options to find a way forward to a healthy economy. We do need to find a path to future economic activity – to normalize, by way of thoughtful and reasonable direction based on analysis of the costs, the risks and the benefits.
While fighting a deadly enemy, we must also be planning for economic recovery – and to that end the Premier has appointed a team to develop a plan for post-pandemic growth and prosperity.
This new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee will focus on getting businesses up and running and getting people back to work. Since January 25 – when I first communicated concerns about coronavirus – my office and I have witnessed the mounting concern and anxiety about this deadly disease. We are now seeing mounting concern, frustration and anger with respect to restrictions and perception of authoritarian overreach – the perception of threats to freedom and threats to making a living. We must find a way forward and I welcome your input. For the Silo, Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.
UPDATE
Urgent and emergent care has always been there for province
Given the extreme and unprecedented challenges faced by our health care system during COVID-19, Ontario has been forced to make some hard choices in order to protect the people’s health. Because of the nature of the pandemic and the realities that it brought, our government was required to introduce temporary measures to ensure continued operation of our health care sector for the broader health and safety of all.
We required all hospitals cease non-urgent and non-emergency procedures, which has resulted in deferral of some of these non-urgent, non-emergent procedures or surgeries. While this was not ideal, it was necessary in order to address the pressing priorities resulting from the pandemic.
Urgent and emergent care was always available to the people of Ontario throughout this pandemic. Despite challenges, we commend hospital management, doctors and nurses as they turned up everyday to take care of critical care patients who may have arrived at hospital due to a car accident, life-threatening illness or traumatic event. While not popular, it was imperative one of our key objectives throughout the pandemic was to preserve hospital capacity for all Ontarians.
Ontario never experienced a failure or collapse of our health care system in contrast to some other jurisdictions.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our health care workers, Ontarians have confidence knowing their health care is in good hands. Thankfully, with Omicron receding, we are now able to begin reopening the province and start returning to normal. COVID-19 has been with us since early 2020 and has presented challenges to health care capacity both here and around the world. Health care systems have been under significant pressure in every jurisdiction as they work to respond. Addressing capacity limitations will be a top priority for many governments moving forward. To be frank, in 2018 our government inherited a fractured system that was in no way prepared to handle a pandemic.
As a result, ever since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has taken deliberate and dedicated action to ensure we have the health resources required to meet the health needs of people where and when they need them. Our government has consistently maintained we will spare no expense when it comes to providing Ontarians with access to the high-quality care they deserve.
Even before the pandemic, this government was hard at work making investments that hadn’t been made for 15 years. The long-standing commitment remains to provide modern, patient-centred and inclusive health care for all Ontarians.
Throughout the pandemic, our government has worked closely with Ontario Health and our health system partners to ensure people have access to the surgeries and the procedures they need. As mentioned, even during the height of COVID-19, Ontarians still could count on emergency and urgent surgeries being completed. By prioritizing urgent surgical patients through the pandemic, 99.3 per cent of the most urgent surgeries have been completed. Thanks to the ongoing efforts across all of our health care providers, as well as targeted government initiatives, 76 per cent of all patients who were waiting for surgeries between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2022, had received the care they needed.
The fight isn’t over, but we’ve made progress while providing health care where and when it is needed. We will continue to make hard choices to give Ontarians the excellent health care system they deserve.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE
Learning Recovery Action Plan puts kids first
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many aspects of our lives for over two years. Ontario’s students are some of the most impacted by the virus, which has seen schools shuttered for extended periods. To get Ontario students back on track Ontario has released its Learning Recovery Action Plan.
Ontario is in the midst of creating world-class, modern, safe and student-centered learning environments for the next year and beyond. Over the past three years, the Ministry of Education has modernized education to respond to the changing needs of employers and the needs of students in education and career planning.
Every student must be supported to unlock their full potential in a rapidly changing world so they may develop the skills they need to succeed in any pathway they choose. One of our priorities is to prepare Ontario students for success by improving their academic achievement while equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Building upon accomplishments since 2018, the Ontario Learning Recovery Action Plan will focus on strengthening reading and math skills as well as mental health promotion.
The plan will include the largest publicly funded tutoring program ever in Canada. A $176 million province-wide tutoring program will begin in April 2022 and run until the end of December. These funds will allow for small group learning after school, on weekends and over the summer and will be available to students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Ultimately, tutoring will allow students who have fallen behind, or who want to continue to work ahead, the ability to do so.
