NEWSLETTER UPDATE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 

Below you will find this week’s updates on the COVID-19 situation and other important news.

My team and I are monitoring the situation closely and sharing resources and information here in my newsletter, on our COVID-19 Information Hub, on Facebook.

Our goal is to help you have the latest facts at your fingertips during this challenging time.

NEW THIS WEEK

• Ottawa Public Health Updates
  • Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches
  • Outreach Flu Vaccination Clinic
• City News
  • City further clarifies provincial restrictions impact on recreation activities and rentals
  • City to hold its last Household Hazardous Waste depot of 2020
• Federal Updates
  • ​Prime Minister announces additional support for food banks and local food organizations
  • Government Investing in Ontario Agri-food Workers
• Provincial Updates
  • Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region
  • COVID-19 Laboratory Testing in Ontario
  • Ontario Supports the Production of Critical Supplies to Fight the Spread of COVID-19
  • Long Term Care Update
  • Ontario Hiring Hundreds More Contact Tracers and Case Managers
  • Province keeps electricity rates stable and provides customers with more choice
  • Ontario Seeking Immediate Federal Action to Help Farmers
• Community and Ward News
  • Count-Cillor’s Halloween Decorating contest
  • Osgoode Outdoor Rink - Volunteers Needed
  • Scouts Canada Coffee Fundraiser
  • The Greely Legion needs your help

Ottawa Public Health Updates

Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches

• Our main goals throughout the COVID-19 response are to minimize hospitalizations and deaths, reduce societal disruption by keeping schools open and mitigating economic impacts.
• More advice on how to celebrate Halloween more safely can be found on our Be Social Wise webpage
•  Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches

Outreach Flu Vaccination Clinic

• Ottawa Public Health will begin the 2020/2021 flu season vaccination campaign on October 14 with outreach clinics at congregate care settings within your constituency. 
• Information regarding the outreach clinic in your constituency this week: 
• Wednesday, October 14, Marionville Pavilion 9342 Castor Rd, Russell
• Please note these sessions are not open to the public and are only for clients of congregate care settings who have pre-registered. Walk-ins will not be accepted.  
• Pharmacies have started to receive the vaccine and offer vaccinations. Please call ahead to your local pharmacy to confirm availability. For more information on OPH’s 2020/2021 flu vaccination campaign, please visit OPH’s Influenza (Flu) website. 
• 6 months old to 4 years old Ottawa Public Health Community Clinics
• 5 years old to 64 years old & 65 plus Ottawa Public Health Community Clinics , Participating Pharmacies

City News

City further clarifies provincial restrictions impact on recreation activities and rentals

• The City has received additional details on the Provincial modified stage-two restrictions and is providing.
• A further update on impacts to its recreation activities and rentals – especially around the gathering limitations of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.
• Don’t travel outside red zone for fitness or team play.
• Furthermore, masks must be worn in all facilities.
• https://ottawa.ca/en/health-and-public-safety/covid-19-ottawa/provincial-and-city-rules
• Continuing programs
  • Public swimming and swimming lessons
  • Before-and-after school programs
  • Badminton, pickleball and tennis - singles only

City to hold its last Household Hazardous Waste depot of 2020

• The City’s next household hazardous waste depot will run from Wednesday, October 21 until Sunday October 25.  
• Location is the Barrhaven snow facility, at the intersection of Strandherd and Dealership drives, daily between 8 am and 4 pm. We recommend accessing the site from the Strandherd Drive exit of Highway 416. 
• The City will not accept electronic waste, only household hazardous waste. You will be asked to remain in your vehicle as staff unload materials.
• Due to operating restrictions, staff will not be able to empty and return bins, totes, gas cans and boxes. 
• We have consulted with Ottawa Public Health to develop COVID-19 safety precautions for the depot. You can find the procedures online. 

Federal Updates

Prime Minister announces additional support for food banks and local food organizations

• Announced an additional investment of $100 million through the Emergency Food Security Fund.
• This investment will help improve access to food and increase food supply for vulnerable Canadians across the country, who are facing the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Government of Canada will provide this funding to national and regional organizations, who will then support food banks and local food organizations across Canada in order to help reach people experiencing food insecurity.
• https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/10/09/prime-minister-announces-additional-support-food-banks-and-local-food

Government Investing in Ontario Agri-food Workers

• The Government of Canada is investing $35 million to improve health and safety on farms through the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund.
• The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) ) will deliver the $11.6 million to Ontario projects and cost-share funding for the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program.
• OMAFRA has entered into a transfer payment agreement with the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) to provide agri-food businesses, organizations and associations with educational resources, tools and consulting services for COVID-19 protocols. Additional details about businesses that may qualify can be found on the WSPS website or by calling 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).
• The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development provides safety guidelines for employers to help protect workers, customers, and the general public from COVID-19.
•  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides information on COVID-19 for industry.
• This announcement is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.
• This $17 billion immediate response to the global pandemic provides urgent and direct support to help businesses, workers, seniors, families, students, Indigenous peoples and communities, and vulnerable populations during COVID-19.
• Governments Investing $26.6 Million to Further Protect Ontario Agri-Food Workers During COVID-19

Provincial Updates

Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region

• Monday, October 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., York Region will join Ottawa, Peel and Toronto public health regions in a modified Stage 2, as a result of their trends in public health indicators, including higher than average rates of COVID-19 transmission.
• Ontario government is introducing additional targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto public health unit regions.
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58767/ontario-implementing-additional-public-health-measures-in-toronto-ottawa-and-peel-region
• These modified Stage 2 restrictions will be for a minimum of 28 days and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

COVID-19 Laboratory Testing in Ontario

• Some questions you may have.How is testing for COVID-19 done?
• Who should be tested for COVID-19?
• https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/infectious-diseases/respiratory-diseases/novel-coronavirus/lab-testing-ontario

Ontario Supports the Production of Critical Supplies to Fight the Spread of COVID-19

• The government launched the $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses retool their operations to produce PPE and develop technology-driven solutions and services for businesses to reopen safely.

• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58838/ontario-supports-the-production-of-critical-supplies-to-fight-the-spread-of-covid-19

Long Term Care Update

• Short-term and temporary absences for social or personal reasons will not be allowed at long-term care homes in areas of the province where there is higher community spread of COVID-19.
•  Only absences for medical or compassionate reasons will be allowed.
• The communities where these restrictions apply are: City of Ottawa, Region of Peel, City of Toronto
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58803/outings-on-hold-for-long-term-care-homes-in-areas-of-higher-community-spread

Ontario Hiring Hundreds More Contact Tracers and Case Managers

• On September 30, 2020, the government announced it is investing $2.8 billion as part of the province’s comprehensive plan Keeping Ontarians Safe.
• Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19 to prepare Ontario’s health care system for the immediate challenges of the fall.
• Ontario Hiring Hundreds More Contact Tracers and Case Managers

Province keeps electricity rates stable and provides customers with more choice

• The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) sets both time-of-use and tiered rates as part of the Regulated Price Plan (RPP).
• RPP rates are updated twice a year, in May and November and the OEB reported the new rates coming into effect on November 1, 2020.
• Ontario Helps Keep Energy Costs Low for Families, Small Businesses and Farmers

Ontario Seeking Immediate Federal Action to Help Farmers

• The provincial government and the Ontario agri-food sector stand united in calling for federal action to assist farmers.
• The problems our agriculture sector face are national in scope and therefore require a national solution.
• Farmers are continuously impacted by market volatility and disruptions which worsened due to COVID-19.
• The Ontario government committed to expanding the provincial Risk Management Program by $50 million, a year earlier than planned, but we need the federal government to agree to meaningful enhancements to the suite of national business risk management tools that farmers can access.
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/statement/58796/ontario-seeking-immediate-federal-action-to-help-farmers

Community and Ward News

Count-Cillor’s Halloween Decorating contest

South Nation Conservation

SNC Hosting Online Information Sessions for New Natural Hazard Maps in Areas within Ottawa and Clarence-Rockland October 15th, 2020 South Nation Conservation (SNC) invites residents to tune in to online information sessions regarding new floodplain and erosion hazard maps developed for areas along Findlay Creek and the North Castor River within the City of Ottawa and Clarence Creek within the City of Clarence-Rockland. The Conservation Authority will be live streaming presentations on the new natural hazard mapping in affected areas via their YouTube channel www.youtube.com/SouthNationCA on the following dates:

• Findlay Creek and North Castor River: November 10th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

• Clarence Creek: November 12th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Natural hazard maps are used by municipalities and SNC when updating official plans and zoning schedules, and in reviewing development applications to protect people and property from natural hazards (such as flooding) and guide sustainable development activities.
Development projects within natural hazard areas (like floodplains) require permission from the Conservation Authority before proceeding. SNC updates natural hazard maps on behalf of its partner municipalities, when requested.
Residents in affected natural hazard areas have received a letter from SNC and may also schedule a meeting to discuss the updated maps with SNC staff on business days and evenings between November 16th and 27th. The live information sessions will also be recorded and made available for replay on SNC’s YouTube channel.
For more information on the virtual information sessions and natural hazard mapping, residents are encouraged to visit https://www.nation.on.ca/development/regulations/virtual-information-sessions-natural-hazard-mapping  or call 1-877-984-2948.

Osgoode Outdoor Rink - Volunteers Needed

The Osgoode outdoor rink needs your help again this year. They are looking for a community association that would take on the contract or private operators.
If they don’t find volunteers for this rink, it will be made dormant for the 2020/2021 season.
If interested you can contact Elizabeth Grabiec at 613 580 2424 x 20861

Scouts Canada Coffee Fundraiser

• Unfortunately, the global pandemic has had a direct impact on the traditional fundraising activities that Scouting Groups utilize to help fund the various programs that are offered to youth in our communities. 
• Apple Days have been cancelled; Scouts popcorn sales are postponed until at least spring next year; and door to door bottle drives are not allowed for safety reasons.
• If you would like to help out Scouting in your community, please consider going to www.scoutcoffee.ca between 12 October and 15 November and order some coffee.
• Your support in this is greatly appreciated.

The Greely Legion needs your help

Unfortunately, in March 2020 due to the world health emergency we had to close our doors. As a Not-For-Profit organization we depend solely on revenue from bar sales, hall rentals and kitchen sales to pay operating expenses. Further, we are prohibited from using any of the Poppy funds raised to pay for heat or hydro, any utilities – those funds can only be used to support veterans and community projects to support veterans. Click here for more information https://bit.ly/319mhlo