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Premier Doug Ford

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Gas, Fuel Tax Being Cut In Ontario

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A potential drop in fuel prices this long weekend.

Beginning Friday, the province is lowering the gas tax by 5.7 cents and the fuel tax, which covers diesel, by 5.3 cents per litre.

Both rates will sit at nine cents per litre through until December.

The provincial government passed legislation in the spring to make these changes.

“I really want to ask and implore the federal government to do the same thing,” Premier Doug Ford stated when asked if this could be a long-term measure. “We’ve done ten cents so far, but if the feds (cut) another eleven cents that’s 21 cents, that would be huge savings. They can do it temporarily if they want to, just do it through the peak times of the summer or up to the end of the year, that’s how you put real money into people’s pockets, that’s how you keep the cost of groceries down and inflation down. That’s what we need to do.”

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) are expected to be back at Queen’s Park in a few weeks.

“We’re going to come back on (Monday) August 8th, I think we’ll be sitting approximately for five weeks, and we’re going to get things moving forward. We will pass the budget that (Finance) Minister Peter Bethenfalvy put together and we’re going to move things forward as quickly as possible,” Ford commented.

The budget in April included a reported deficit of $19.9 Billion in 2022.

Looking ahead, the document also predicted a deficit of $10.8 billion in 2023-24, $6.1 billion in 2024-25, $5 billion in 2025-26, and only $700 million in 2026-2027, but only once a $1.5 billion reserve is removed.

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Kevin Holland Secures PA Post

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One of the local MPPs under Premier Doug Ford is getting extra responsibility.

Thunder Bay-Atikokan Member Kevin Holland has been sworn in as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for me and I think it will serve us well (in the riding),” Holland told Acadia News.

“It’s a little less work than being a full-time minister, which will allow me the time to address the issues that we are facing here in Thunder Bay-Atikokan, which led to me running in the first place. It also gives me access to ministers at the same level as if I were a full-time minister.”

Holland said he got the call from Minister Clark just minutes after the new cabinet was sworn in on June 24th.

“We had 83 members that (the Premier) had to choose a cabinet from, so I knew it was going to be a difficult decision for him to make,” added Holland. “I’m okay with not being selected for cabinet in the first go around. I do believe that my 31 years on municipal council probably had some bearing on the decision to appoint me as the Parliamentary Assistant (to this portfolio).”

Holland has stated that he wants to tackle a shortage of jobs in the riding as well as secure additional employment opportunities at the Alstom Plant and support the Northern School of Medicine (NOSM) University.

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Mask Mandates Extended To June 11th

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The mask mandates in congregate settings will continue.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore is extending the existing mask requirements from Wednesday, April 27th to Saturday, June 11th.

“Continuing to follow masking requirements and keeping up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations are the best ways we can prevent transmission and protect our friends, families, and our communities,” said Dr. Moore.

The sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the mandates remaining in place for hospitals, transit and long-term care homes.

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Province Announces More Supports For Ukrainian Refugees

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The Ontario government is committing $300 million to help Ukrainian refugees to resettle.

Premier Doug Ford says the funding will cover a number of things the families will need.

“This will include expanded OHIP, and drug coverage, emergency housing, and income support for those who qualify,” says Ford.

“We’re also ensuring that elementary and high school students coming from Ukraine can attend publically funded schools here in Ontario for free. We will have all the critical supports that these families will need once they arrive here in Ontario.”

Ford says Ukrainian refugee families have already started to arrive in Ontario, but for the most part, they are staying with relatives.

Ontario’s Labor minister Monte McNaughton adds that they now have 30 thousand employment opportunties for Ukrainian refugees.

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Ontario Trying Attract More Skilled Workers

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The province is making it easier for skilled trade workers to move to Ontario.

Minister of Labor, Training, and Skills Development Monte McNaughton says they are cutting red tape to make that happen.

“To be competitive we must cut the red tape holding back our workers and put them in the driver’s seat,” says McNaughton.

“This is why Ontario will be recognizing all Red Seal trades. Why we’re making it easier for workers who are trained to work at heights, to do so here.”

Premier Doug Ford says the legislation will allow skilled workers to move to Ontario and get certified within a month.

“These changes would help workers in over 30 in-demand professions move here with their families, by ensuring out-of-province workers can register in their regulated profession or trade within 30 days.”

Ford says Ontario has over 300 thousand jobs that need to be filled and at least one union has indicated they have 20 thousand jobs available for Ukrainian refugees.

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MPP’s Speak Out Against Invasion Of Ukraine

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A rare moment of solidarity at Queen’s Park.

All the parties are condemning the invasion of Ukraine.

Premier Doug Ford says they stand against tyranny and for the people of Ukraine.

“Canada shall never waver in our support of Ukraine,” Ford told the Ontario Legislature.

“As Putin’s aggression light up the skies of Kyiv, they will see the strength of the Ukrainian people emerge from the darkness. We must ensure the Ukrainian flag flies high above the skyline. The blue and yellow must be the last colors the invaders see.”

