COVID-19 is something that we are all going to have to face together. Our primary concern is the health and safety of Ontarians.
We hope you are staying safe and healthy.
Thank you to all the province’s essential services workers and those on the front-line. You step up everyday to ensure individuals, families and seniors have what they need to stay safe and healthy.
Thank you to everyone else who is staying home and practicing physical distancing.
It is important to listen to the advice of Public Health experts:
- Wash hands frequently
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Practice social-distancing
- Stay home if you’re not feeling well
- If you are concerned or suspect you have the virus, call
Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000 or
Ottawa Public Health: 613-580-6744
New Extended Hours at Service Ontario 1800 Bank Street location
Address: 1800 Bank St Unit 5, Ottawa, ON K1V 0W3Hours:
| Monday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Thursday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Friday | 9a.m.–3:30p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Remember that the government of Ontario has said that your driver’s license, health card and license sticker will not expire during the state of emergency.
Most services are available online.
You do not need to go to a Service Ontario location for these items at this time.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/extended-validation-periods
New as of June 2
Ontario Helps Manufacturers Ramp Up Production of Personal Protective Equipment
The Ontario government continues investing in local manufacturers in order to keep frontline workers and communities safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. More innovative businesses are receiving financial support today through the Ontario Together Fund to re-tool their processes and increase their capacity to make personal protective equipment (PPE).
Today’s update was provided by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
The three new companies receiving support are:
Southmedic — Southmedic is a Barrie, Ontario based medical device manufacturer that distributes to more than 60 countries around the world. The province is providing $1.8 million to help the company reengineer and retool its current production, and purchase new moulding equipment. With this new equipment, the company will double its output of oxygen masks, triple its output of ETCO2 masks, which are specialty masks used to monitor breathing prior to ventilator use, and quadruple its output of eye and face shields to help meet the province’s need for PPE. The funding will also allow the company to reorganize its production facility to allow for physical distancing.
Sterling Industries — Sterling Industries is a Concord, Ontario based contract manufacturer and assembler of medical devices and sub-components. The province is providing $1,023,325, which will allow the company to increase its output of face shields from 200,000 per week to more than a million per week. This increased capacity will help Sterling Industries deliver 10 million face shields to Ontario Health more quickly.
SRB Technologies — SRB Technologies is a Pembroke, Ontario based producer of self-powered emergency lighting and self-powered exit signs. The province is providing $59,889 to help the company convert a portion of its production from emergency lighting solutions for the nuclear, aerospace, construction and defence sectors to manufacturing medical-grade face shields, which will be supplied to regional hospitals and long-term care facilities.
On April 1, 2020, 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. All submissions received through the portal are being reviewed and prioritized to focus on solutions that can respond to where the need is greatest and what can be implemented quickly.
In March, the government launched the Ontario Together web portal, appealing to Ontario’s manufacturers, entrepreneurs and innovators to provide essential supplies and equipment to support frontline workers in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government of Canada announces interest relief for First Nations through the First Nations Finance Authority
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced today that First Nations with existing loans under the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) will receive interest payment relief as a result of a $17.1 million support from the Government of Canada.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on First Nation families, communities and businesses. The measures in place to protect the health of all people in Canada are also affecting the revenue sources which are used to pay interest and principal on loans which have been taken out to support community development, such as initiatives to build infrastructure projects on reserve.
In response to the impact of on these First Nations, the Government of Canada is working collaboratively with the First Nations Finance Authority to provide financial relief so that the First Nations can focus on the health and safety needs of their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This funding will directly help First Nations to maintain financial stability and lessen the economic impacts of COVID-19, as well as allocate financial resources to other critical needs during this crisis. Furthermore these investments will support the stability of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act regime and the First Nations Finance Authority’s credit rating which was recently increased.
The First Nations Finance Authority is a non-profit, Indigenous-run institution that provides First Nation governments with access to long-term loans with preferable interest rates for essential infrastructure and economic development. It is anticipated that this investment will provide financial relief to 58 First Nations borrowers.
The First Nations Finance Authority plays a significant role in supporting First Nations in exercising fiscal jurisdiction by accessing capital for the benefit of their communities. For more information about the interest relief, First Nations can contact the First Nations Finance Authority directly.
Ottawa Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches will be answering your questions regarding COVID-19, reopening, and what this means for older adults.
This moderated session will include greetings from Mayor Jim Watson, the Council on Aging of Ottawa and the National Association of Federal Retirees.
Please join us online for this exciting event:
Join via Facebook Live here (a Facebook account is NOT needed)
Join via the OPH YouTube channel here
