July 10 Office of the Mayor and Council Update
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Town of Oakville resuming more services
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As some COVID restrictions have lifted, staff at the Town of Oakville have been working to resume services in line with provincial regulations and public health guidelines.
On Monday, three of our pools are set to reopen, but in response to this week’s heatwave, Lions outdoor pool will open tomorrow and all 19 splash pads will have extended hours until 9 p.m. to keep families cool.
Trafalgar Park Community Centre will also be open for residents as a cooling centre when Halton Region has issued a heat warning as they have this week.
Today, the town announced, in line with provincial regulations, that permits would be issued for weddings and photography at select locations, that organized sports may request access to parks for training and that picnic permits would not be issued this year. Read more about that below.
Also below you’ll read that the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts will not be reopening during the 2020 season. This is disappointing news for many, but the health and safety of our residents and staff remains paramount and, given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was deemed the best course of action.
Please remember as you attempt to cool off this weekend to keep a physical distance of those outside of your household. Wear a mask when this isn’t possible and when in enclosed public spaces, cover coughs and sneezes and wash and sanitize your hands. These recommendations from public health will help keep us all safe. Please also remember my three Cs of COVID-caution: Avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings.
We’ve crushed the curve here in Oakville and we need to keep it that way, so everyone’s diligence is important.
To see how far we’ve come in the COVID-19 emergency and a peek into where we’re headed in recovery, please see the timeline at the end of this email.
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Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- Emotional homecoming for B.C. man after 105-day COVID-19 hospitalization
- Town of Oakville announcements
- Town to allow permits for small weddings, photography and fitness training
- Pool and splash pad update
- CampOAK begins next week
- Project Police on Park Patrol
- Parking near Bronte Beach
- Final tax bills
- Provincial Government announcements
- Supporting Ontario's manufacturing sector
- What Stage 3 of Ontario's reopening plan could look like
- School Board calls on government to look at alternatives to hybrid learning model
- Government of Canada announcements
- Canada and Ontario supporting farmers through enhanced insurance protection
- Emergency funding for COVID-19 safety measures in forest operations
- Supreme Court upholds genetic non-discrimination law
- Canada adds almost one million jobs in June
- Canada's hardest-hit nursing homes lost 40 per cent of residents
- Pandemic will reshape how kids experience school
- Investigation into origins of coronavirus begins
- In other COVID-related news
- Why an epidemiologist says wearing masks in indoor public spaces should be mandatory
- Why some people still refuse to wear masks
- Ontario residents more likely to wear a mask than other regions in Canada
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Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by
+4
from 784 to
788
with
+1
new confirmed case in Oakville from 259 to
260.
There are currently
0
COVID-19 patients being cared for at OTMH and 10 active cases in Oakville.
There was
+1
reported recovery in Oakville, from 273 to
274
and
+9
recoveries in Halton Region from 793 to
802
.
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Ontario reported 116 additional cases of COVID-19 on Friday
bringing the total number of confirmed cases to
36,348, which include 2,703 deaths and 31,977 resolved cases.
There are 106,805 confirmed cases in Canada.
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COVID-19 deaths per million
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Emotional homecoming for B.C. man after 105-day COVID-19 hospitalization
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"If you told me on day one that it was going to be 105 days I don't think I could have done it, but with the support of all these people, family and loved ones we did it."
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Town of Oakville announcements
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Town to allow permits for small weddings, photography and fitness training
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The Town of Oakville is moving ahead with issuing permits for some small events and gatherings at select parks, as well as for limited training or fitness programs by community sport organizations in town sports fields and indoor recreation facilities. In line with the provincial guidelines, groups are limited to a maximum of 10, while outdoor weddings will be limited to a maximum of 50.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and continued need to take action to curb the spread of the virus in our community, the town has made the decision to cancel large events until October 31, 2020, and extend the closure of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts through to the end of this year.
“As some COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, my Council colleagues and I are pleased to welcome people back to our parks in safe and responsible groups. We must continue to be diligent about following public health guidelines for washing and sanitizing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, maintaining physical distance and wearing masks,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Please also remember that at this time, the Government of Ontario has set a maximum of 10 people for group gatherings. These measures will help us keep our curve flat.”
