April 30, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
I want to thank everyone for your efforts during this very difficult time. It is very important for all of us, to the best of our ability to follow the mandatory social distancing bylaw!
Thank you to everyone who participated in last night’s Virtual Town Hall with myself, MP Hon. John McKay and MPP Mitzie Hunter. In case you missed the meeting, you may access the video on my Facebook page here, or if you are not a Facebook user you can access the video here. Plans to host future meetings are in process.
Today, Toronto City Council held its first ever virtual meeting using online conferencing platforms. You can watch the meeting at this link.
Yesterday, a Royal Canadian Air force helicopter deployed on Operation Reassurance went down in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece. Six members were onboard, one casualty was recovered and the mission to find the other five are still ongoing. My deepest condolences go out to family and friends of Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough as well as the brave crew onboard HMCS Fredericton.
Please see the following update regarding COVID-19 key information and resources in the City of Toronto:
Community Supports and Resources
The Toronto District School Board is committed to the safety and well-being of our students and families, while continuing to support students learning at home in a variety of ways. To ensure access to information on essential services and supports, we have developed a list of external community-based resources that we hope can offer assistance during this period.
For the most updated list, please visit the TDSB webpage for Community Supports and Resources.
Update on Labour Negotiations
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Government of Ontario have reached a tentative agreement with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) at both the teacher/occasional teacher and education worker central bargaining tables. OSSTF has indicated that the new contract will be put to a ratification vote in May.
An agreement between the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), OPSBA and the Government of Ontario has also been reached. This agreement was ratified on April 28.
For more information, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/labour.
COVID-19 case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. The advice from Toronto’s public health officials has been clear and consistent: To stop the community spread of this deadly virus, we must reduce all contact with others as much as possible. Stay home, except for essential outings.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24
Please remember to call ahead to book to ensure they are properly stocked. For those interested in volunteering, food banks are always looking for volunteers, so please feel free to save and share this information.
Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough
Essential Government Information for COVID -19
Public Health’s information line & 311 are experiencing high call volumes. Residents can get the information they need online at www.toronto.ca
The City’s website has a tool that can translate pages into 51 different languages.
If you need info on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Official Global Travel Advisory
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website with up to date information:
Website: www.paulainslie.com
You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul