COVID-19 Update
As we celebrate National Nursing Week, I'd like to begin by thanking all of the nurses in Don Valley West and across Toronto for their hard work and sacrifices in this challenging time.
The best way to continue to support our frontline healthcare professionals is to follow the recommendations of Toronto Public Health. Today, the City's Medical Officer of Health asked that we all avoid taking non-essential trips out of town this weekend and continue to practice physical distancing measures as we begin to approach the first phase of recovery.
This afternoon, Premier Doug Ford made an important announcement about the next stage of the Province's framework to reopen Ontario's economy. You can find more details below.
Today's announcement follows the Ontario Legislature's vote to extend the current State of Emergency to June 2, 2020. In the coming days and weeks, the Province has indicated that they will be making several important announcements related to social gatherings, child care, and education. I will continue to share regular updates as we learn more.
To prepare for the reopening of Toronto's economy, the City is rolling out the ActiveTO program to provide space for safe physical distancing on Toronto's streets and encourage active transportation options. Today, Mayor Tory announced the first list of ActiveTO locations.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. While we are physically isolated, our community is more united than ever as we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19.
My team remains available to serve you by phone at 416-395-6408, or by email at councillor_robinson@toronto.ca.
First Stage of Reopening Ontario's Economy
Today, the Province announced details about the first stage of reopening Ontario’s economy. Below, you will find information on the retailers, seasonal businesses, and health and community service providers who will be permitted to open or expand their services, provided that key public health indicators related to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to show positive progress.
Ontario's first stage of reopening will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, and will include:
Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate, street-front entrances with measures in-place to enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any given time;
Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field, and horse racing;
Animal services, specifically pet care services – such as grooming and training – and regular veterinary appointments;
Indoor and outdoor household services that can safely follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning, and maintenance;
Lifting essential workplace limits on construction; and,
Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling and scheduled surgeries.
The Province also announced additional seasonal services and activities that will be permitted to open as early as Saturday, May 16, 2020:
Golf courses will be able to open, although customers will only be permitted to enter clubhouses to access washrooms and restaurants will only open for take-out;
Marinas, boat clubs, and public boat launches may open for recreational use;
Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract; and,
Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for, or ride their animals.
The Government of Ontario has also launched the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory website to provide businesses with an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment.
For more information on the Province's plans, please visit their website or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP).
CurbTO
The City of Toronto launched the CurbTO program to address sidewalk crowding and temporary parking concerns in high-traffic areas. As of today, 30 pedestrian zones and 17 temporary parking pickup zones have been installed across the City, with additional zones scheduled for installation by the end of the week.
Today, City staff advised the first two locations that will be installed in Ward 15:
2443 – 2451 Yonge St. (Green Valley Products, Wine Rack, Starbucks)
Curb Lane Pedestrian Zone – Yonge St. (East Side) – South of Erskine Ave.
507 Mount Pleasant Rd. (Bread and Butter)
Temporary Parking Zone – Mt. Pleasant Rd. (East Side) – Between Millwood Rd. and Davisville Ave.
If you have any recommendations or suggestions for future CurbTO locations, please contact CurbTO@toronto.ca.
Committee of Adjustment Hearings Resume Online
Starting June 3, 2020, the Committee of Adjustment (COA) will begin holding virtual meetings.
Applications will be scheduled on a "first come, first serve" basis starting with less complex cases where applicants have agreed to a virtual format, and the initial agendas will contain a maximum of 20 items. City Planning staff anticipate that the application backlog will exist well into 2020.
You can find more information about affected services, including the COA, on the City's website.
Support for Students
As a mother of three, I know that many young graduates and students are anxious about summer jobs, the upcoming semester, and the long-term impacts of COVID-19.
In a previous update, I shared that the Federal Government had announced a number of support measures for students, including the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB). The CESB would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students or $1,750 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities.
Yesterday, the Federal Government announced that applications for the Canadian Emergency Student Benefit will open May 15, 2020.
Students who are eligible can apply online through their MyCRA account or by phone. More information on the CESB and application process can be found on the Federal Government's website.
Support for Seniors
To continue supporting seniors during this challenging time, the Federal Government launched several new programs, including:
A one-time, tax-free payment of $300 to seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 to seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS);
A $20 million investment in the New Horizons for Seniors Program to support organizations offering community-based projects that reduce isolation, improve quality of life, and help seniors maintain a social support network; and,
A temporary extension of GIS and Allowance payments if seniors’ 2019 income information has not been assessed, ensuring that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive benefits.
