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PCs Top Pre-Election Poll

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A pre-election poll shows Premier Doug Ford with a sizeable lead among decided voters just over two months before the provincial election.

The Angus Reid poll gives Ford and the PC party 37 per cent support.

The NDP has 29 per cent, while the Liberals are at 25.

Courtesy Angus-Reid

Many Ontario residents, though, are still concerned with the PC’s performance over the last four years.

It gets poor marks in the handling of health care, housing, education, economic and other key issues.

Respondents are split on Ford’s response to the pandemic.

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Support For Nonprofits

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Some financial assistance for not-for-profit organizations to weather the pandemic.

The province is earmarking $83-million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation for groups like food banks, youth programs and Royal Canadian Legions to tap into.

Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod says the pandemic has been hard on them.

“That’s why we’re taking action to support initiatives like the Resilient Communities Fund that are making such a positive contribution to communities across Ontario during this trying time,” says MacLeod.

Eligible groups will be able to apply for grants of up to 150-thousand dollars.

McLeod sees it being valuable to organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion.

“The Royal Canadian Legion is a valued part of Ontario’s history and our culture, not to mention an integral part of many communities, communities that Ontario’s nonprofits work to strengthen.”

The Royal Canadian Legion had expressed concerns to the federal government last month that some branches would close without some form of financial assistance.

The provincial money can be used for things such as:

  • Equipping board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change and build resiliency (e.g. organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research & development, mental and physical health and wellbeing supports);
  • Improving and increasing ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or alternative sources of revenues (e.g. develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships and social finance);
  • Adapting or re-imagining the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees and volunteers (e.g. identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment, technology supports, staffing and volunteer recruitment and training);
  • Procuring equipment or renovating spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization, its programs and services, and adapt to new ways of working (e.g. equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology health and safety, and service delivery requirements);
  • Creating and/or adopting new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities (e.g. peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge and data sharing).

Eligibility requirements and application deadlines can be found on the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s website.

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Friendship Centre Looking At Providing More Supports

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The Dryden Native Friendship Centre is starting to make plans to assist families they serve with healthy meals.

Executive Director Cheryl Edwards says they were able to help about 150 families early on in the pandemic with $100 and $75 gift cards for food.

“Well some families have plenty right now, we do know that CERB will have an impact on these families later because they are not going to qualify for some subsidies. For example CERB can effect say a childcare subsidy or a housing subsidy.”

Edwards says “I do see a need that’s going to come up and I believe it will be the end of September or early October. We’re putting away some money for gift cards anticipating when that occurs.”

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Ontario Waving Fees For Tourism Outfitters

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Some relief for local tourist outfitters.

The provincial government won’t be charging resource-based tourism operations for certain licences and land use fees.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says they are also refunding revenue received for certain 2020 fees including:

-Licence to Provide Bear Hunting Services fees

-Bear Management Area fees (for land use associated with the Licence to Provide Bear Hunting Services)

-Baitfish Harvester and Dealer Licence fees

-Baitfish Harvest Area fees (for land use harvesting area associated with the harvesting licence)

The Northern Development Minister says the government is committed to supporting the resource-based tourism sector, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Resource-based tourism is a vital contributor to the Northwestern economy, and we are proud to provide immediate support to these businesses and encourage the people of Kenora-Rainy River to get outside and enjoy some of the great activities our beautiful region has to offer.”

Ontario is also providing relief from Land Use Fees for Outpost Camp permits or leases issued under the Public Lands Act.

 

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Additional Support For Those Struggling With Energy Bills

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The Ontario Government says its providing stability and greater customer choice, while helping those struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The new COVID-19 Recovery Rate of 12.8 cents per kilowatt hour is now in effect and will be in place until October 31st.

Minister of Energy and Northern Development and Mines Greg Rickford says the fixed rate will apply to customers 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Rickford notes starting November 1st, customers will be able to choose a plan that best suits their household and lifestyle with the option of either time-of-use electricity rates or tiered pricing, which will provide a set rate for electricity up to a certain level of consumption.

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP has also extended the Ontario Energy Board’s winter disconnection ban until July 31st to ensure no one is disconnected from their natural gas or electricity service.

Other initiatives announced Monday by Rickford:

-$9 million for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) to support consumers struggling to pay their energy bills during the pandemic. CEAP will provide one-time payments to consumers to help pay down any electricity bill debt incurred over the cornavirus period. Applications will be available through local utilities in July.