Another $15 million will expand summer learning opportunities as well as expanded teacher-led online tutoring in English or French.
Mental health remains a concern as students have wrestled with lockdowns therefore we are investing more than $90 million – 402 per cent more than in 2017-18 — into supports as well as Ontario’s first-integrated Student Mental Health Strategy. This is in addition to $26.17 million to renew 625 school-based public health nurses – the largest nurse allocation supporting schools in the history of the province.
Teachers’ unions have long claimed larger class sizes impede student achievement. As well, the previous government was allowed to close small schools. The Class Size Regulation sets out class size requirements for all grades; it is the responsibility of the school board to make the appropriate staffing decisions to meet these standards and to organize classes accordingly. However, as part of the historic investment of over $26.6 billion in 2022-2023, the government is investing $304 million in time-limited additional staffing supports, to continue to hire an estimated 3,000 front line staff, which include teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants and other education workers.
In order to respond both now and in the future to learning disruption caused by the pandemic, the Ministry of Education will assess both the impact of the pandemic on Ontario students and the results of the Ministry’s efforts on an on-going basis. School boards will also be required to report to the Ministry on outcomes of this Learning Recovery Action Plan.
Ontario is investing unprecedented monies to get students back on track – learning, growing, and thriving in a normal classroom enriched by clubs, sports and expanded tutoring and mental health supports.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE FEB 22 2022
Restrictions eased; vax passport gone March 1
Ontario will lift the proof of vaccination passport for all settings, as of March 1st.
Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. For information, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
At time of writing, masking requirements remain in place.
New admissions to hospital and ICU have been declining week over week, and positive test rates have fallen, signaling that the Omicron peak is behind us. Over the coming days and weeks, as these trends continue, the province will continue to ease restrictions.
The following measures are in effect:
Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors
Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings
Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments
Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
Cinemas
Meeting and event spaces, including conference centers
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concerts and theatres
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing
Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or church services, to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.
Capacity limits in grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls are maintained at, six feet physical distance. As has always been the case, public health units can deploy local and regional responses based on local context and conditions.
To further support the province is easing of public health measures, Ontario is expanding access to free rapid tests, with 5.5 million rapid tests distributed each week for eight weeks through pharmacies, grocery stores, and community partners in vulnerable communities.
On January 17th, Health Canada approved the antiviral Paxlovid. Ontario received approximately 10,000 courses of treatment from the federal government in January, with additional allocations of more than 10,000 courses for February and 33,000 courses for March. Eligibility is currently focused on adults with the highest risk of severe outcomes.
In addition, February 18, 2022, Ontario expanded booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, as well as at select pharmacies administering the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments will be booked for approximately six months after a second dose.
With the easing of restrictions, vaccinations remain important as they significantly lower mortality and morbidity. Go to Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. In Ontario, 92 per cent have one dose and 90 per cent have two doses.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
More Targeted relief for Ontario businesses and Ontarians impacted by COVID
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, details of steps to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures were announced recently. These changes take effect starting on January 31, 2022. This announcement was made as key public health and health care indicators are starting to show signs of improvement as a result of additional public health measures enacted on January 5.
Since the first day of the pandemic, the government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect people, jobs and our economy. The Ontario government is continuing to provide targeted relief for businesses and people impacted by the current public health measures.
Those eligible for the Ontario Business Cost Rebate Program include:
Restaurants and bars
Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms)
Racing venues, casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments
Meeting or event spaces
Tour and guide services
Performing arts venues and cinemas
Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions
Conference centres and convention centres
Driving instruction for individuals
Before- and after- school programs
The Ontario government is also providing electricity rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home. For 21 days, as of January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set 24 hours a day at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. This is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate. The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms.
Online applications for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program opened January 18. Under the rebate program, eligible businesses that had to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms can receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. Those required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, can receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs.
Businesses will be required to submit proof of costs associated with commercial property tax and energy bills as part of the application process. All eligible businesses must submit an application to be considered, including those that received previous COVID-19 support payments. To learn more, including to find a full list of eligible businesses, visit the online application portal
https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs
Those with questions about the program can call ServiceOntario at 1-855-216-3090 or the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
As part of its plan to provide targeted relief to small businesses, the government is also improving cash flows for businesses. Ontario is providing up to $7.5 billion through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period that started January 1, 2022 for businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.