Ford calls the invasion by Russia an act of aggression and Vladimir Putin a thug and a despot.

According to the Ukrainian President, explosions were reported in multiple cities and at least 40 people have been killed.

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Ontario Starting To Lift Public Health Measures

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Ontario is starting to loosen COVID-19 restrictions.

Starting on February 17th, gathering limitations are being increased and as of March 1st, there will be no indoor limits, and the province will remove the vaccine passport system.

Premier Doug Ford says the masking requirement will remain.

“This is an important layer of protection that will allow us to proceed with our reopening plan safely,” says Ford.

“Beginning on February 17th, we will remove all capacity limits except for sporting events, concert venues, and theatres, which will be capped at 50 percent.

Ford says they will lift them all together starting next month.

“Effective March 1st, we intend to eliminate capacity limits in all indoor public settings, at the same time and at the recommendation of (Chief Medical Officer of Health) Dr. Moore, we will lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings.”

Ford says the metrics of COVID-19 are moving in the right direction and that’s why they are loosening restrictions.

“Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor but in spite of it,” Ford said. “We’re moving forward as a province and a country, and this chaos is not going to be tolerated, I promise you that.”

Dr. Kieran Moore says because a majority of the population is now vaccinated, it’s safe to reopen these settings safely.

“92 percent of Ontarians 12 and over have received at least two doses and 6.7 million Ontarians now have their third doses, so we have the level of protection we need to lift public health measures.”

He adds that our health care system is in a much better position now and we are on the downward slope of the peak of omicron activity.

The full timeline can be read below:

Effective February 17, 2022

Ontario will further ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:

  • Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
  • Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
  • Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
    • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
    • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
    • Cinemas
    • Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
    • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
    • Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
  • Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
  • Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
  • Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
  • Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.

In addition, as of 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, Ontario is expanding booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, as well as at select pharmacies administering the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments will be booked for approximately six months (168 days) after a second dose. To book an appointment online, individuals must be 12 years old at the time of appointment.

Effective March 1, 2022

Ontario intends to take additional steps to ease public health measures if public health and health system indicators continue to improve. This includes lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings.

Ontario will also lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.

To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, public health units can deploy local and regional responses based on local context and conditions.
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UPDATE: Looser Restrictions Coming January 31st

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Ontario will be implementing a gradual and phased in re-opening plan later this month.

As of Monday January 31st at 12:01 a.m. social gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors and indoor public settings will be capped at 50 per cent capacity at the following settings:

  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
  • Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
  • Shopping malls
  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
  • Cinemas
  • Meeting and event spaces
  • Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks
  • Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Religious services, rites, or ceremonies

The province will enact more re-opening measures on the subsequent dates:

February 21, 2022

  • Social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
  • Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, cinemas, as well as other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements
  • Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres at 50 per cent capacity
  • Limiting capacity in most remaining indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance
  • Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required
  • Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs

March 14, 2022

  • Lifting capacity limits in all indoor public settings (proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures)
  • Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies
  • Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings
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Students Set To Go Back In Class

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Virtual learning is set to conclude this week.

Multiple reports emerged Monday night that the province will announce this week the return to in-class instruction on January 17th.

Premier Doug Ford’s office confirming those reports to some outlets, but did not explain why they were making the decision.

Ontario unveiled the shift to online learning on January 3rd citing the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases.

In the meantime, the province has come to an agreement with the Ontario Teachers Federation to allow retired teachers
almost double the number of days they are allowed to teach.

The agreement means a retired teacher can be in the classroom 95 instead of the current 50 days.

The deal was reached because of the teacher shortage across the province and the high rate of absenteeism.

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January 5th Back To School

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Delaying the start to in-person learning in 2022.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore announced Thursday that the start of the 2022 calendar will be on Wednesday, January 5th.

Moore said the province put the two day delay in to allow time to deploy additional safety measures, including non-fit-tested N95 masks for staff in schools and licensed child care settings in addition to a supply of high-quality three-ply cloth masks.

School boards will also get an additional 3,000 standalone HEPA filter units.

Only low-contact indoor sports and safe extra-curricular activities will be permitted when schools return.

Capacity Limits

The province is also further restricting capacity limits to indoor areas of the following setting as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, December 31st:

  • Spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., sporting events)
  • Concert venues
  • Theatres

Testing, Isolation Requirements

Ontario will also only provide publicly-funded polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including for the purposes of confirming a COVID-19 diagnosis to begin treatment, and workers and residents in the highest risk settings, as well as vulnerable populations.

Those who have a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be required or encouraged to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test.

Individuals with COVID-19 who are vaccinated, as well as children under 12, will be required to isolate for five days following the onset of symptoms. Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them. These individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health and safety measures, such as masking and physical distancing, are followed. Non-household contacts are required to self-monitor for ten days.

Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised will be required to isolate for 10 days.

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