Weddings and Photography
Residents can now apply for a
wedding permit
at the Butterfly Gazebo in Bronte, the Picnic Shelter A at Coronation Park and at Nottinghill Park. In addition, permits for
wedding photography
will be provided for Erchless Estate and Gairloch Gardens.
Individual and Small Group Fitness – Parks and Sports Fields
Organizations looking to provide individual or small group (currently a maximum of 10) outdoor fitness or training (e.g. boot camps) can apply for a
permit online
.
Organized Sport Training
Community Sport Organizations (governed by a Provincial Sport Organization or National Sport Organization) may request access to a town sports field or indoor recreation facility to conduct organized sport training activities. Only training is permitted at this time, in accordance with provincial, regional and town guidelines. No games or scrimmages are to be conducted. Requests for space must be accompanied by a return to sport management plan that details attendance tracking processes, screening protocols, outbreak management and cleaning/sanitization details. For more information please contact
[email protected]
Picnics
The town typically issues permits for picnics at Coronation Park and Lions Valley Park for groups of 20 or more people. Given Provincial guidelines for group sizes (currently a maximum of 10) the town is not issuing permits for picnics this summer. Residents who want to picnic in our parks are reminded that gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10. We wish to remind parks users that barbeques, grills, fires, and other cooking appliances are not permitted in the parks.
Picnic tables will be spaced out to encourage physical distancing but are not sanitized. Visitors are reminded to continue to be vigilant about public health practices and provincial directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including maintaining 2 metre physical distance from others, gathering in groups of 10 or fewer and staying home if you feel sick. Residents should also wash and sanitize their hands before and after visiting the park.
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts closed until December 31, 2020
Large events cancelled until October 31, 2020
Given the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, closure of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts has been extended for the remainder of the 2020 season. The town recognizes the impact this closure will have on facility users and businesses, but the health and well-being of patrons and staff remains our top priority. Visit
oakvillecentre.ca
for more information.
The town has also cancelled permits for large events and gatherings on town property until October 31, 2020
.
Impacted permit holders have been contacted by town staff.
There is a comprehensive
COVID-19 Recovery Program Framework
in place that aligns with the province’s gradual phased-in approach. As provincial guidelines are updated, the town will continue to look for opportunities to expand programming and facility access in a safe and responsible manner.
For more information on the town’s efforts in response to COVID-19, including a list of what’s open and what’s closed, visit the
COVID-19
page or follow us on
Twitter
,
Facebook
and
Instagram
.
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Pool and splash pad update
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In response to the heatwave, we are opening Lions outdoor pool this Saturday, two days earlier than anticipated. We have also extended splash pad hours of operation by an hour to 9 p.m. which will remain in place until the heatwave is over. Trafalgar Park Community Centre has been open for residents as a cooling centre.
In addition to Lions outdoor pool reopening on Saturday, Wedgewood and Falgarwood outdoor pools, and QEPCCC indoor pool will reopen on Monday. Iroquois Ridge Community Centre indoor pool will reopen August 1. Residents interested in swimming must pre-book online at active.oakville.ca
.
As Recreation and Culture facilities remain closed, in-person registration is not available
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We’re opening six camp locations on Monday as CampOAK begins: Glen Abbey, Iroquois Ridge, QEPCCC, River Oaks, and Trafalgar Park community centres and Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Spots are still available! Register at
https://camps.oakville.ca/
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Project Police on Park Patrol
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Within the last week, HRPS has heard consistent complaints of nuisance, loitering, drinking and disturbance at parks, schools and trails. Halton police, in partnership with our Municipal Enforcement, have initiated Project POPP (Police on Park Patrol) beginning tomorrow and running through to September 30. Our Municipal Enforcement staff will work with the police on enforcement.
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No parking on streets near Bronte Beach
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Due to the over-crowding at the Bronte Beach parking lot and resulting overflow parking on nearby streets, we will be signing local streets in the area with No Parking signs beginning today. The signs will remain up until September 30.
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You can expect to find your final tax bill in the mail next week.
Council approved to extend the 2020 final tax installment due dates to August 25 and October 26 for all property owners and further, approved waiving penalty and interest on all outstanding property tax for the remainder of the 2020 tax year, until the first working day in January 2021. For property owners this means property taxes for 2020 are due as prescribed; however, those who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic can see relief by having the ability to make payment within the 2020 tax year, without penalty. All NSF charges will be waived until 2021.
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Provincial Government announcements
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As the province safely and gradually reopens, Ontario is starting down the road to growth, renewal and economic recovery. That's why the Ontario government is proud to support the launch of the Ontario Made program from Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). This new program will promote the many world-class goods that are made across the province by helping consumers easily identify, access and purchase local products.
Funding for Ontario Made is made possible through the $50 million Ontario Together Fund launched on April 1, 2020. This funding will be used to help retailers and consumers identify local products by:
- Creating a new Ontario Made logo that manufacturers can use to help consumers identify their made-in-Ontario products. CME will also meet with major retailers to promote Ontario Made products in-store and increase visibility for customers;
- Launching a new SupportOntarioMade.ca website that will connect consumers and supply chain partners to manufacturers of made-in-Ontario products through one directory;
- Promoting Ontario Made through a digital newsletter to raise awareness of Ontario goods and products online and through social media.
In March, the government launched the Ontario Together web portal to encourage companies to submit innovative ideas and ways to provide medical supplies, PPE and other essential equipment. To date, more than 27,000 submissions have been received since the launch of the web portal and 18,000 leads have been converted into more than $658 million in purchases of emergency supplies.
In April, the government launched the $50 million Ontario Together Fund to support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal and help businesses retool their operations or deliver innovative solutions in response to COVID-19.
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What Stage 3 of Ontario's COVID-19 reopening plan could look like
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With new coronavirus cases on a steady
downward trend
since early June, much of Ontario is poised to move to Stage 3 of the province's reopening plan soon, officials suggested this week. But it's not yet clear which emergency restrictions will actually be lifted or relaxed when that happens.
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School board calls on government to look at alternatives to hybrid learning model, expected to be in place in September
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Government of Canada announcements
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Canada and Ontario supporting farmers through enhanced insurance protection
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The governments of Canada and Ontario are providing the best support possible to help farmers manage challenges beyond their control by enhancing AgriInsurance coverage for the 2020 growing season to include labour shortages due to COVID-19.
Ontario’s agriculture industry, specifically farms growing fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, melons and peaches, are labour intensive and highly dependent on seasonal agricultural workers. COVID-19 has interrupted regular flows of worker travel and has resulted in some gaps in labour availability. This could result in some crops being unharvested and financial loss for the agri-food industry.
The federal government made a commitment on May 5
th
to work with the provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the AgriInsurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work with provincial and territorial partners would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest.
Ontario farmers already enrolled in an eligible production insurance plan who suffer from crop losses due to labour disruptions during the 2020 growing season will have access to further insurance coverage through
Agricorp
. The added insurance coverage will include:
- Inability to attract sufficient on-farm labour due to COVID-19; and
- Illness or quarantine of on-farm labour and the producer due to COVID-19.
Farmers will be expected to notify Agricorp as soon as possible if they experience COVID-19 related labour disruptions that are having an impact on their crops.
Business Risk Management programs, including AgriInsurance, protect producers against significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage, such as weather, disease and pests. It is a business risk management program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments to support Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors.
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Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, today announced the federal government’s
intent to provide
up to $30 million to offset additional costs associated with COVID-19 safety measures for small and medium enterprises in the forest sector, including tree-planting operations. Faced with the challenges of both maintaining the manufacturing of essential products and ensuring seedlings are planted on schedule amid COVID-19, federal, provincial and territorial governments, together with industry, worked collaboratively to quickly put in place measures to protect workers and communities. The government intends to work with the provinces and territories to deliver this funding, which will preserve jobs for forest sector workers, including approximately 7,000 tree planters this year.
More specifically, today’s investment will help cover extra costs for things like sanitizing stations, additional accommodations and/or transportation, facilities and services to maintain social distancing, and personal protective equipment. In addition, funding announced today will help support the scheduled planting of 600 million trees.
A successful 2020 tree planting season and a resilient forest sector will help the government deliver on its commitment
to plant two billion trees incrementally
over the next ten years, a key part of Canada’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
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Supreme Court of Canada upholds genetic non-discrimination law
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Canada's highest court has issued a ruling today upholding a federal law preventing third parties, such as employers and insurance companies, from demanding genetic information from individuals.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has decided the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act is a constitutional exercise of federal powers.
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Canada adds almost one million jobs in June
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The agency says 953,000 jobs were added last month including 488,000 full-time and 465,000 part-time positions.
The unemployment rate fell to 12.3 per cent in June after hitting a record-high of 13.7 per cent in May.
The average economist estimate for June had been for an addition of 700,000 jobs and the unemployment rate to fall to 12.0 per cent, according to financial data firm Refinitiv.
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Canada's hardest-hit nursing homes lost 40 per cent of residents in just three months of the pandemic
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There are five seniors' care facilities in Canada where more than 40 per cent of residents died during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a CBC News investigation has found.
Four of the residences with fatality rates higher than 40 per cent are in the Montreal area, and one is in Ontario.
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COVID-19 pandemic will reshape how Canadian kids experience school in the next academic year
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When children return to school this fall, they might be inside the classroom for only two days a week. They might not be allowed to carry backpacks, and their teachers might be equipped with microphones to broadcast their lessons to students watching at home.
All of these possibilities are underpinned by the only certainty facing educational administrators this summer: The simmering global pandemic will reshape how Canadian children experience school in the next academic year.
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Investigation into origins of coronavirus begins
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Two World Health Organization experts were heading to the Chinese capital on Friday to lay the groundwork for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
An animal health expert and an epidemiologist will meet Chinese counterparts in Beijing to work out logistics, places to visit and the participants for a WHO-led international mission, the UN organization said.
A major issue will be to “look at whether or not it jumped from species to human, and what species it jumped from,” WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris said at a briefing in Geneva.
Scientists believe the virus may have originated in bats and was transmitted to another mammal such as a civet cat or an armadillo-like pangolin before being passed on to people.
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In other COVID-related news:
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Why an epidemiologist says wearing masks in indoor public spaces should be mandatory
Hamilton's board of health may vote on Friday to make the wearing of masks mandatory inside indoor public spaces. Dr. Catherine Clase, an associate professor of medicine at McMaster University and a nephrologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, explains why she thinks it's a good idea.
Why some people still refuse to wear masks
Masks are a physical symbol that things have changed during the coronavirus pandemic and we have to adapt from the way we previously lived.
Ontario residents more likely to wear a mask than other regions in Canada, survey says
Ontario residents are more likely to wear a mask and wash their hands than those in other regions of Canada months into the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey says.
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Halton Environmental Network is launching Pop-up Clean-ups! The socially distanced clean-ups are a safe and fun way to enjoy the outdoors while making a difference in your community. Not only will you be cleaning up litter, but you’ll be tracking the waste you find. The collected data will empower our community to make informed decisions on how to protect our environment.
You can either lead a clean-up or take part in one! Students also have the opportunity to gain volunteer hours for school credit with each clean-up they do. If you are interested, please register
here
.
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Food Banks experiencing record demand
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Oakville's food banks are in record-breaking demand. If you can donate anything, please do. Your help is needed.
Kerr Street Mission:
905-845-7485 or donate online at kerrstreet.com
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Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate under increased safety measures. I
f you know or are aware of someone who is struggling, call 211 and get help to navigate the network of health, community and social service programs. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has interpretation for over 150 languages. And, if you are able, please consider supporting the Meals on Wheels effort by making a donation.
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Call the COVID-19 hotline
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For the duration of the pandemic, if a member of the public wishes to report an incident of non-compliance with the emergency orders, they may contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722
It is critical that our residents use 911 for emergencies only.
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