Ford Sticking To Guns On Reopening Province
The provincial government still has no plans to reopen areas, like northern Ontario, early because they are experiencing low COVID-19 numbers.
City Reaches 3 Year Deal To Operate Aaron Park
Some long term stability for Aaron Provincial Park in Dryden.
Manager of Community Services Steve Belanger says they have approved a new three year agreement with the government to maintain operations.
The City has used partnership service agreements for the operation of the park since 1998 as a joint venture with the Province of Ontario.
The most recent deal was signed in 2015 and expired in 2017.
Contract extensions were signed in both 2018 and 2019.
The City has no control over when they can open or allow staff in.
Aaron Park remains closed right now due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Belanger says the City has had a strong working relationship with the government despite some cutbacks.
“We certainly took advantage of some student funding opportunities. We rolled things back a little bit with some of our maintenance projects that we were shooting for. We managed to be able to get a little bit of a better price on some of our chlorine. We shopped around for those materials for our safe drinking water.”
Belanger notes one challenge has been securing a pick-up truck to service the facility.
“We have secured a truck. COVID has slowed things down so we are actually pretty happy that the province has stepped up and allowed continued use of the truck we used last year through 2020.”
The City hasn’t been required to use reserve funds to balance regular operations.
At present, Dryden maintains an Aaron Park operating reserve of $21,670.
Belanger says he doesn’t anticipate a municipal contribution will be necessary to balance the operating budgets under the exisiting agreement.
Health Worker Pandemic Pay Expected Next Week
Health care workers in Ontario who are eligible for Pandemic Pay should get their money soon.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says the program is taking a little longer than expected to roll out.
“The Ministry of Health has been working with over 1,000 transfer payment agreements and getting this moving.”
Elliott adds “The money will start flowing next week. It will be received by the employers for distribution to the employees accordingly. I know they’ve had to wait a little bit longer then expected but that’s only because of the sheer volume and the number of transfer payment agencies that are involved with that.”
She notes anyone who receives the Pandemic Pay can expect it retroactive to April 25th, when it was first announced.
NDP Leader: “Buck Stops With Doug Ford”
The leader of the NDP wants heads to roll as a result of a recent report from the Canadian Military about “horrific” conditions at five long term care homes in southern Ontario.
An angry Andrea Horwath says the government has to be held accountable.
“I think the conversation now has to be about the minister and the premier actually stepping up to the plate. Particularly the premier in terms of ensuring their is some kind of accountability, some kind of response to this month.”
Horwath says she wants the Minister for Long Term Care, Merrilee Fullerton to resign and for the government to call a public inquiry.
“Let’s not pretend. This is not news to Merrilee Fullerton. This is not news to Doug Ford. This is not news to Christine Elliott.”
The Canadian Armed Forces findings outline serious concerns around infection prevention, safety, staffing and level of care.
Ontario Emergency Order Extended
The provincial government has once again extended its COVID-19 emergency order.
It was set to end on Friday but Premier Doug Ford has moved it to June 9th.
That means bars and restaurants won’t be able to open except for takeout and delivery.
Outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment, public swimming pools and water facilities remain closed.
There continues to be a restriction on social gatherings of more than five people.
RCMP Seize Hash And Cannabis
RCMP have seized a large amount of hash and cannabis after a traffic stop just west of the Ontario/Manitoba boundary.
Police pulled over a transport on the Trans-Canada Highway in the Rural Municipality of Reynolds Saturday morning.
Officers conducted a load inspection after finding some inconsistencies in the drivers paperwork.
Inside the truck, Mounties discovered over 1,200 pounds of unstamped cannabis and hash.
The 41-year-old driver from Surrey, B.C. has been arrested and faces a number of charges.
Ontario Still Not Set To Increase Group Sizes
Ontario’s Health Minister says they will have a better understanding on how to proceed with COVID-19 restrictions at the end of this week.
The number of cases is above 400 for the fifth day in a row.
Christine Elliott believes more people getting together for Mother’s Day celebrations played a role.
Elliott now says they will be looking at the impact Phase one of reopening Ontario has had on numbers.
She notes they have halted plans to increase the size of public and private gatherings of 5 due to recent large events including the weekend one at Trinity Bellwoods in Toronto.
“If they continue to increase, that will be a time for us to stay paused to look at the situation, understand why the numbers are increasing, and take action or don’t take action going forward.”