Building on Ontario’s efforts to improve cash flows for businesses, the province continues to call on the federal government to match provincial tax deferral efforts. This would allow small businesses impacted by public health measures to also defer their HST remittances for a period of six months.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE- the new varient-
We must slow the spread of Omicron
As we come out of the first few weeks of 2022, we enter a New Year that will be dominated by the need to adjust to new realities . . . one being the alarming increase in hospitalizations attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Unlike other variants throughout the pandemic, evolving data from Public Health Ontario is showing that while the Omicron variant is less severe, its high transmissibility has resulted in a larger number of hospital admissions relative to ICU admissions. Staff absenteeism is rising and affecting workplaces across Ontario due to Omicron infection and exposure, including in hospitals and schools.
In response to Omicron, people with mild symptoms are asked to not seek testing to ensure publicly-funded testing is available for the highest risk settings to help limit transmission, maintain critical work forces and to protect the most vulnerable. Anyone who is sick should help protect their community by staying home.
Real-world experience and evidence in Ontario reveal approximately one per cent of Omicron cases require hospital care. The rapid rise of Omicron cases, which may soon number in the hundreds of thousands, is causing hospital capacity to become overwhelmed.
According to experts, if one in 100 cases goes to hospital, it means that with this rapid increase in transmission, the number of new cases requiring hospitalization will also rapidly increase daily. For example, 50,000 cases per day, would mean 500 hospital admissions per day, which is greater than the peak daily hospitalizations of 265 per day from last spring, when hospital were under significant strain.
On January 5, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health reinstated Directive 2 for hospitals and regulated health professionals, instructing hospital to pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to protect critical care and human resource capacity.
As part of Ontario’s response to the Omicron variant and the recent trends that showed a very large increase in hospitalizations, all publicly funded and private schools moved to remote learning on January 5, and will continue in this manner until at least January 17.
In recognition of the impact the Omicron variant and additional public health measures have on small businesses, the government is expanding the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program. Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their property taxes and energy costs, while businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. A full list of eligible business types will be made available when applications for the program open later this month. To improve cash flows for Ontario businesses, effective January 1, 2022, the government is also providing up to $7.5 billion for a six-month interest- and penalty-free period for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
Omicron isn’t like the other variants – this is a problem that could only get worse. We must do everything we can to slow the spread of Omicron and protect our hospitals.
As with every year, we can continue to work together for the common good – to meet the challenges of onslaughts like Omicron, and seize the opportunities of pending economic recovery.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
Ontario Launches New Omicron Supports for Businesses
Rebate program cuts property taxes and energy costs; New cash flow supports providing up to $7.5 billion for businesses, including those affected by Omicron restrictions
SIMCOE — The Ontario government is introducing new supports for many of the businesses that are most impacted by public health measures in response to the Omicron variant. These supports include a new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program and a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
Haldimand-Norfolk businesses have fought side-by-side with the province against COVID-19. Capacity limits are necessary to reducing the transmission of the virus, but they also impact these businesses. For that reason we are introducing these new supports—to put money directly into the hands of local business.
Through the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, eligible businesses will receive rebate payments equivalent to 50 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to the current capacity limits. This will provide support to businesses that are expected to be most impacted financially by the requirement to reduce capacity to 50 per cent. Examples of businesses that will be eligible for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program include restaurants, smaller retail stores and gyms. A full list of eligible business types will be made available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022, with payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
“I commend business owners for pivoting quickly as we respond to the Omicron variant in our continued fight against COVID-19,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “It is essential that we support them during their time of need, and that’s why our new rebate program will provide them with the support they need right now on their energy bills.”
The province is also providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes, supporting businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place while providing the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning. The six-month period will begin January 1, 2022 and end July 1, 2022.
This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. With this help, approximately 80,000 businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes, helping them free up cash flow during these challenging times:
Employer Health Tax
Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
Tobacco Tax
Insurance Premium Tax
Fuel Tax
International Fuel Tax Agreement
Gas Tax
Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
Mining Tax
Race Tracks Tax
As provinces across Canada grapple with the emergence of the Omicron variant, Ontario is also calling on the federal government to strengthen federal support programs to ensure businesses and workers have the support they need to weather this new challenge. This includes adjusting the eligibility requirements for the Government of Canada’s Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program to ensure more impacted businesses can apply, while also ensuring that businesses experiencing partial capacity restrictions can qualify for the Local Lockdown Program.