-$8 million for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) to provide support to businesses struggling with bill payments as a result of the outbreak.

Rickford says “We recognize that businesses and families are living with a great deal of uncertainty, and they need to know what they can expect when they open their electricity bills every month.”

Rickford says he recognizes that electricity prices will go up a bit for some consumers but notes it’s still cheaper than regular time-of-use rates, almost double that at peak.

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Mental Health Supports Still Available In Dryden

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The office may be closed but that doesn’t mean mental health services aren’t available for those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcel Penner is the Director for Mental Health and Addictions Services at the Dryden Regional Health Centre and he says all counselling is taking place over the phone or by video conferencing.

“If you are wanting mental health support in the form of counselling. Please feel free to reach out to us at our Intake Line at 223-6678.”

Penner adds “”If you’re wanting to just talk to somebody, you’re not sure if you want to see a councillor but maybe your feeling a little bit in crisis and you just want support, you can call our Crisis Line and that phone number is 1-866-888-8988.”

Penner says he understands a lot of people in the community are going through stress and anxiety right now.

He says the key is ensuring you have compassion for yourself, stressing all of us generally want to be happy and reduce suffering.

Penner suggests “Focus on easing off on yourself and areas that perhaps are causing stress and anxiety. Maybe you’ve set some goals for yourself that you need a little relief from. Just to be ok that maybe you haven’t met all the goals you set for yourself and that you’ll eventually get to those things when you need to.”

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Investment To Protect Long-Term Care Homes

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Ontario is ramping up protection for long-term care residents and workers.

Premier Doug Ford has unveiled what he calls a robust action plan that includes more money for long-term care homes across the province in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.

“Emergency funding for hiring more staff, restricting non-essential visitors, 24/7 screening of staff and residents and stepping up cleaning measures. We passed an Emergency Order to ensure every employee in long-term care homes can only work in one home.”

Ford says this investment will help protect residents, help reduce the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of potential exposure.

“We will continue to use every tool. We will spare no expense to protect residents and staff and keep them safe and healthy.”

The battle against COVID-19 has shifted to seniors homes, with 93 outbreaks reported across Ontario.

Meantime, the provincial government says they are working with the federal government to ensure small businesses aren’t kicked out of their spaces by landlords who didn’t get paid for the month of April.

Premier Doug Ford says Finance Minister Rod Phillips has been working on this issue with the Feds.

“You have to realize there’s 1.2 million leases just here in Ontario and we need the support of the federal government if we are going to look at this. I encourage the landlords and the tenants, when it comes to Commercial leases, to try and sit down and work it out.”

Ford also suggests small businesses inquire about loans the federal government is providing in the meantime.

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Provincial NDP Leader Calling For More Supports

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Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says more help is needed to assist those impacted by COVID-19, stressing her party will continue to push for better.

Horwath says she wants the government to catch people who fall through the cracks with a $2,000 monthly benefit, plus help for students, and top-up payments for low-wage essential workers and those struggling to make ends meet.

She has also proposed a $2,500 a month rent supplement and other supports for people with reduced income.

Horwath is calling on the government to provide supplementary grants for students who are unable to find summer jobs and eliminate assumed student earnings and parental contributions for any student affected by income loss in their households for the purpose of calculating OSAP.

She also wants full drug coverage through Trillium or the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan for anyone receiving emergency benefits.

Horwath notes “Provinces across the country have provided direct funds to fill the gaps, but Ontario has not and the urgent economic crisis people are facing is causing suffering that will only get worse if the province doesn’t do its part.”

 

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Greg Rickford: More Help Is On The Way

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The Ford government is planning more announcements to help those affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says “The energy system obviously is important. When more families and people find themselves staying in their home. We are looking at options and we are busy now planning the second stimulus package from the province.”

The Kenora-Rainy River MPP hints that may be a highlight in Wednesday’s economic update.

Rickford says another highlight is “A $300-million relief package focused primarily on health matters and making final decisions on how that will be best utilized is something that Cabinet committee is doing.”

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Information On COVID-19 E-I Claims

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Service Canada has set up a dedicated phone line for inquiries regarding COVID-19 related E-I claims

It’s for anyone who needs to apply for E-I sickness benefits if you can’t work due to self-isolation.

The one-week waiting period has been waved for those individuals.

Anyone who’s been laid off because of the pandemic and is looking to start a claim for regular E-I benefits can also call the dedicated line.

The number is 1-833-381-2725.

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