Ontario Enacts Declaration Of Emergency To Protect Public

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3 responses to “Ontario Enacts Declaration Of Emergency To Protect Public”

1. 

   Toby Barrett

   August 20, 2020

   UPDATE- Back to School
   Investment and respect for students and parents
   By Toby Barrett, MPP

   Covid-19 has been one of our greatest challenges. We are all touched by it.
   Although older people are more vulnerable, children are at risk and must be
   protected. But, moving forward, they must be protected and educated. The Ontario
   government is maintaining the flexibility to do what’s needed to maximize the
   learning experience while putting public health first.

   Since March, using advice from top medical experts and the Chief Medical Officer of
   Health, this government has worked hard to communicate, adapt, and develop
   strategies to educate and inform parents, and protect students, teachers, and
   support staff.

   On March 20, the Ministry of Education unveiled the Learn at Home web portal, which
   provides families and students with key online learning resources for all subjects
   and grades.

   Our goal of safely reopening schools and respecting parental choice continued on
   June 19, when we released a reopening guidance plan to school boards and asked for
   their upcoming school year restart plans. On the same day, the Ontario government
   announced $736 million more for the 2020-21 school year, increasing the total to
   more than $25.5 billion. This funding, through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN)
   program, represents the largest public education investment in Ontario’s history.
   Our average per-pupil funding has reached $12,525, an increase of $250 over the
   previous year.

   Under the GSN, the new $213 million student-centric Supports for Students Fund (SSF)
   will support special education, mental health and well-being, language instruction,
   Indigenous education, and STEM programming.

   On July 30, the government issued the Guide to Reopening Ontario’s Schools. This
   committed over $300 million to support a safe reopening of Ontario’s schools. The
   guide provides a baseline to which the school boards are encouraged to adapt to meet
   local needs.

   On August 7, with the federal government, we provided $234.6 million to keep
   children and staff safe in child care and early years settings. This will help
   support enhanced cleaning, health and safety requirements, and the reopening of
   licensed child care and early years programs.

   Please note parents and guardians have until August 31, 2020 to apply for Support
   for Families. Under this program, parents or guardians of children between 0-12
   years old, or up to 21 years old for children and youth with special needs, are
   eligible for a one-time payment, per child, to purchase educational materials to
   support learning at home.

   Minister Lecce recently announced more than $500 million for school boards to ensure
   schools will reopen safely in September. This will enable more physical distancing
   in classrooms, direct funding to utilize non-school community spaces, and allow
   boards to make needs-based adjustments.
   The government has been flexible and does what’s required to respect parents and
   students while putting public health first. We now lead the nation in many ways:

   * Total funding at five times the per-pupil amount of the BC government
   * The highest amount of funding for cleaning
   * The most comprehensive masking policy, and the only province to require
   masks in the classroom at all times for all students and staff in Grade 4-12
   * The only province hiring public health nurses to support student health in
   schools, dedicating funding toward student mental health, with a testing
   strategy and dollars behind it, and dedicating funding towards health and
   safety training for staff.

   For local school board information, go to:

   http://www.Granderie.ca

   http://www.bhncdsb.ca

2. 

   Toby Barrett

   May 15, 2020

   UPDATE Difficult times require different ways to cope

   We continue to get a lot of calls during these tough times – bear in mind, it’s
   normal to feel stressed out, worried, sad and confused during this pandemic.

   What’s really important is to look after yourself – not only your physical health
   but also your mental health.

   We know that more and more people are experiencing stress, anxiety and other mental
   health problems as they help stop the spread by staying home, often times alone.
   There are many who are comfortable being home all the time – perhaps retired, or
   farming, or running a home workplace electronically – but for many the lack of
   social and physical contact can result in loneliness, depression, strife, domestic
   violence, etc.

   Since the first case was diagnosed January 25, in Ontario, I have been directing
   people to Ontario.ca/coronavirus – a website with an informative tab outlining some
   of the supports available for mental health and addictions.

   This is a difficult time for everyone – and everyone has different ways to cope. In
   some cases, social isolation can lead to potential relapse for people with a history
   of addiction and substance abuse. I had a 20-year career with the Ontario Addiction
   Research Foundation before being elected – the resources are there, and it’s
   important to reach out for help and support. The Addiction Research Foundation
   merged in to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – a valuable resource for
   tips and coping strategies can be found at http://www.camh.ca<http://www.camh.ca>. As
   well, many AA meetings having moved from church basements are moving online through
   technology like Zoom. Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous is found at
   http://www.aa.org<http://www.aa.org>.

   Across Ontario, the Canadian Mental Health Association has help available at
   Ontario.cmha.ca/local-cmha-branch-supports. Assistance can be in person, by phone,
   or in a variety of virtual ways.

   Recently, the Ontario Government expanded virtual mental health services to help
   thousands of people, including frontline health care workers.

   Farming, by its nature, can be a solitary way of life, hence part of its appeal.
   Personally, my time on a tractor allows me to relax and gives me time to think and
   reflect. It also provides a bit of exercise, fresh air and sunshine – all good for
   the soul. However, tough times can also mean tough times for farmers. The weather,
   input costs, uncertainties in the market can lead to stress and distraction – also a
   recipe for farm accidents.

   A mental health kit has been developed for farmers. Visit
   http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/mental-health.htm<http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/mental-health.htm>.
   For immediate help call 1-866-531-2600.

   Financial stress can affect any business in any sector. Under the Canadian
   Agricultural Partnership, farmers in trouble can receive advice at no cost by
   calling 1-877-424-1300 or going to
   ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca. Help is also available
   through the Farm Debt Mediation Service at 1-866-452-5556. The Do More Agriculture
   Foundation also offers good advice.

   And, of course, seniors have worked hard for the benefit of us all, now it’s time to
   provide for them – give them a call, or an email or a helping hand.

   That friend you’ve been meaning to call, reach out today! Checking in on others is
   important right now. Helping each other out is how we will get through this.

   Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk

3. 

   Bobbi-Ann

   May 11, 2020

   UPDATE- Soil temperatures, soil conditions, weather forecasts, commodity markets,
   availability of labour, and the restrictions of COVID-19 weigh heavily this spring.

   COVID-19 is life changing for all and certainly for the business of farming. Ernie
   Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and I, as
   Parliamentary Assistant, have been actively engaging stakeholders. It’s been one of
   the busiest times in my recent memory – but helping keep Ontario fed and functioning
   is worth the long days and nights.

   COVID-19 has caused a significant disruption to our food supply chain particularly
   with milk, cattle, and hogs.

   To set the stage, most understand where food comes from, but not all: a constituent
   asked why not donate surplus hogs to food banks. Although thoughtful, food banks
   can’t accept live hogs, they require processing. And processing capacity is down.

   Accordingly, a recently-announced federal package provides money for beef and pork
   producers for animals they can’t sell; a $50-million fund to purchase and deliver
   food to food banks; and, a diary industry credit program – as part of a $252 million
   agriculture and food industry aid package. Prime Minister Trudeau also allotted $77
   million to help keep food processing workers safe using protective equipment and
   physical distancing strategies.

   Here’s an abridged list of provincial efforts:
   We’re supporting Ontario’s vital dairy sector. Licenses and certificates for dairy
   plants, bulk tank milk graders, plant milk, cream graders, and shopkeeper
   distributors are being extended until 90 days after the lifting of Ontario’s
   emergency orders.

   We are seeking solutions to food system labour challenges committing up to $1
   million helping to match workers with farms and agri-food businesses. And we’re
   helping the sector provide more food online withup to $2.5 million to help expand
   e-business.
   Following a request by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’
   Association,
   we’re extending production premiums due in May until June 30, 2020.

   We’re partnering with the Canadian Government to provide immediate support to the
   Agri-food Sector with intakes funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership
   (CAP).

   We are extending Risk Management Program (RMP), AgriStability, CAP Dairy, and
   Provincially Licensed Abattoirs enrollment and intake deadlines. We’ve extended to
   June 30, 2020 the CAP program application deadline for Ontario’s
   provincially-licensed abattoirs and provincially-inspected diary plants. A grant of
   $150,000 will help train inspectors of meat, dairy, and livestock to continue
   operation of provincial plants.
   To deal with this virus, the Ontario Food Terminal is receiving $350,000 for
   enhanced cleaning and screening.

   Beekeepers will know we are temporarily making the apiary registration a one-time
   process as opposed to annual, and we are extending permits.

   I should add that it’s not only been Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs that has
   taken necessary action in response to COVID-19, ministries across the Ontario
   government have also been providing assistance to the agri-food sector.

   The Ministry of Transportation has exempted agriculture and agri-food items from the
   seasonal road restrictions in the spring.

   The Ministry of Environment has extended licences from the Ontario Pesticides
   Education Program to December 31st, 2020.

   And the Ministry of Energy has extended the time-of-use electricity rate relief for
   families, small businesses, and farms through May 31, 2020.

   Plenty done. More to do.

   Good luck to all farmers this season. Stay healthy, physically distance but no need
   to socially isolate – our future depends on you.

   Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk

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