Ontario is also inviting the federal government to work together with the province to further help businesses that are struggling with cash flow challenges, by developing a program that would allow hard hit businesses to temporarily defer the remittance of HST, starting with a commitment to allow eligible businesses to defer HST collected in December, interest-free, for a period of up to six months.
For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org Please mention The Silo when contacting.
UPDATE Expect improvements as students head back to school
As students get set to head back to school, there is more to think about than new pencils, jeans and sneakers.
The good news is Ontario students are going back to class, full-time, in-person, in a more normal learning environment. We made a commitment to parents, and we are delivering on it. We know students benefit when they interact in-person with their teachers and peers.
The Ontario Government continues to follow the advice of Canada’s pediatric hospitals, including Sick Kids Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and Ontario’s Science Table. One item these experts have been clear about is the need for improvement of air ventilation within our schools.
In 2020, we acted upon this direction and allocated over $600 million to support over 50,000 High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) units and other ventilation devices. There have been over 2,000 infrastructure improvements to air quality and ventilation within Ontario schools. This is in addition to the $1.4 billion in annual school renewal funding available to boards to support improvements to ventilation systems.
Locally, the Grand Erie District School Board is receiving 765 HEPA units and $67,000 to purchase additional units. At time of writing, Grand Erie was awaiting an update but expected the new units will be running in time for the arrival of students. The Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board is receiving nearly 120 HEPA units and an additional $24,000 to purchase more.
Those schools with mechanical ventilation are now using high-grade filters to ensure maximum airflow and fresh air intake. When kids go back to school, any classroom or learning space without mechanical ventilation will have a standalone HEPA filter unit in place.
Your students may also spend more time outside as teachers are encouraged to utilize the outdoors as their classroom when weather permits. Windows will be open allowing fresh air to circulate in learning environments.
When it comes to hitting the books, Ontario has launched a $200 million four-year math strategy to support improving student performance and to address the declining math scores under the previous government.
The world has changed since the elementary math curriculum was updated in 2005. Come September, there will be relevant, real-life examples taught that will connect math to everyday life, such as creating a budget, e-transfers, learning to code and the development of infographics. This will help students solve everyday math problems and increase students’ employability to secure jobs in the future.
During my high school days, I had access to the shops and later taught in the shop wing – knowledge I continue to use today. Through the fall 2018 consultations, parents shared feedback that schools were not doing enough to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). As a response, our government is placing an emphasis on improving STEM subjects in school, as well as promoting skilled trades as a first-choice career path.
For several years, we have seen a plethora of help wanted signs across my constituency ( Haldimand-Norfolk). Many of those signs are for the skilled trades. There are rewarding careers in these fields and there is a shortage. It is time we prepare our young people for the future by giving them the tools to succeed and teaching them about the importance of STEM in key high growth industries.
We will see change for our students in the coming weeks – all for the good!
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE
COVID strains are variants of concern for a reason
Government and health experts have been asking people to stay at home for a reason – we are all dealing with a highly infectious disease. You cannot see it, you do not know whether you have it (only at the point of being tested) and you do not know whether you are passing it on to family or friends or co-workers. To save others from getting sick, or worse, staying home and vaccination are the best preventions.
In this time of crisis, we rely on our health care system and other institutions of government. For over a year, difficult decisions have been required in attempt to keep people healthy and safe.
While public health measures are having an impact, new variants of COVID-19 pose a significant risk and the situation in our hospitals remains precarious. Ontario is currently fighting a brutal third wave of COVID-19, fuelled by variants, including the U.K. B.1.1.7 variant that has now become the dominant strain in our province. Ontario also has a number of cases of the B.1.617 from the Indian sub-continent that is becoming the dominant variant in Britain. The United Kingdom is now concerned this could derail their re-opening plans.
At time of writing, there are 721 people in serious condition in Ontario’s Intensive Care Units because of the virus – ICUs are experiencing extreme pressure. Haldimand-Norfolk has only six ICU beds.
Beyond trying to keep people healthy and safe which is the top priority, we are engaged in fighting for our jobs and economy. As well, we operate in a parliamentary democracy that guarantees our agreed-upon rights and responsibilities.
