Weekly Newsletter

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.


Happy Mother’s Day! (May 9)

Eid Mubarak! (May 13)

*NEW: Adjusted hours at multiple testing sites
 Ottawa’s COVID-19 testing strategy has always included the ongoing evaluation of the community’s needs. In March and April, a number of assessment centres extended their weekend hours and multiple temporary sites opened to accommodate a surge in COVID-19 cases across the city. Today, after careful consideration with key partners and a review of current demand, some assessment centres will modify their hours starting Saturday, May 1.

The full list of assessment centres with new hours is included below.

*NEW: COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre and Kids Come First Care Clinic at Brewer Park Arena

• Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• These hours come into effect on Saturday, May 1
7 Includes PCR and ID NOW samples collected on-site at an assessment centre
8 Includes all mobile and rapid testing initiatives

*NEW: COVID-19 Assessment Centre for Adults at Brewer Park Aren

• Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• These hours come into effect on Saturday, May 1

Southwest Ottawa COVID-19 Assessment Centre (Located in Richmond)

• Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre – Moodie

• Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
• Saturday, 8:00 am to 11:30 am (testing only, full care clinic not available on weekends)
• Closed on Sundays

COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre – Ray Friel

• Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (testing only, full care clinic not available on weekends)
• Closed on Sundays

These changes will not impact Ottawa residents’ access to COVID-19 testing and same-day appointments are frequently available across the city. Sites will also have the capacity to ramp up and adjust hours accordingly, if testing demand begins to increase again.

*NEW: Assessment Centre at Howard Darwin Centennial
Arena closes today

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena will cease operations as of 3:30 pm today. The Nepean location opened in partnership with GVT Labs and Ontario Health in early April as a temporary four-week solution to help meet the community’s increased testing needs. Ottawa’s COVID- 19 Testing Taskforce would like to thank both partners for their support and collaboration to serve Ottawa residents and to keep our communities healthy and safe.

Residents are encouraged to access other sites across the city found on the Ottawa Public Health’s website.

Vaccine Information in Sign Language

OPH is proud to announce our recently published COVID-19 Resources in American Sign Language webpage that provides accurate, reliable and up-to-date COVID-19 resources to Ottawa’s Deaf and hard of hearing community. The webpage includes several instructional and informational videos on topics such as physical distancing, mask wearing, mental health and more, all in American Sign Language.  

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.

This week at Queen’s Park.

My comments on the government’s debate around extending the State of Emergency.
My comments on the government releasing partisan attack ads.
My question to the Premier as to why an investigation into Long Term Care (LTC) was never launched as he had promised.

COVID-19 specific

Ontario Expands COVID-19 Rapid Testing Across Province in small and medium-sized businesses


Ontario Launches Mobile Vaccine Units in Hot Spot Workplaces

Health Canada authorizes use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 12 to 15 years of age 



May 5, 2021 – Special statement from Dr. Vera Etches


Provincial News

Ontario Modifies Restrictions in Long-Term Care Homes


Support for Mental Health and Learning Recovery Included as Part of an Investment in 2021-22 School Year


Ontario Extends Freeze on College and University Tuitions



The Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic.
Starting on April 26, the province will begin issuing payments of:$400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12$500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needsIf you received a payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply for this additional payment.

If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.
 
Apply here




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.

Community Building Fund – Operating streamThis funding stream provides support for non-profits and Indigenous communities in the community arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation sectors to help sustain their operations and create new attractions, experiences and events.

Grant term length: 6 or 12 months
Amount awarded: Minimum $10,000, Maximum $250,000

Applications will be accepted starting March 31, 2021.
NEW Application deadline is June 1, 2021 at 5 PM ET.

Eligible organizations looking for application support can connect with OTF in the following ways:

For regular updates, sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of any page of OTF’s website and follow us on TwitterFacebookInstagram and LinkedIn.

Visit the Community Building Fund – Operating stream page for more information on eligibility requirements, the application, and eligible expenses for funding.





In the Community


Second Doses through Ottawa Public Health

Ottawa Public Health is only booking second doses for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communitymembers who are 80 years old or older (born in 1941 or before). All other individuals who have received their first dose at an Ottawa Public Health Clinic and are waiting for their second dose are encouraged to sign-up for the City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 Vaccine e-subscription(link is external) and follow local news sources for more information. When second dose appointments are available the City will communicate to the public.

More second dose details are available at OttawaPublicHealth.ca(link is external).

Drowning Prevention: Residents are Reminded of the Dangers of Open Water


Ottawa Police Service and community partners launch a month-long sexual assault education and awareness campaign

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.