For more information, please visit the Federal Government's website.
Supporting Local Businesses
In partnership with our Ward 15 BIAs and the Thorncliffe Park community, my team has developed a "Shop Local, Eat Local" initiative to promote our local businesses. You can find a full list of vendors on my website.
Two neighbours from our very own Davisville Village neighbourhood created a platform called Local Bee to encourage shoppers to pre-purchase gift cards or vouchers that can be used when vendors reopen. Find out what shops you can support by visiting their website today!
If you are planning to shop online or order take-out meals, please consider choosing to support a small business in our community. Every dollar counts!
On Tuesday, the City of Toronto launched ShopHERE, a free program to help Toronto independent businesses and artists open an online store to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ShopHERE will provide Toronto independent businesses and artists with hands-on support from volunteer website developers and marketing and business students to develop an online store, which will be built and launched for free in just a matter of days.
Visit the City's website for more information on ShopHERE. Toronto tech companies with an interest in supporting small independent businesses and artists are encouraged to assist if they can.
Yesterday, the City also launched the Ritual ONE program, which provides restaurants and food services with an easy way to accept digital orders from their own website and social media accounts.
Businesses that sign up for Ritual ONE by June 1, 2020 will receive the service free for life and will not pay any commission or monthly subscription fees on orders placed through the platform. Businesses will be provided with a dedicated expert to help support them during the onboarding process. This offer is also available to existing restaurants in the Ritual marketplace. For more information, please visit: https://ritual.co/partners.
Ontario Reopens Provincial Parks
Over the weekend, the Ontario Government announced it would be reopening Provincial parks and conservation reserves for limited day-use access.
On Monday, May 11, the first 520 of these parks and conservation reserves reopened. The remaining 115 will open on Friday, May 15.
As per Provincial regulations, day-use and recreational activities are limited to:
Walking;
Hiking;
Biking; and
Birdwatching.
Day visitors will also be able to access all parks and conservation reserves for free until the end of May.
At this time, activities not listed above – including camping – are not permitted in provincial parks and conservation reserves. All buildings and facilities – including washrooms, water taps, campgrounds, backcountry campsites, roofed accommodations, playgrounds, and beaches – remain closed.
All City of Toronto parks and green spaces remain open but, as previously indicated, park amenities remain closed.
Mental Health Support Services
Many people may be feeling anxious, unsure and even scared at this time – these are normal and healthy responses to unexpected or stressful situations. Public health professionals are emphasizing that it is important for all of us to continue reaching out to friends by phone or video chat, keep active while staying at home, and do our best to eat well and get lots of rest.
The City of Toronto offers a number of free mental health resources. You can find more information on the available support services by visiting the City's website or calling 211.
You can also find additional resources on the Government of Ontario's website and through the Wellness Together Canada portal.
Check out these supportive signs in front of Ward 15's St. Anselm Catholic School!
Have you seen any signs, murals, or displays that you think should be shared with our community? Email your photos to my office to be featured.
Waste Pick Up Services
While changes to City services due to the COVID-19 pandemic have not impacted the collection of garbage, Blue Bin, Green Bin, and oversized metal items, many residents have requested clarification on which items are permitted to be disposed of through the Green Bin program.
As a precaution, the City is asking that the following items be disposed of in the garbage, not the Green Bin program:
Personal hygiene/sanitary products
Tissues
Napkins
Paper towels
Wipes
Masks
Gloves
Please be advised that diapers can still be disposed of in the Green Bin.
Unfortunately, at this time, Drop-off Depots (Transfer Stations) remain closed to the public, except for those with an existing registered account. No new account requests will be processed at this time, and no hazardous waste will be accepted at Drop-off Depots.
That said, the City has reinstated the Toxic Taxi service for pick up of household hazardous waste. To arrange a pick up, please call 311 and make an appointment. For more information, please visit the Household Hazardous Waste website.
For further clarification on how to properly dispose of different waste items, you can use the City's Waste Wizard tool or download the TOwaste app to access the Waste Wizard from your smartphone or tablet.
Provincial Support for Child Care Centres
Earlier this month, the Ontario Government introduced additional measures to ensure families have access to local, licensed child care centres. The following measures will support licensed child care providers to ensure they are prepared to provide service when parents return to work:
Support for fixed operating costs at eligible child care and EarlyON Centres to offset lost revenue as providers are not able to charge parent fees while the Provincial Emergency Order is in effect;
Direct and rapid funding delivery through municipal service managers for centres that currently receive funding;
A straightforward application process for child care centres that do not currently receive provincial funding by allowing them to apply directly to the Ministry of Education;
Automatic extension of child care licenses set to expire during the emergency period; and
Protecting existing base funding for licensed home child care agencies, and supplying regular funding and wage enhancement grants for licensed home child care providers who have remained active during the emergency closure.
For more information on child care for healthcare and frontline workers, please visit the Province's website.
Thanks for all you do, Sunnybrook!
I'd like to take this opportunity thank all the residents of Don Valley West who continue to support all of our frontline and healthcare workers while they work tirelessly to keep our community safe and healthy in the face of COVID-19.
Additional Support for Businesses from the Federal Government
On April 17, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada’s six regional development agencies (RDAs) would deliver $675 million in financial support to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are unable to access other federal COVID-19 relief measures.
Yesterday, the Federal Government launched the new COVID-19 Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF).
For businesses in southern Ontario – including Toronto – the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) confirmed that $252.4 million will be available through the RRRF. To apply, please see FedDev Ontario's website for more information and program guidelines.
Over the past week, several other initiatives were announced to support large- and medium-sized businesses:
To help protect jobs, a new Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will be established to provide bridge financing for Canada’s largest employers to avoid bankruptcy and continue their operations; and,
For mid-sized companies with larger financing needs, the existing Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will be expanded through a Mid-Market Financing Program to provide loans of up to $60 million.
For more information, please see the Federal Government's website. You can also find a full list of supports and services for businesses on the City's website.
Get Involved: Support Our City's COVID-19 Response
Volunteer Opportunities
Many of you have generously expressed a desire to support Toronto as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to get involved, please visit my website for a list of volunteer opportunities.
Food Security
The Neighbourhood Office in Thorncliffe Park (TNO) is seeking donations to help support 600 at-risk families with meals and grocery delivery. If you would like to donate groceries, please call Aamir Sukhera at 416-346-3000.
The Leaside Toy Drive Committee has started a Go Fund Me in support of TNO's Thorncliffe Food Drive. With the help of our community, they have already raised over $10,000! I'd like to thank all those who have generously supported this initiative – your contributions are greatly appreciated.
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/.
If you are able, please consider dropping off non-perishable food donations to food banks, such as the Community Share Food Bank and Sprint Senior Care, 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/.
Donations
Last month, Leaside United Church's Outreach Committee announced a new COVID CARE initiative to support vulnerable members of our community who are in need of immediate relief. Visit their website for more information on how to donate.
Sunnybrook Hospital is also currently accepting donations to help fund their research and response efforts. They are also accepting unused Personal Protective Equipment, which can be dropped off at the Bayview Campus (2075 Bayview Avenue), D-Wing screening entrance between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information on how you can support Sunnybrook Hospital, please visit their website.
The City of Toronto announced the DonateTO: COVID-19 Portal to outline the many ways you can support your community, including donations of personal protective equipment, food, financial gifts, and other goods and services. For more information, please visit the City's website.
Staying Connected While Apart: COVID-19 Community Programming and Events
Although staying inside over the past two months has been difficult, our Don Valley West community has found creative ways to come together, even while we are apart. Below, you will find information on virtual activities that you and your loved ones can take part in from your homes:
Toronto Sport & Social Club: TSSC is offering a variety of free, low-cost, and for-charity virtual events. Visit their website to sign up for online bingo, trivia, eSports for charity, or to participate in their Keep Playing Challenge.
National Children’s Painting Competition: The Canadian Children’s Art Foundation launched its first National Painting Competition entitled “Fantasy World.” Children are asked to express their vision of what a fantasy world may look like. The deadline to submit is May 29, 2020. Visit their website for more information.
Virtual Variety Show: The Leaside United Church is hosting its first-ever Virtual Variety Show and wants to see what you’ve been up to at home. Submit a video of your act to virtualvariety2020@gmail.com by May 14, 2020.
Got Talent Mondays: Every Monday, The Neighbourhood Organization is hosting a virtual talent show. Submit your videos to the TNO Toronto Instagram for a chance to win!