Please see the following End of Day Update regarding (COVID-19) key messages and resources from the City of Toronto:
Please click here for a list of food banks in 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.
Current health situation
As of today, the City’s Emergency Operations Centre has been mobilized for 25 days, working with Toronto Public Health, City divisions, and emergency responders to slow the spread of the virus and keep our community safe and healthy.
Toronto Public Health is reporting there are now 1026 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, an increase of 101 cases from yesterday. Of the cases, 823 cases are confirmed and 203 are probable, 66 cases have recovered, 125 are in hospital with 53 in ICU. In Toronto, there have been 25 deaths to-date. Community spread is responsible for 27 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Toronto. This data was extracted from the Integrated Public Health Information System at 12:30 p.m. today. The numbers may differ from other sources as data are extracted at different times.
311 and access to information
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 311 or Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline.
311 is available 24/7 by telephone for essential service inquiries and service requests. Those calling 311 should expect longer than usual wait times as 311 continues to receive a high volume of calls.
311 (within city limits)
416-392-2489 (outside of city limits)
416-338-0889 (TTY)
Keep in mind:
The #COVID19 Enforcement Team will be out across Toronto this weekend educating the public and enforcing compliance with new #physicaldistancing bylaw and the other measures enacted by the municipal and provincial governments as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. Any two people who don’t live together, who fail to keep 2 metres or a hockey stick apart in a park or public square, are subject to a $1,000 fine.
Every person makes a difference and every action counts Stay home to help stop the spread and save lives.
Today, Mayor John Tory announced the fine for people failing to keep at least two metres of distance from others in City of Toronto parks and public spaces has been set at $1,000.
The Chief Justice of the Province of Ontario approved the City’s request for a set fine Friday.
Any two people who don’t live together, who fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, can receive a $1,000 ticket – the maximum set fine available. Officers could issue higher tickets that would be subject to the courts where fines could go up to $5,000 upon conviction.
The Mayor introduced Emergency Order No. 1 – Emergency Physical Distancing Regulations with respect to Parks, and Public Squares on Thursday as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to encourage people from separate households to keep at least two metres distance between each other to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
The COVID-19 Enforcement Team will be across the city this weekend educating the public and enforcing compliance with this new bylaw and the other measures enacted by the municipal and provincial governments.
The Toronto Police Service and the City are partnered on the enforcement of City bylaws and all orders, with 160 Toronto Police officers and other personnel assigned to the COVID-19 Enforcement Team, plus 200 Toronto Bylaw Enforcement Officers.
Officers will be educating the public about the seriousness of COVID-19, why these extraordinary measures are in place, and if, in the end, they don’t see compliance, then fines can and will be issued, some of which carry very significant penalties – up to $100,000 and one year in jail.
To date, almost 1,000 complaints have been made to the City regarding parks amenities use and concerns from the public about inappropriate physical distancing, and so far, Toronto Police have issued 21 tickets to individuals.
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.
Please see the following update regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the City of Toronto.
Yard waste collection resumes for two weeks
The City will resume yard waste collection from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 17.
Information for residents:
Place yard waste out before 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled garbage/yard waste collection day.
Please be patient as crews make their way across the city.
If yard waste is not picked up the scheduled day, please leave it out as it will be picked-up in the coming days. Please do not call 311 to report a missed collection.
To ensure health and safety, please only use yard waste bags, not open-top containers.
The start of seasonal yard waste collection was suspended as part of the City’s COVID-19 response. After the two-week period of yard waste pickup, the City will assess if it can continue to maintain the service. More information is available on the City’s website: https://bit.ly/3bPHwf5
City of Toronto addressing financial impacts of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exert major stresses globally, the City of Toronto has been assessing, evaluating and monitoring the financial impacts to Toronto. To address the situation, the City has assembled a COVID-19 financial impact working group to focus on stabilization and rebuilding.
The City of Toronto today announced that it is experiencing a financial pressure estimated at $65 million a week. The pressure is driven by decreased TTC and other revenues, coupled with increased costs. Revenues are decreased due to closures, decreased demands, and property tax and utility payment deferrals, and increased costs are stemming from COVID-19 related needs like additional personal protective equipment supplies, cleaning, additional shelter space, and overtime. Full news release here: https://bit.ly/2JDiX9a
Updated list of essential services
Following advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ontario updated the list of essential businesses that can remain open. The restrictions are aimed at further reducing contact between people and stopping the spread of COVID-19.
By 11:59 pm Saturday, April 4, 2020, businesses that are not identified on this list must close their physical locations. List of essential workplaces can be accessed here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces
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.