Elliott adds “Everyone is very anxious to be able to have more things open, to have restaurants open and other things opened. But we have to make sure that we do this responsibly. People have to make sure they continue that physical distancing.”
Premier Doug Ford says the government isn’t looking at rolling back restrictions at this time.
He adds he is sticking to his plan to reopen Ontario and won’t be making decisions based on the number of cases in various regions.
The province also plans to unveil a robust testing public awareness campaign this week that will be focused on hot spots, long-term care homes and large businesses.
The Ontario NDP released statistics Monday on the number of COVID-19 tests done in the province and how it relates to a government goal of 20,000 tests a day.
|
Date |
Tests completed, out of 20,000-test goal |
|
May 16 |
17,768 |
|
May 17 |
16,217 |
|
May 18 |
9,155 |
|
May 19 |
5,813 |
|
May 20 |
7,382 |
|
May 21 |
10,506 |
|
May 22 |
11,276 |
|
May 23 |
11,028 |
|
May 24 |
11,383 |
|
May 25 |
8,170 |
Province Looking At Plan To Help Vulnerable Students
Ontario’s Education Minister says his government is working on a plan to help vulnerable children get the learning supports they need over the summer.
Stephen Lecce says a number of steps have been taken and more programs will be rolled out in the weeks ahead.
Lecce notes they have put out an expectation to their boards of education that every single mental health and special education resource that is funded in Ontario is readily available.
He notes that includes ensuring educational assists, psychologists and social workers are supporting families and providing as much support as humanly possible to help parents until schools reopen in September.
Lecce says they will also be unveiling a two week Summer program to help children with autism and mental health challenges re-acclimatize to life back in the classroom.
It will focus on behaviour and communication and will be led by school board staff and health professionals.
Premier Watching COVID-19 Trends Like A Hawk
As the province continues to lift restrictions related to COVID-19, the Premier says if he sees a spike in cases he won’t hesitate to return to previous pandemic precautions.
Doug Ford says they are watching the daily coronavirus numbers like a hawk.
“If the cases are going up, it will be concerning, to say the least. I won’t hesitate to roll things back again,” Ford stressed.
Ford went on to say, “we are going to keep an eye on it, and if we see numbers spike we will roll things back in a heartbeat. I’m not going to chance it.”
The provincial government took time today to tell residents if they can’t maintain physical distancing that they should ensure that they are wearing a proper mask.
The Ministry of Health released the following face-covering recommendations:
- Wear your face covering safely and snugly to cover your nose and mouth, without any gaps. Ensure your face covering is made of at least two layers of tightly-woven material and can be cleaned multiple times without losing its shape;
- Medical masks, such as surgical and N95 masks, should be reserved for use by health care workers, those providing direct care, first responders and individuals who are ill and must leave their home for essential reasons such as seeking medical care, picking up medication or groceries;
- Face coverings should not be placed on or used by children under the age of two; anyone who has trouble breathing; and anyone who is unable to remove it without assistance.
Province Looking At Future Education Plan
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce admits schools won’t look the same next year.
Lecce says the government will have to “re-imagine” education in the 2020-2021 school year.
“There will have to be some protocol changes. Distancing, even with respect to movement of children for going outside. All these types of considerations are being made as we speak.”
He says a detailed plan will be unveiled by the end of June.
Lecce notes their strategy will be “bolstered by an enhanced province-wide virtual learning program that will allow all students to learn, regardless of the challenges that may transpire in the coming months.”
The province is also unveiling an expanded seven-point plan to help students continue their learning through the summer months.
Lecce says that includes help for individual school boards.
“They will be able to utilize exisiting funding from the Ministry to hire or maintain the continuity of our mental health supports and Spec. Ed supports throughout the summer. To create a bit of a wrap around experience and that these kids get as much help as they can.”
Lecce says Summer learning programs will be enhanced to reach the most students in Ontario history, to ensure they remain on track to start the 2020-2021 school year.
“The emphasis is going to be on credit recovery and credit accumulation for those kids Grade 9 to 12. We want them to take courses that they didn’t do well in this year, if they want to take them again, they can. If they want to take a new course, a new area of expertise or competence they are interested in, they can.”
Lecce adds students in Grade 8 will be able to take transitional programs to help them prepare for high school.
He says additional money will be made available to support vulnerable communities and Indigenous learners as they prepare for the planned resumption of school in September.