Weekly Newsletter

  • Community Update

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.

Don’t forget to “Spring” forward your clocks this weekend! (2am on Sunday)

This week in the Legislature

I asked the Premier if he would commit to providing a permanent wage increase for Personal Support Workers (PSWs)
I thanked developmental service workers in Ontario and asked that the government extend the pandemic pay beyond this year and make it permanent.
I questioned the government about the Astra Zeneca vaccine roll out in Ontario and to confirm that none will be wasted.
I acknowledge the one year anniversary since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
I asked the Premier to remove Schedule 3 from Bill 257 in order to protect our wetlands and communities.

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.

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 Moving Three Regions to New Levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework



Ontario Marks One Year Anniversary of COVID-19 Pandemic



Ontario Pharmacies and Primary Care Settings to Begin Offering COVID-19 Vaccinations in specific regions



Ontario Protecting Homeless Shelters during COVID-19


Vaccination bookings for residents 90 and over to resume on Monday, March 15



March 9 – Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches




Provincial News


Ontario Offers New Sign Language Courses to Secondary Students



Funding to enhance fire safety training and inspections across the province



Ontario Supports Hands-on Training Opportunities for Postsecondary Students



Ontario Colleges Now Accepting Applications for Accelerated Personal Support Workers Program



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.





In the Community

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/

Stop Overdose Ottawa: Alarming number of Overdoses continue in Ottawa


Ottawa Police and partners launch public safety education, awareness and enforcement campaign around collisions


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.  ETthe 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.