COVID-19 Update
While celebrations were far from traditional this year, I hope you had an enjoyable Easter long weekend with your families. I'd also like to wish a happy Passover to everyone celebrating this week – Chag Sameach.
Yesterday, Premier Doug Ford announced that the Provincial government would be tabling a bill to extend the current State of Emergency in Ontario for another 28 days – to May 12, 2020. This afternoon, the Legislature unanimously approved this extension.
In tandem, Toronto is ramping up enforcement to ensure that safe physical distancing practices are adhered to, as recommended by the Chief Medical Officer of Health. The City's COVID-19 Enforcement Team – comprised of bylaw officers and Toronto Police personnel – have begun to carry out stricter enforcement efforts, with a focus on physical distancing in parks and public squares.
In an effort to slow community spread of the virus, Toronto Public Health is continuing to visit essential businesses to provide advice, recommendations, and instructions on physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfection. You can find a complete list of businesses declared essential by the Province of Ontario, here.
This newsletter includes important updates on school closures, construction, travel regulations, and food security in Toronto. Please continue to visit www.toronto.ca/covid19 for more information on the City's COVID-19 response.
As always, thank you for your continued support and assistance in this challenging time. My team remains available to serve you by phone at 416-395-6408, or by email at councillor_robinson@toronto.ca.
"Shop Local, Eat Local" to Support Small Businesses
Last week, my team launched a "Shop Local, Eat Local" initiative to support our Don Valley West small business community in these difficult times. Ward 15 is home to four BIAs that represent some of the best shopping and dining locations in Toronto. If you are shopping online or thinking of ordering in, please consider supporting a local business. You can find more information, including a full list of vendors, on my website: https://www.jayerobinson.ca/shop-local-eat-local.
Another option for residents to help lessen the economic impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses and restaurants is by making a donation through https://www.distantly.ca. Developed in partnership with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), Distantly is an online platform that allows customers to support their favourite local businesses by facilitating online donations.
Public Health Measures for Returning Travellers
Today, the Federal government announced regulatory amendments under the Contraventions Act. These changes provide increased flexibility for law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local, and provincial police forces, to issue tickets to individuals who do not comply with orders under the Federal Quarantine Act.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced that, beginning at midnight on April 14, asymptomatic travellers must quarantine and will need to explain a credible quarantine plan upon their return from abroad. Any travellers with inadequate plans will be required to quarantine at a set location, such as a hotel. You can find more information online, here.
Construction
Many residents have contacted me with questions about ongoing local construction projects. As you may know, legislation related to essential/non-essential construction in Toronto is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ontario.
You can find more information on noise exemptions and permitted work hours here. The associated amendment to the City of Toronto Act, 2006 can be found, here.
As per the Province's updated list of essential services, residential construction projects are permitted to continue if:
A footing permit has been granted for single-family, semi-detached and townhomes;
An above-grade structural permit has been granted for condominiums, mixed-use and other buildings; or
The project involves renovations to residential properties, and construction work was started before April 4, 2020.
You can find more information on the Province's classification of essential services here. Please note that this list was most recently updated on April 3, 2020.
Schools
Today, the Premier announced that all public and private schools will remain closed beyond May 4, 2020. The Minister of Education is expected to provide an updated timeline later this week.
While schools are closed, the Province has introduced supplementary resources for elementary and secondary students to practice math and literacy skills at home. Although these materials do not replace what students have been learning at school, there are at-home activities available for children in kindergarten up to grade 12, including online resources, one-on-one support systems, and televised educational programming through TVO. You can find more information on these supplementary resources here.
Food Security
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for food programs has increased dramatically. The City continues to partner with community and corporate agencies to ensure that food programs can maintain operations and meet increased demand. For more information on resources available in Ward 15 and across Toronto, please visit: https://covid19.211central.ca/.
To address the needs of seniors and other vulnerable citizens, the City is working with the Red Cross and other partners to provide food hamper deliveries to those unable to leave their homes, as long as they are not receiving assistance from another community food program. If you require this service, please call 1-833-204-9952 for eligibility and registration information.
If possible, please consider dropping off non-perishable food donations to food banks or local fire halls. If you own a restaurant or food business and have surplus food, please consider donating to Second Harvest’s Food Rescue initiative at https://foodrescue.ca/. Additionally, any corporate, financial, and in-kind donations are strongly encouraged and can be directed to the City by emailing TOP@toronto.ca.
Frontline medical professionals are finding grocery delivery services oversubscribed, and don’t want to go into stores and potentially expose the public. You can help by signing up as a volunteer with Grocery Hero! Visit their Facebook page for more information.
Sunnybrook is organizing a drive to collect personal protective equipment to help nurses, doctors, and other front-line health professionals combat COVID-19. Visit the website to find out how you can help.