Please see the following update regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the City of Toronto:
New emergency order allows for enforcement of physical distancing in parks and public squares
Any two people who don’t live together and fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, will be subject to prosecution and liable for a fine of up to $5,000 if convicted. (Tis does not apply to members of the same household) The Mayor took this emergency action – which is in effect for at least the next 30 days – as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to save lives, protect the healthcare system and ensure our economy and society can rebound faster from the COVID-19 pandemic. Info and updates: http://toronto.ca/covid19.
Yard waste collection resumes for two weeks
The City will resume yard waste collection from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 17.
Information for residents:
Place yard waste out before 7 a.m. on regularly scheduled garbage/yard waste collection day.
Please be patient as crews make their way across the city.
If yard waste is not picked up the scheduled day, please leave it out as it will be picked-up in the coming days. Please do not call 311 to report a missed collection.
To ensure health and safety, please only use yard waste bags, not open-top containers.
The start of seasonal yard waste collection was suspended as part of the City’s COVID-19 response. After the two-week period of yard waste pickup, the City will assess if it can continue to maintain the service. More information is available on the City’s website.
On April 1, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued new directives under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. These include:
All individuals with COVID-19 are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to stay home, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for 14 days.
All individuals who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are also ordered to stay home by the Medical Officer of Health for 14 days.
People returning from international travel must stay home (already a federal order).
Anyone who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home except for the following reasons:
accessing healthcare or medication
shop for groceries once per week
walk their dogs
get daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres
Anyone over the age of 70, as the Province already announced, is strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible.
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.
While not really my area of responsibility I did want to make sure you know what other levels of government are doing to assist people in these very trying times.
This letter is mainly update you on the latest developments on COVID-19 and the Government of Canada’s response.
What’s New:
Ministers provide update on Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Yesterday, Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, and Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, provided Canadians with an update and more details on the 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
Here are the key points: The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy will apply at a rate of 75% of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees.For workers: if you work for a company that has been impacted by COVID-19, the Government will cover up to 75% of your salary on the first $58,700 that you earn. That means up to $847 a week.The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.Businesses will be eligible for the wage subsidy if their gross revenues suffer a drop by at least 30% in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019. The wage subsidy will be available to companies both big and small and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the Government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances. The Government is also considering additional support for non-profits and charities, particularly those involved in the front line response to COVID-19. Further details will be announced very soon.An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.Eligible employers would be able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy by applying through a Canada Revenue Agency online portal. More details regarding how to apply for the program will follow. The government knows for workers, businesses and entrepreneurs, the last few weeks have been difficult, and you have had to make some incredibly hard decisions.
You have been forced to make those hard decisions because the business you have built has seen operations slow down or even have to close in some cases. And you have had to make those gut-wrenching decisions because you don’t want to let people go who have helped make your business a success, but you cannot afford to keep them on payroll.
As your City Council I will keep fighting for workers and businesses so that we get through this difficult time. We will do this together.
Canadians will be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit from April 6
Canadians need help during this unprecedented and challenging time. No one should worry about putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads.
As only one part of our COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Federal government recently introduced the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which will provide Canadians who have lost their income because of COVID-19 $2,000 a month for up to 4 months in direct support.
Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, along with Jean-Yves Duclos, President of the Treasury Board, announced that Canadians will be able to start applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit starting April 6, 2020.
Applicants for the CERB will be directed to apply through one of two service options: Canadians who would generally be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits will be directed to apply through Service Canada through Appliweb (a Service Canada specific web application tool for EI applications); orCanadians who would generally not be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits will be directed to apply through the Canada Revenue Agency’s MyAccount or CRA’s automated toll-free line at 1-800-959-2019. The CERB will be available to workers: residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old; who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits;who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. Please note that: The income of at least $5,000 may be from any or a combination of the following sources: employment, self-employment, maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program.The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you have stopped working for reasons not related to COVID-19, you are not eligible for the CERB.
Please note, below is information on other very recent developments and announcements made in just the past few days.
Canada providing $2 billion to purchase more protective personal equipment
On March 31, the Federal government announced they are investing $2 billion to purchase more protective personal equipment, including things like more masks and face shields, gowns, ventilators, test kits and swabs, and hand sanitizer to help ease the pressure on our health care facilities.
Some of the key details: The Government has ordered 60 million N95 masks – a type of mask designed and fitted to filter out particles that carry the COVID-19 virus. These masks are expected to begin arriving this week. The Government has also ordered an additional 1,570 ventilators – a crucial piece of equipment to help patients with COVID-19, a respiratory disease, and having difficulty breathing – and is working to secure 4,000 more. We have also ordered more than a million COVID-19 test kits. And more supplies are coming.