Over the past year, in a very public way, I have fought on behalf of the 110,000 people I represent for the all-important balance between health and safety, jobs and the economy, and our rights and responsibilities. Given the nature of our beautiful riding, I have fought for the loosening of restrictions, or the addition of a number of outdoor activities related to work and play – whether it be access to a cottage or trailer; access to fishing; boating; the use of trails and beaches; or work in farming, construction, and the hospitality industry.
I have received phone calls and emails requesting marinas, boat ramps and golf courses be re-opened – we went through this last year too. As many will know, my staff and I have been advocating on your behalf with respect to the responsible involvement in outdoor activities. When appropriate, we have forwarded emails to the Premier’s Office and the respective Cabinet Ministers. As of May 22nd, marinas, golf courses and other outdoor amenities are open.
However, currently we are to stay home as much as possible and follow public health guidelines to prevent people from spreading the disease. There are a large number of people across Ontario who continue to gather for non-essential reasons. Continuing to increase Ontario’s rate of vaccination is critical in helping curb the spread of the virus.
On a personal note, I have tested positive for COVID and have been doing well, and am working from home. I continue to take all precautions and have notified close contacts.
My wife Cari was hospitalized at Joseph Brant, Burlington, with the virus and is coming along well.
We continue to ask people to stay home unless they need to go out for an essential reason – distance and wear a mask where appropriate.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE-
There is little doubt 2020 and the COVID pandemic will be a piece of history taught
in the future.
While there have been pandemics before with higher death tolls, never before has a
virus brought the entire planet to a halt in the age of global travel and modern
medicine. Globally there have been more than 25 million cases and in excess of
850,000 deaths.
To put this in a historical perspective, there have been worse pandemics. The
Spanish Flu a hundred years ago is one example, with a death toll in excess of 50
million. The Asian Flu, Russian Flu and Hong Kong Flu are all other examples where
the death toll crossed the million mark.
Although one death is one too many, the reality is we have been dealing with the
pandemic. Ontario has been a leader in the control of the virus. On the positive,
our hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units were not overtaxed.
The pandemic has meant change for many families – and that hasn’t all been bad.
Families have spent more time together and become creative in spending time
together. In some cases, this has meant they’ve produced bountiful gardens. They’ve
reconnected with the outdoors. Hardware stores and sporting good stores sold out of
items like basketball nets, patio furniture — anything that had to do with spending
time outdoors. People have been purchasing items that make their home more enjoyable
and a place to spend time, not just a place to lay their head after a long day’s
work.
Home renovations have also intensified. Paint stores, when they were able to reopen,
couldn’t mix paint fast enough to accommodate the contractors and homeowners who
were itching to get projects done that had perhaps been on the backburner.
The battle isn’t over yet, and casualties aren’t limited to those afflicted with the
virus. While it’s been business as usual or a boom for some sectors, others – like
the travel industry – have been decimated. Enterprises that people have put their
life savings into are making difficult decisions, and some will close their doors
forever.
Municipalities have also been impacted with increased costs from dealing with and
enforcing new protocols. At the same, time revenue has decreased. Recreation and
facility rental income, for instance, is almost non-existent. Likewise, in the
private sector, Legions, churches and service clubs are also seeing huge losses in
income from no rentals.
On the health care front, our government is delivering up to $30 billion to support
our frontline health care system, to provide relief to families and businesses, and
to ensure municipalities can respond to urgent priorities. That includes $510
million through the Social Services Relief Fund, and $14 million for community-based
mental health and addictions services.
Although we aren’t out of the COVID crisis yet, there have been bright spots: There
were over 528,000 jobs added in June and July. Over half a million people are back
to work ― 72,000 new jobs in manufacturing and 47,500 new jobs in construction.
This winter could still be a tough one. I have faith the people will persevere. The spirit
that built us will pull us through yet another bump in the rocky road of history.
Toby Barrett MPP Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE – Ontario reopens
The incremental reopening of the Province of Ontario is based on the confidence that
people in Ontario will up their game as far as following health and safety measures
during these dangerous times.
Recently, the Ontario Ministry of Health recommended the use of face coverings when
physical distancing and keeping apart is a challenge or not possible.
Of course, the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus is to stay home and avoid
any close contact with outsiders.
However, warm weather is here, many more businesses and public spaces have been
allowed to open up, and the risk of contagion is now elevated.
Thus, the advice to wear a cloth masks when near others –reserving the use of
medical masks for health care workers and first responders.
During the past several weeks we have all made sacrifices as society witnessed the
unthinkable – the shutdown of businesses and our economy. We have now charted a path
to a phased reopening; we have developed workplace safety guidelines; and continue
consulting with workers and businesses.
The government and health and safety associations have released 90 health and safety
guidance documents to protect workers, customers and the general public – all backed
by enhanced Ministry of Labour inspectors. Ontario has also launched a Workplace PPE
Supplier Directory of businesses providing protective equipment.
As many will know, stores can reopen. In addition to retail operating online, or
with curbside pickup and delivery, all retail with a separate front entrance can
open – indoor malls remain closed. Retailers must restrict customers to physical
distancing and/or business by appointment. Fitting rooms must have doors to
facilitate disinfecting.
Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to
allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles where owners have a full season
contract.
Golf courses are open with clubhouses open only for washrooms, and restaurants are
only open for takeout.
Veterinarians can now resume all services by appointment. Pet grooming, pet
training, pet sitting and dog walking services can start up again. Stables and
businesses that board animals may now allow people to visit, care or ride an animal.
Private households are now allowed to employ people for painting, cleaning,
maintenance and general repairs.
Business owners are advised to review the list of services which are authorized to
reopen, determine whether they fit into any of the categories and, if they do, make
a business decision as to whether to resume operations.
To find out what else is open go to Ontario.ca/reopen. If you have questions about
what will be open, or impact your business or employment, call the Business
Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
Local municipalities may enact additional rules, which may exceed that of the
province. Contact the local medical officer of health for advice, recommendation and
instruction. Provincial inspectors, local police services, and municipal bylaw
enforcement officers do the enforcement of various rules.
As Ontario reopens, consider wearing a mask especially if physical distancing is not
possible – it can only help mitigate the risk inherent in striking a balance between
lives and livelihoods.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk
UPDATE Long-term care, essential services and public health
My MPP report this week emanates from on-going emails and telephone conversations
about two issues – long-term care, and the definition of an essential service.
On March 13, the Ontario government mandated essential visits, only, to long-term
care and other congregate care settings. This was one of the first of a series of
evolving measures in order to better protect our most vulnerable and stop the spread
of COVID-19 in our long-term care (LTC) homes.
On the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, government has developed
a robust action plan with key measures to be implemented within hours. In addition,
the province has issued a new emergency order restricting LTC staff from working in
more than one LTC home, retirement home or health care setting.
The government has introduced more aggressive testing and screening for symptomatic
residents and staff and for those who have been in contact with persons confirmed to
have the virus.
LTC homes have been provided with surveillance tools, as well as public health and
infection control expertise and training, to prevent and control outbreaks like the
tragedy at Anson Place.
Specialized teams are available to be deployed from the hospitals; public health and
the home care sector, as well as newly recruited front-line staff.
Measures are in place to respond to every escalated request for personal protective
equipment (PPE) within 24 hours.
To further support ongoing efforts, the federal government has offered resources
that could include personnel and other support from Health Canada, the Public Health
Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Armed Forces.
In recent days, I have also been getting letters and emails from area businesses
requesting I write a letter authorizing the operation of their business as
essential. Just to clarify, neither an MPP nor the provincial government can provide
written confirmation nor provide advice on whether a specific business is an
essential business.
Business owners, including non-profits and service delivery organizations, should
review the list of essential business which are authorized to stay open, determine
whether they fit into any of the categories and, if they do, make a business
decision as to whether to stay open.
Again it is important to review the list of essential businesses, which are
authorized to stay open. The complete regulation is available at
http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20119<http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20119>.
If you have further 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.
The supply chain that keeps Ontario running is complex. We all must balance the
health and safety of people while trying to ensure the maintenance of critical
infrastructure and the operation of supply chains. When the list was released, the
plan was to adjust the list as required based on our discussions with stakeholders
and provincial health experts. We will continue to do this, and I continue to ask
for input on ways to get more sectors back to work.
Regardless of whether we are trying to help those in our LTC homes, or ensuring
social distancing by limiting work to that which is essential, the common
denominator of all the issues emanating from this pandemic is how best to protect
the health and safety of people in Haldimand-Norfolk and across Ontario.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk