NEWSLETTER UPDATE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 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.

COUNT-CILLOR’S HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST

You have a little over 24 hours left to submit your photo for my contest. Gift certificates to be won are from local Ward 20 restaurants. #buylocal

NEW THIS WEEK

• Ottawa Public Health Updates
  • Hallowise
  • Dr. Etches answers your Halloween COVID questions
• City News
  • Masks to remain mandatory until at least January
  • City Clarifies Provincial Restrictions and Their Impacts on Recreational Activities
  • Ottawa Conference on Harm Reduction November 12/13, 2020
  • Discover a new way to plan Ottawa’s future 
  • Spice up your fall: Register for City’s virtual and in-person arts centres’ courses on November 2
  • Reminder: Join us for the online CPO Awards
  • Youth Arts Microgrants, Apply Now!
  • City launches Veterans Task Force
  • Clothing Donation Box By-law Review
  • Clearing Catch Basins
• Federal Updates
  • Extended Deadline for the Disability Tax Credit
  • Government of Canada Finalizes Agreement to Compensate Federal Employees Impacted by Phoenix Pay System
• Provincial Updates
  • Ontario Adding Over 760 Hospital Beds Across the Province
  • Ontario Raising Awareness About Accessibility
  • Ontario Provides 500 Million in Funding Allocations for Municipalities
  • Electricity rates change province-wide November 1
• Community and Ward News
  • Councillor Council Meetings
  • South Nation Conservation
  • SNC Awards $10,000 in Grants to Community Groups for Fall Planting Projects
  • Osgoode Outdoor Rink - Volunteers Needed
  • The Greely Legion needs your help
  • Scouts Canada Coffee Fundraise

Ottawa Public Health Updates

Hallowise

http://OttawaPublicHealth.ca/SocialWise

Dr. Etches answers your Halloween COVID questions

• Ottawa has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 transmission in Ontario.
• It’s disappointing, but people going out and mingling and sharing food is exactly the kind of activity that will spread COVID-19. 
• https://ottawa.ca/en/news/can-we-avoid-nightmare-christmas-dr-etches-answers-your-halloween-covid-questions

City News

Masks to remain mandatory until at least January 

• Masks will remain mandatory throughout the rest of 2020 and into early 2021. City Council today approved extending the Temporary Mandatory Mask By-law. 
• The by-law requires masks be worn on transit and in enclosed public spaces to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Enclosed public spaces include the common areas of condominiums and multi-unit residential buildings.
• The by-law also requires masks be worn in any designated unenclosed public spaces.
• While no specific end date is proposed, it would remain in effect until at least the first Council meeting in January. 

City Clarifies Provincial Restrictions and Their Impacts on Recreational Activities

• New restrictions have resulted in the closure of fitness and weight rooms and stopping all drop-in fitness classes and many indoor team sporting activities
• Instructional recreation programs have been cancelled
• Racquet sports where the participants are on opposite sides of a court, like tennis, pickle ball and badminton, are restricted to single play only.
• Outdoor basketball courts, ball diamonds, pitches and football fields remain available for training and practice only and with a maximum attendance of 25 people.
• While team sports using City facilities are limited to practices and drills, they must also restrict the number of participants to 25 outdoors and 10 indoors – a total number that includes both players and coaches.
• The new gathering restrictions of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors also apply to rentals at City facilities for meetings and functions.
• Swimming activities continue.
• Public skating and skating lessons in indoor arenas have been suspended.
• https://ottawa.ca/en/news/city-further-clarifies-provincial-restrictions-impact-recreation-activities-and-rentals

Ottawa Conference on Harm Reduction November 12/13, 2020

Discover a new way to plan Ottawa’s future 

• Beginning on Tuesday November 3, residents can learn about the City’s new proposed approach to planning Ottawa’s future growth. 
• The City is hosting a series of public information sessions about one of the key cornerstones of the new Official Plan 
• The New Official Plan will help support our growth over the next 25 years.
• We are proposing six different Transect areas across the city: Downtown, inner urban, outer urban, suburban, greenbelt and rural. Residents are invited to attend the following virtual public presentations to learn how their neighbourhood will evolve over the next 25 years.: 
  
  • Inner urban: Tuesday, November 3 
  • Rural: Wednesday, November 4 
  • Outer urban: Tuesday, November 10 
  • Downtown: Thursday, November 12 
  • Suburban: Monday, November 16 
• Not sure which presentation to sign up for? Email newop@ottawa.ca for assistance. 

Spice up your fall: Register for City’s virtual and in-person arts centres’ courses on November 2

• Spice up your fall on a new note, with a splash of colour or by adding a new step and register for the City’s virtual and in-person arts courses, starting Monday, November 2 at 9 pm.
• Registration begins on Monday, November 2 at 9 pm, and it is easy. Select the program that interests you and follow these simple steps:
  • Go to ottawa.ca.
  • Click the relevant barcode – it will take you to the course page with details about the number of spaces available, fees and dates.
  • Add the class to your cart and then proceed through the check out. We will email you your receipt.

Reminder: Join us for the online CPO Awards

• Don’t miss out! The 12^th annual Crime Prevention Ottawa Awards are just one week away.
• For the first time ever, the Awards will be held live on YouTube at lunch hour, so you can join the celebration safely from your home or office.
• Gather your friends, family and colleagues to share this uplifting and important event, which will honour crime prevention heroes from all walks of life. You won’t want to miss it! Register today.
• We’d love your help to make our 2020 event just as successful. Join the conversation with the hashtag #CPOAwards. 
   
  Date:             Monday, November 2, 2020
  Time:            12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  Location:      online live event
  Cost:             Free
  RSVP:           Register on Eventbrite

Youth Arts Microgrants, Apply Now!

• Let your artistic talents shine bright this winter.
• Apply for a Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) youth arts microgrant to help bring your ideas to life.
• The call for proposals will be available on October 28, 2020. The art projects should be completed by April 30, 2021.
• This grant is to support artists aged 12-25. Lead applicants must be 18 years old or older.
• For more information about funding, please visit crimepreventionottawa.ca   for the program guidelines and application form. 
• Applications must be completed by Monday, November 30^th, 2020. 
• Please join us for our virtual information session on Monday November 16^th from 6 to 7 p.m.
•  To confirm your attendance, please register

City launches Veterans Task Force

• The Veterans Task Force aims to support veterans living in Ottawa who are facing challenges with their transition to civilian life.
• The task force aims to create partnerships and networks that will make it easier for veterans and their families to secure housing.
• https://ottawa.ca/en/news/city-launches-veterans-task-force-assist-local-veterans-and-their-families

Clothing Donation Box By-law Review

•  The City of Ottawa is conducting a review of its Clothing Donation Box By-law
• An online public survey is available on the project page as part of the consultation phase for this review
• https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-engagement/projects/clothing-donation-box-law-review

Clearing Catch Basins

• This week was a rainy one.  The city is asking residents to clear their local catch basin of leaves and debris. 
• A clear catch basin allows water to drain off the road, making it safer for resident travel. 
• As temperatures drop, water that is left on the road may freeze causing dangerous conditions. 
• Small steps taken now to keep catch basins clear will help prevent water pooling on our roads.
• Catch Basin Locator Map

Federal Updates

Extended Deadline for the Disability Tax Credit

• The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced that the deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to receive the one-time payment has been extended from September 25, 2020, to December 31, 2020.
• This will help more Canadians with disabilities access the benefit, as the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for some to collect the information needed to complete the DTC application process.
• An extension of the deadline will give clients more time to submit their applications, and the Government of Canada time to issue decisions regarding eligibility.
• The one-time payment will help persons with disabilities deal with the expenses incurred during the pandemic.
• https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/10/government-of-canada-extends-deadline-to-apply-for-the-disability-tax-credit-to-receive-the-covid-19-one-time-payment-for-persons-with-disabilities.html

Government of Canada Finalizes Agreement to Compensate Federal Employees Impacted by Phoenix Pay System

• Government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), finalized an agreement to compensate current and former employees who may have been impacted by the Phoenix pay system and the late implementation of the 2014 collective agreements.
• https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2020/10/government-of-canada-and-public-service-alliance-of-canada-finalize-agreement-to-compensate-federal-employees-impacted-by-the-phoenix-pay-system.html

Provincial Updates

Ontario Adding Over 760 Hospital Beds Across the Province

• The new beds announced today are in addition to the $234.5 million investment for 139 critical care beds and up to 1,349 hospital beds included in Ontario's fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58955/ontario-adding-over-760-hospital-beds-across-the-province

Ontario Raising Awareness About Accessibility

• The Ontario government has launched a new public education campaign to increase awareness about accessibility needs and responsibilities, and help organizations identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities.
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58987/ontario-raising-awareness-about-accessibility

Ontario Provides 500 Million in Funding Allocations for Municipalities

• The Ontario government is providing municipalities with $500 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF).
• The province is maintaining the overall structure of the fund, keeping a commitment made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual conference in August 2020.
• Municipalities are being informed of their specific 2021 funding allocations, which will provide much needed stability and support. 
• https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59002/ontario-provides-500-million-in-funding-allocations-to-municipalities

 Electricity rates change province-wide November 1

• As you may recall, electricity rates are typically updated every May 1 and November 1 of each year.
• This past year additional rate changes occurred as a result of COVID-19.
• On June 1, the provincial government introduced the COVID-19 Recovery Rate. Households, farms and small business customers, who would normally pay time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates, were billed at a fixed rate of 12.8 cents/kWh; 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• This fixed electricity rate comes to an end on October 31, 2020.
• Hydro Ottawa: https://hydroottawa.com/en/accounts-services/accounts/time-use
• Hydro One: https://www.hydroone.com/rates-and-billing/rates-and-charges/customer-choice

Community and Ward News

Councillor Council Meetings

• The Councillor took part in a City Council Meeting, where he discussed City issues pertaining to the Climate Change Master Plan, Racism and the Mandatory Mask By-Law.
  • https://ottawa.ca/en/news/masks-remain-mandatory-until-least-january
• The Audit Committee were reports and discussions centred around the rent agreement at RCGT Park, OC Transpo Maintenance and Training, and the Fraud and Waste Hotline.
  • The City’s Audit Committee received the Auditor General’s report on the Fraud and Waste Hotline and three new audit reports.
  • https://ottawa.ca/en/news/committee-receives-hotline-report-and-three-new-audits-0
  • Also taking part of a panel that will be hiring a new Auditor General for the City of Ottawa.  These meetings will be ongoing for the next couple weeks.

South Nation Conservation

• Seasonal Parks Closing and Docks Being Removed for Winter
  
  • In preparation for winter, SNC has removed docks from its waterfront properties and will be closing some of its seasonal Conservation Areas in November.
  • Not all parks will be closed, and residents can still get outdoors this winter and take advantage of select Conservation Areas that will remain open and maintained by SNC for winter us.
  • SNC also has agreements in place with municipal partners to groom other trails and parks this winter, including Nokomis Park in Limoges and the Russell Recreational Trail.
  • More info on winter recreational opportunities here.
• SNC Sustainably Managing Forests in Eastern Ontario: Hardwood and Softwood Tender Opportunities
  
  • Sustainable forest management helps to maintain the long-term health of forests while providing benefits to the environment, surrounding ecosystems, wildlife, and residents.
  • SNC offers part of this work to local forestry professionals to help contribute to the local economy.
  • Current tender opportunities for both softwood and hardwood sales are now posted on SNC's website, with more to be added in the new year.
  • Interested contractors are invited to review information online for the competitive bidding process.

• SNC Hosting Online Information Sessions for New Natural Hazard Maps in Areas within Ottawa and Clarence-Rockland
  
  • 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) at 7:00 pm on the following dates:
  • Findlay Creek and North Castor River: November 10, Clarence Creek: November 12
  • Residents in affected areas have received a letter from SNC and may also schedule a meeting to discuss the updated maps with SNC staff between November 16th and 27th. More info here

SNC Awards $10,000 in Grants to Community Groups for Fall Planting Projects

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

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

Scouts Canada Coffee Fundraise

• 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.
• Don't forget that 35% of all orders goes straight back to our group and another 5% supports youth experiencing financial hardships to gain access to the program.
• The option to allocate support to your local scouts will come up once you go to checkout your order. List is below.
• Thanks for supporting 1st Greely Scout group, your support in this is greatly appreciated.

Scouter Matt Tucker                     Scouter Karen McNaught             Scouter Tracy Burtt

1st Greely                                       1^st Osgoode                                    1st North Gower-Kars

Group Commissioner                   Group Commissioner                   Group Commissioner

Scouter Gennesse Walker-Scace             Scouter Frances Rutherford

1^st Gloucester                                               2^nd Russell

Group Commissioner                                  Group Commissioner