Since the Federal government launched Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to Fight COVID-19, Canadian businesses and manufacturers have been stepping up to fight the pandemic. They are working with these companies to ensure our health care workers have the tools they need to care for Canadians across the country.
Some of the key developments: The Government has spoken directly with almost 3,000 Canadian companies that have offered their expertise and capacity to meet the country’s need for personal protective equipment and critical health supplies. They have signed new procurement agreements with Canadian companies Thornhill Medical, Medicom, and Spartan Bioscience to purchase and boost capacity to manufacture equipment and supplies including portable ventilators, surgical masks, and rapid testing kits. They have signed letters of intent with five companies – Precision Biomonitoring, Fluid Energy Group Ltd., Irving Oil, Calko Group, and Stanfield’s – to produce additional test kits, hand sanitizer, and protective apparel including masks and gowns. Canada Announces Major Increase in Emergency Support for Businesses
On March 27th, Canada announced it is increasing its emergency support to businesses to help alleviate the pressure they are facing.
Here are some of the key features from the announcement: Increasing the temporary wage subsidy businesses to 75%, up from the previously announced 10%. This subsidy will be backdated to March 15. This subsidy is meant to help companies keep people on the payroll, so that workers are supported and the economy is positioned to recover from this.Launching the Canada Emergency Business Account. With this new measure, banks will soon offer $40,000 loans, which will be guaranteed by the government, to qualifying businesses. The loan will be interest free for the first year, and if you meet certain conditions, $10,000 will be forgivable.The Government will also provide an additional $12.5 billion through Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank to help small and medium-sized businesses with their operational cash flow requirements.Deferral of GST/HST payments, as well as duties and taxes owed on imports, until June. This is the equivalent of giving $30 billion in interest free loans to businesses. I hope every finds this information useful and informative. If you have any issues or concerns please contact my at 416-396-7222 or email councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
Please see the following update regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) from the City of Toronto:
City taking unprecedented action to stop COVID-19 and save lives, the healthcare system and the economy
The City of Toronto announced strong measures today to halt the spread of COVID-19. Three key objectives for the City and its emergency response to COVID-19 include reducing the loss of life, preserving capacity in the healthcare system and minimizing social and economic impacts. As Toronto’s case numbers continue to increase (there’s been a 500 per cent increase in cases over past two week), Medical Officer of Health, Dr. de Villa is using every power available under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to implement stronger measures to help achieve the three objectives. Mayor Tory is also in the process of drafting bylaw to promote physical distancing on City property. More details here: https://bit.ly/2wbepDO
Physical distancing at City parks
Toronto parks are only open for walking, cycling and running. Using amenities in parks or congregating in groups is not permitted. City staff together with the Toronto Police Service are prioritizing the patrol of hot spot parks. While education is the first line of enforcement, the fines range between $750 to a maximum of $5,000. City staff are re-installing signage, locks and caution tape at parks where these have been removed. Additionally, the City’s Parks Ambassadors have begun a downtown hot spot education blitz and electronic portable signs will display messages near some busy parks. More information is available here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/affected-city-services/?accordion=parks
The TTC has implemented changes to not only protect operators but riders as well.
These include:
· Increase in daily disinfecting of touch points in stations and on vehicles.
· No longer accepting cash, tickets or tokens on TTC buses.
· TTC employees may choose to wear their own masks while working.
In addition to safe physical distancing and to help stop the spread of COVID-19, please follow the advice of Toronto Public Health, including:
· Avoiding non-essential trips in the community
· Limiting, postponing or canceling gatherings
· Working from home, where possible
· Keeping kids away from group settings
· Staying in your home if you are ill
· Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces
As well, if you have travelled anywhere outside Canada, please to self-isolate (i.e. stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in their home) for 14 days after your return.
COVID-19 legal information for Steps to Justice
CLEO’s Steps to Justice website, is a site is updated on a daily basis, gives answers to more than 50 legal questions, including questions about emergency benefits assistance, Employment Insurance, getting evicted for non-payment of rent, and what to do about family law matters in the midst of the closure of the courts. Access CLEO’s Steps to Justice website here: www.stepstojustice.ca/covid-19
Scarborough Health Network’s (SHN) Stroke Centre
Scarborough Health Network is proud to announce they are opening a new Stroke Centre of Excellence at their Birchmount hospital on April 8. For the first time, patients will have access to seamless stroke care services here in Scarborough.
SHN will begin delivering care through the new Stroke Centre, which will include:
Integrated Stroke Unit: A 22-bed unit is best practice for treating stroke patients who have been hospitalized – providing medical care and rehabilitation services all within the same space.
Stroke Prevention Clinic: SHN’s outpatient clinic will now be located at Birchmount, providing support and follow-up care for patients in managing their risk factors for stroke.
