January 15, 2021 Update Dear Neighbours, I would like to continue to thank everyone for their efforts during these difficult times, I know it has been tough, but we must continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep ourselves and our community safe. It is also important to remember, our mental health is paramount, and that we take care of ourselves and seek support if needed. City of Toronto 2021 Budget Consultation
To submit your questions before January 18, 4:30pm:
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City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update:(Data as of January 14, 2020) There has been an increase of 852 COVID-19 cases in the City with 471 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City has seen a total of 74,476 cases of COVID-19, of these, 63,777 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 2,139 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. Province of Ontario status of COVID-19 Cases can be found here.
A Province-wide declaration of emergency is in effect. Stay home and only go out for essential reasons. Remember when you are outside of your home for essential purposes, be sure to wear a mask or face covering, practice physical distancing and good hand hygiene. Get the latest information about service changes, COVID-19 vaccination rollout and why it is important to continue following public health measures that reduce virus spread.
COVID-19 testing site and vaccine information – Residents can learn more about testing locations in their neighbourhood at www.toronto.ca/covid19testing . If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine please visit the City’s webpage for the latest news and information at www.toronto.ca/covid19vaccine
Scarborough Health Network offers walk-in COVID-19 testing at Scarborough Village Recreation Centre. The Pop-up Assessment Centre will be held at Scarborough Village Recreation Centre, located at 3600 Kingston Rd, from 9am to 6pm every Thursday starting January 21, 2021. Learn more at www.shn.ca/covid19-popup
City of Toronto and partners completing resident vaccinations at all 87 long-term care homes in Toronto. The vaccination milestone comes well in advance of the Province of Ontario’s January 21, 2021 deadline to complete the first round of vaccinations in long-term care homes. More than 10,322 residents and 2,893 staff and essential caregivers have now been vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine on-site in Toronto long-term care homes. In addition, staff and essential caregivers have attended hospital clinics to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. For more information please read this news release.
Toronto Public Health expands case and contact management work. As our local response to the spread of the virus continues, Toronto Public Health’s case and contact management program is an important tool to help curb the virus spread. To expand TPH’s case and contact management work, the following enhancements are currently underway: 180 contact callers and case managers have been added to focus on rapid isolation cases; and an additional 100 case managers are being recruited for TPH to focus on rapid isolation cases while TPH health staff perform higher risk investigations. For more information please read this news release.
City of Toronto employees raise over $1,345,802 for United Way through its annual employee fundraising campaign. For the last 19 years, staff from the City and its agencies and corporations have raised more than $1 million each year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s employee campaign was conducted virtually, including a Civic Run, Civic Gala, speaker series and special fundraising events across many work locations. For more information please read this news release.
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) devises issue more than 53,000 tickets at first round of locations with steady reduction in speeding incidents and repeat offenders. The City’s 50 ASE devices issued a total of 53,090 tickets at the first round of locations from July 6, 2020 through the final day of enforcement on November 30, 2020. The devices started at the second round of locations on December 1, 2020. Enforcement data from December 2020 will be available in February. For more information about the program, how to settle fees and a map of all locations please visit www.toronto.ca/ase.
City Hall Live Spotlight postponed due to provincial restrictions. City Hall Live Spotlight livestreamed concerts, part of ShowLoveTO, are postponed due to new provincial restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. Visit www.toronto.ca/showloveto for updates.
The City of Toronto’s Budget Committee began the process of reviewing the staff-recommended tax-supported operating and capital budgets for 2021. The public can share their feedback with the Budget Committee at public presentations, scheduled to take place on January 25 and 27. More information about how to make a deputation is available at app.toronto.ca/tmmis/index.do. Budget notes, presentations and reports are available at www.toronto.ca/budget
iPHARE which stands for Integrated Prevention and Harm Reduction initiative, is a multi-pronged effort by the City and community agencies to address opioid-related deaths in Toronto’s shelter system. There is an escalating opioid poisoning crisis in Toronto, which is impacting individuals experiencing homelessness. Attend an information session January 18 or 19 to see how the City is providing support. For more information and to attend an information session please visit this link.
The new Ontario Small Business Support Grant provides a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to help small business owners during 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. More information can be read at this link.
Ontario Government offers rate relieve during COVID-19. Effective January 1 through to January 28, 2021, the Government of Ontario is providing a temporary COVID-19 Recovery Rate for families, farms and small businesses who pay Time-Of-Use (TOU) or Tiered pricing. Customers will be billed a flat price of 8.5 cents per kWh, 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting on January 1, 2021. For more information please visit this link.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24
Please click here for a list of food banks in East Scarborough
Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough
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. W
atch Scarborough-Guildwood’s past Live Town Hall meetings on my YouTube channel!
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough ScoopCheck out the ESBGC latest Bi-Weekly Scoop HERE. Subscribe HERE.insidehousing:
News from Toronto Community HousingCheck out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.BusinessTO Newsletter: BusinessTO’s upcoming webinars and online eventsCheck out their latest newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE. TransformTO Update: Climate action for a healthy, equitable, prosperous Toronto.Check out their latest update HERE.Subscribe HERE.
What’s On at the Library: Home EditionCheck out the latest copy HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Fall TPL live and online programming is available online.
Our KGO Updates: East Scarborough Storefront’s crowd-sourced e-newsletterCheck out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Toronto District School Board Update Check out the latest issue HERE.
TDSB Trustee Update by Ward 19 Scarborough-Guildwood Trustee Zakir PatelCheck out the latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
City of Toronto Waste Wizard. The City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard helps you find out what waste items go where! You can visit the Waste Wizard online or download the TOwaste app.
Essential Government Information for COVID-19Public Health’s information line & 311 are experiencing high call volumes. Residents can get the information they need online at www.toronto.ca
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 www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
The City of Toronto’s website can be translated into many languages using the GoogleTM Translate tool. This tool gives residents and visitors who speak other languages a way of accessing City information featured on the website. To change languages on the City of Toronto website, please click here: www.toronto.ca/home/translate/
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website with up to date information:
Website: www.paulainslie.comYou can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul