Our office continues to work remotely.
If you require immediate assistance, please email us at jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or call us at 613-736-9573.
This week in the Legislature
We have shifted into the Orange-Restrict zone. This doesn’t change what we need to do. Why?
The behaviours of the virus do not depend on the current ‘zone’ of public health restrictions. And, to be perfectly candid, neither should ours.
Want to ease the strain on our healthcare workers? We can avoid gatherings, only socialize in-person w/those we live with & limit our non-essential outings.
Want to help ensure that once our local businesses reopen, they stay open? We can wear masks & physically distance.
Keeping schools open & as safe as possible? We can monitor ourselves daily and we can get tested & isolate if we have COVID symptoms (got kids? Ditto).
Helping those who are isolated or have been disproportionately affected? We must get our vaccine when our time comes.
The vaccine rollout plan (based on the current delivery schedule) will see the general population of Ottawa begin to get their vaccines in August.
Between now and then, we’ll be following our COVID-19 Vaccination Plan: http://ow.ly/icfy30rwpgr.
This means 2 things: there’s light at the end of this dark tunnel & we must do everything we can to keep that light bright.
It’s about knowing our actions now will pay dividends later.
And with the new variants, we don’t have a choice but to be as vigilant as we can, every day. These variants are new, but the ways to keep them at bay are not. We know how to do this, we just need to commit to it.
While our experiences of this pandemic haven’t been shared, we do have a shared goal.
And we can reach it together.
(Taken from OPH Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/ottawahealth/posts/3715279245175334)
Be Social WISE
Continue to follow Ottawa Public Health guidelines, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, wash hands frequently, socially distance 2 meters apart and stay home if you are not feeling well.
OPH recommends limiting gatherings as much as possible. In other words, limit gatherings to those who live in your household or those providing support services, such as a caregiver. If you live alone (single parent, student, etc.), one or two contacts outside your home can be important social supports to draw on.
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The COVID-19 Pop-Up Testing Site at the AMA Community Centre has opened.
AMA Community Centre (1216 Hunt Club Road) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Residents can book an appointment by calling 613-737-8193, however, same-day just in time arrivals can also be accommodated.
Similar to the model in Vanier, Sawmill Creek’s testing site extends beyond testing to many factors that impact work and life. It includes knocking on hundreds of doors to offer access to other supports in multiple languages, including health education, employment and income support. Plus, referrals to community organizations that offer culturally safe services to access basic necessities, including food and support to isolate if needed. This temporary testing site aims to serve residents who face barriers accessing other testing locations. This might include those who don’t have access to a car, residents who experience language barriers, or those who need additional supports to self-isolate. Residents who do not experience similar barriers are encouraged to access Ottawa’s other testing sites by booking an appointment on Ottawa Public Health’s website.
COVID-19 specific
Ontario Ready to Rollout Phase Two of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan
Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound Public Health Regions Returning to Strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework
Health Canada authorizes Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
Modified COVID-19 vaccines for variants to be fast-tracked
Health Canada allows more flexible storage and transportation conditions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Government Announces Wage and Rent Subsidy Amounts to Remain Unchanged Through to June
March 03, 2021 – Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches
Provincial News
Ontario Setting Up Apprentices and Employers for Success
Ontario Provides Additional Support for Municipalities During COVID-19
Ontario Increases Support for Transit Across the Province
Ontario Supporting Children and Youth with Complex Mental Health and Addictions Needs
COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business
(CEAP-SB)
The Honourable Ted Arnott is pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 Speaker’s Book Award.
The Speaker’s Book Award recognizes works by Ontario authors covering historical and cultural aspects of the province with special consideration given to works focusing on Ontario’s parliamentary heritage and on provincial political discourse.
Online applications for the Speaker’s Book Award are accepted from March 1st to May 14th, 2021. The winning book will be announced in autumn 2021.
For more information, visit the Legislative Assembly web site or contact Haley Shanoff at (416) 325-8094 or bookaward@ola.org.
March 6 marks World Lymphedema Day
Lymphedema (LE) is a debilitating disease that affects as many as 250 million people worldwide and yet most people have never heard of it. World Lymphedema Day was established in 2016 to educate the work about the extent of the disease.
In the Community
Bookings available now for eligible residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
Income tax Clinics
South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre will again be offering free tax clinics to residents of low income with simple tax situations in their catchment area. To book an appointment please call 613-737-7195 ext. 6009. http://www.seochc.on.ca/
Police warning that ice is unpredictable at this time of year – Do you know the 1-10-1 Principle?
As the temperature rises, the Ottawa Police Service is warning residents of the dangers of thin ice and open bodies of water as well as the potential for flooding due to heavy rain and melting snow.
“Considering the heavy snowfall this winter and expected springtime-like weather, we can expect increases in groundwater runoff and possible flooding weakening ice surfaces,” said Sgt. Walt Lushman of the Ottawa Police Service’s Marine, Dive and Trails (MDT) Unit. “Ice is inherently dangerous at this time of year and always unpredictable.”
During spring snowmobile runs, it is best to stick to the trails and away from open bodies of water or thin ice. Riding after dark and consuming alcohol or drugs are factors in more than half of snowmobile-related drownings. Any ice less than about 15cm (6 inches) thick is a hazard.
Do you know the 1-10-1 Principle of cold water immersion?
- 1 Minute = Cold Shock
- 10 Minutes = Cold Incapacitation
- 1 Hour = HYPOTHERMIA
Other MDT safety tips include:
- Always supervise children playing outside who may wander or want to play near rivers, ponds, creeks or ditches etc. A child can drown in less than two inches (5 cm) of water.
- Cold water temperatures can prevent even strong swimmers from escaping once they’ve fallen through the ice.
- Watch your pets closely so they don’t venture near or onto thin ice.
More ice safety tips are available online.
No one should face dementia alone. Dementia can be highly isolating and recent social distancing requirements have made it more challenging. The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County is the recognized dementia and Alzheimer’s support agency in Ottawa and Renfrew County. We offer FREE multi-lingual support, education and programming. Contact us to learn more about our FREE Make a Connection virtual and remote visiting program for people living with dementia: a social connection for them, a break for the person caring. info@dsorc.ca | 1.888.889.6002| DementiaHelp.ca
Ontario has a self-assessment tool
If you think you have 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, use this self-assessment to help determine if you need to seek further care. Visit here.
If you require help in Ottawa South, please visit our website for Community links and contacts.Ottawa Public Health
For the latest updates, please click here.
Government of Ontario
Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, the Province of Ontario’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) web page will be updated with the most up-to-date information including the status of cases in Ontario.
Government of Canada
For the latest COVID-19 updates, please click here.
For the latest on Employment and Social Development changes for employees and employers, click here.Find out about the current reported scams related to COVID-19.Learn how to protect yourself when banking online.Know what to do if you’re a victim of fraud.