May 8, 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 physical distancing bylaw!
This Sunday, May 10th we celebrate Mother’s Day! I would like to wish everyone an amazing and sweet Mother’s Day Weekend!
City of Toronto announces plan to support retail stores re-opening for pickup and delivery service
As the Province of Ontario moves towards re-opening businesses, services and public spaces in stages, the City of Toronto today announced its plan to support retail stores as they re-open for curbside pickup and delivery on Monday.
Starting tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, hardware stores and safety supply stores will be permitted to open for in-store payment and purchases. On Monday, May 11, all retail stores with a street entrance can also begin to offer curbside pickup and delivery. Garden centres and nurseries are already permitted to be open for in-store payment and purchases and are operating under the same guidelines that grocery stores and pharmacies have been following. For more information including examples of how business owners can help keep employees and customers safe, please read this news release.
In April, the City of Toronto launched CurbTO to identify sidewalk hot spots and pinch points to help reduce sidewalk crowding in front of essential businesses and support increased demand for pickup and delivery services. This program will be expanded to support additional retail locations throughout Toronto. Learn more about CurbTO at toronto.ca/covid19BusinessTO. Curbside pick-up during COVID-19 tips for businesses can be found here.
Update on City’s Development Review, Permit and Inspection ServicesSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the City of Toronto has worked hard to support development in Toronto, while protecting the health and safety of residents and employees. The City has rapidly implemented a broad range of business process changes including technology deployment, staffing placement and work flow measures as well as actively monitoring application backlog and intake, to be able to safely deliver the services that the development industry counts on now and in the future. Please find attached the most recent update provided to the development industry.
City of Toronto update on COVID-19As of yesterday afternoon, there are 7,114 cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, including 4,717 recovered cases and180 new COVID-19 cases. We continue to see COVID-19 deaths; as of yesterday, 532 people in Toronto have died from COVID-19. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. Residents are reminded that the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face as much as possible, and maintaining a physical distance of two metres from others. In a retail environment where physical distancing cannot be maintained and individuals are in close contact, a cloth mask or face covering is strongly recommended to keep germs from spreading to others.
Update on enforcement activityEnforcement of the City’s physical distancing bylaw and the Province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders is ongoing. Yesterday, the City received 103 complaints involving people using outdoor amenities or not practising physical distancing in parks or squares. Bylaw and police officers issued four tickets – bringing the total number of tickets issued since May 1 to 36 tickets. This month, bylaw and police officers have spoken to more than 1,800 people in City parks about the closures and public health measures.
Enforcement officers continue to encounter individuals with off-leash dogs in parks. Off-leash dog parks are a park amenity that are closed by provincial order. Dog owners are reminded that dogs should be kept on-leash at all times until off-leash areas reopen. The City also received 15 complaints yesterday related to non-essential businesses remaining open. No tickets were issued to non-essential businesses yesterday. Since March 24, 127 tickets and 247 notices have been issued to non-essential businesses.
Second COVID-19 recovery site to open for homelessA second COVID-19 recovery site is opening today for individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive through a unique partnership between the City of Toronto, University Health Network (UHN), Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) and community health partners. The new downtown site has a capacity for up to 250 individuals who test positive for COVID-19. More information is available is the City’s news release as well as in the attached Councillor Update on the second recovery site for homeless individuals.
Arts@Home brings Toronto’s arts sector to your homeThe City is a proud partner of Arts@Home, a vibrant new hub connecting Torontonians to arts and culture. Arts@Home brings Toronto’s arts sector together for you, delivered straight to your home. Whether your goal is creation, recreation, learning or appreciation, visit artsathome.ca to explore and engage with meaningful artistic experiences across many forms of expression.
What’s On at the Library: Home Edition Since library brances are closed, and we’re all staying home as much as we can, Toronto Public Library wants to make sure that you can continue to access the services you want and need, and stay connected to your library, even if you can’t come into a branch. Check out their latest news here.
Justice for Children and Youth COVID-19 By-law & Enforcement Webinar Know where you stand on Emergency Orders, Police Engagement and COVID-19. In response to recent public health concern, Justice for Children and Youth and the Ontario Justice Education Network are offering a free online session for frontline youth workers that provides information about the legal implications of emergency orders, legal rights and obligations during this time. Thursday, May 14 from 10:30am to 12:00PM. More details can be found here.
Scarborough East EarlyON Centre Virtual Workshops Virtual May 2020 Calendar can be accessed here. Virtual Parenting Workshop June 2020 schedule can be accessed here.
Please go to www.paulainslie.com 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: City of Toronto Province of Ontario Government of Canada World Health Organization 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