Toronto Police clarify social-distancing enforcement measures
The Toronto Police Service is reminding people that travelling, or being parked in a car, with five people or less – including individuals from different home addresses – is not against the law.
Members of the public are reminded that government directives apply to “organized public events and social gatherings” of more than five people, as well as the ordered closures of the following locations:
· All facilities providing indoor recreational programs
· All public libraries
· All private schools as defined in the Education Act
· All licensed child care centres
· All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery
· All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies
· Concert venues
· All City-owned playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor exercise equipment and other parks amenities, as well as parking lots attached to its parks system
Questions about organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people or open businesses that should be closed, can be addressed by calling 311.
City of Toronto bylaw officers will be monitoring and providing information and education to non-compliant individuals and businesses. In some cases, the Toronto Police are contacted to conduct enforcement actions under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
The Toronto Police Service continue to conduct proactive enforcement, when necessary, and officers will use their discretion to determine the proper action.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Checkhttps://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Please see the following update regarding
the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) from the City of Toronto:
City of Toronto taking unprecedented
action to stop COVID-19, save lives, the healthcare system and the economy
Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the
City of Toronto, under the strong advice of its Medical Officer of Health, Dr.
Eileen de Villa, is taking action to aggressively halt the spread of COVID-19
in Toronto.
Just two weeks ago, on March 18, Toronto
had 145 COVID-19 cases, with 10 people in hospital. Four were in intensive
care, there were no outbreaks and there were no COVID-19-related deaths.
As of March 31, Toronto has 763 cases of
COVID-19, with 66 in hospital and 33 in intensive care. There are now 11
outbreaks reported and, tragically, eight deaths.
In the last two weeks alone, the economic
loss to the retail sector is estimated to be $291 million.
To arrest COVID-19 more quickly, and to
save lives, protect the healthcare system and ensure the economy and society
can rebound more quickly, the following measures will take effect immediately
for up to 12 weeks:
All
individuals with COVID-19 are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to
stay home, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for 14 days
All
individuals who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are
also ordered to stay home by the Medical Officer of Health for 14 days
Anyone
who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home
except for the following reasons:
accessing
healthcare or medication
shop
for groceries once per week
walk
their dogs
get
daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two
metres
People
returning from international travel must stay home, already a federal order
Anyone
over the age of 70, as the province announced this week, is strongly
encouraged to stay home as much as possible
Increased
supports for self-isolation for those experiencing homelessness
Only
essential businesses remain open, and those businesses maximize physical
distancing and infection prevention and control practices, and limit
in-person access to those businesses, as much as possible
Increased
cleaning and active screening of employees at all businesses.
The City, under the guidance of the
Medical Officer of Health, will monitor cases and community transmission of
COVID-19, adjusting the timing and measures as appropriate. If we do not take
these actions today, the city will see substantially increased loss of life,
and may not begin to recover, economically and as a society, until the end of
2020.
Mayor Tory strongly supports these
unprecedented measures to save lives, protect health and give residents their
lives back at the earliest possible date. The Mayor urged all residents to
follow the guidance of public health officials to reduce substantial loss of
life in Toronto, to protect the healthcare system, and to minimize the
significant social and economic disruptions that will occur if new measures are
not taken, noting these new measures will require tremendous sacrifice by the
people of Toronto.
The City is asking residents to adhere to
these orders and strong recommendations in the interest of public health and
safety. While informing and educating the public in understanding why these
measures are important, additional orders could be issued by the Medical
Officer of Health, and in some cases, fines could be issued where there is
non-compliance. City bylaw enforcement officers and the Toronto Police Service
will work together to enforce the provincial Emergency Management and Civil
Protection Act and the orders issued by the Medical Officer of Health under the
Health Protection and Promotion Act.
The City of Toronto is compiling a
comprehensive list of resources and critical information to ensure businesses,
the city’s most vulnerable, community groups and the public are kept informed
during this unprecedented time. The City’s website is being updated and
revamped with new information, daily. A public information campaign, in
multiple languages, will help ensure a full understanding of what the public is
being asked to do and, importantly, why.
The City’s Emergency Operations Centre
remains fully activated at a Level 3 and will continue to respond and
coordinate all activities associated with keeping Toronto safe. City staff are
working in parallel on a recovery plan to ensure the City’s finances remain
stable, as well as ensuring the stability of the Toronto Public Service. Later
this week, the City will provide an update on its finances and workforce
deployment.
By following the direction of public
health officials and limiting COVID-19 exposure to essential and critical
workers that keep the city functioning, we can ensure that emergency services,
garbage collection, water, gas, electricity, public transportation, emergency
daycare, and support for our most vulnerable can continue to function.
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.
