March 29 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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COVID-19 Crisis Continues
Markham Council held it's first ever electronic Council meeting last Friday. It focused on approving property tax relief for its residential and business taxpayers. See details below.
The City's financial limitations restrict its ability to provide further relief to those seeking more support. Our main source of revenue is through residential and commercial property taxes. We are relying on the Federal and Provincial governments to offer more help.
I urge every resident who feels that a business is "price gouging" to
report
it to the Province as they will be clamping down on this despicable practice. Stiff penalties for those found guilty have been established. Make a report
here
.
Along the same line as price gouging is "scamming". Please see the item below and advise friends and relatives, especially seniors, not to be caught by these predators.
Our thanks and appreciation continue to go out to all those working on the front lines to help combat and get us through the COVID-19 crisis.
Stay safe, stay healthy.
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In this issue
- City Financial Relief
- Call for PPE Donations
- City COVID-19 Updates
- Update from MSH
- YR COVID-19 Update
- Parks are Open but...
- Spring Fever
- Rouge National Park Update
- Update from Alectra
- Markham Public Library
- Support Local Businesses
- Keep Markham Clean
- Toronto Pearson Update
- Keeping Markham Safe
- What Makes a Good Life?
- Don't Flush Wipes
- Organic Gardening Workshop
- Be Aware of Scammers
- Play with Words
- York Region Update
- Community Meetings and Events
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Please forward this update to anyone that may find it of interest.
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Looking for more information?
Any of the
blue
text,
blue
buttons and most of the graphics have links to further detail.
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Click here
to read the previous edition of
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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At a special Council meeting held remotely on Friday, the City of Markham approved property tax and fee relief measures to help residents and businesses experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benefits for Residents
- No late payment (penalty and interest) charges for residential property taxpayers from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020:
- Property owners enrolled in the Preauthorized Payment Program (PPP) who are not able to make their April 1, 2020 tax payment, should contact their bank to stop payment of the April 1 installment
- For PPP payments beyond April 1, 2020 there is an option to opt out of the program at least two weeks in advance of the installment date by completing the cancellation form online.
- Elimination of the 2020 Stormwater Fee of $50
- Deferral of the April 1, 2020 water rate increase of 7.8%
Benefits for Businesses
- No late payment (penalty and interest) charges for non-residential property taxpayers from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
- Deferral of the 2020 Stormwater Fee, a savings of $560 for a property valued at $2M
- Elimination of the April 1, 2020 water rate increase of 7.8%
- Suspension of the Municipal Accommodation Tax from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, to provide relief to hoteliers
Markham is the first GTA municipality to offer extended financial relief. Council heard from residents and local businesses that some won't be able to pay their property taxes on time which is why the decision was made to offer this relief. By offering relief until the end of the year, the City is giving those experiencing financial hardship some additional time to recover.
The City is calling on everyone who is able to pay property taxes to continue to do so. I
t is critical for the City to continue to provide essential and necessary services to the entire community such as fire protection, garbage collection and keeping our roads and infrastructure in a state of good repair.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up and use
ePropertyTax online
services to monitor their tax accounts and complete transactions.
For more information and updates about COVID-19 and affected City services, visit
markham.ca/covid19
.
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To meet the critical demand, they are calling on everyone with unopened PPE that has not expired to donate. Most specifically, they are asking all veterinarians, dentists, other health professionals, cosmetic businesses and industry, to donate what they can.
Learn more
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On a similar note, York Region is
asking local businesses to donate
personal protective equipment. The Region will work with community health partners and share where the need is greatest.
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York Region businesses can visit the Ontario Government’s recently launched new website
Ontario Together
to learn how businesses and their employees can work with the province to meet the challenges of COVID-19. This includes removing barriers and allowing Ontario's manufacturing sector to redeploy efforts towards the production of essential equipment like ventilators, masks and swabs.
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Council and City staff remain committed to continuing to provide essential services that maintain public safety in our community.
The essential services that will continue to be offered by the City include, but are not limited to the following:
- Curbside organic, garbage and recycling collection according to the 2020 Collection Schedule
- Markham’s Emergency Operations Centre
- Fire and emergency services
- Water testing, monitoring and flushing for water quality purposes
- Winter maintenance and road patrols
- Parking enforcement related to public safety and accessible parking
All City facilities will remain closed to the public until further notice. City produced events have been cancelled through to May 15 and will be rescheduled, as appropriate.
Everyone is urged to stay home and practice physical distancing, also known as social distancing, to help protect themselves and their loved ones. Keep at least two metres distance and suspend all non-essential travel.
View a complete list of the City services being offered during the COVID-19 outbreak at
markham.ca/covid19
.
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Before heading out to the assessment centre, please use the Ministry of Health’s
self-assessment tool
to help determine if you need to seek care. Not all people who attend a COVID-19 assessment centre will be tested.
Get the latest MSH COVID-19 information and updates
here
.
Thornhill residents may find the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at
Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill
more convenient and assessments are by appointment. It's in the Medical Urgent Care Clinic with a separate entrance to the hospital details
here. Thanks to Councillor Irish for this information.
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Every day, there seems to be an overwhelming amount of new information about COVID-19. Up to date local information can be found
here
.
It can be tough staying close to home, but when you choose to stay home, you’re protecting friends, family and vulnerable populations.
Do you part and practice physical distancing. Technology is a great way to stay connected with family and friends while maintaining physical distance.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, York Region facilities are currently closed to the public. A number of services have also been impacted with disruptions and closures. More information is available
here
and will be updated as the situation evolves.
Key services essential to York Region continue, including Paramedic Services, Water, Waste Management, Shelter Services, Long-term Care, Road Operations and York Region Transit.
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Social distancing applies to Markham parks and playgrounds too. While City parks still remain open, please refrain from using playgrounds, benches, fields, basketball courts and outdoor fitness equipment as they are not sanitized.
Parks remain open for you to enjoy your walks and runs but please remember to keep a safe distance from others.
More information and updates are available
here
.
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Spring Fever
I'm sure everyone has Spring Fever but do you know where the saying comes from?
Back in the 18th century, people would get sick with scurvy around springtime as they didn't have access to fresh fruits or vegetables during the winter. People would end up being deficient in Vitamin C which would make their gums bleed, their joints ache in addition to other issues. This seasonal illness was dubbed "spring disease" or "spring fever".
Now people use "spring fever" to describe the distraction, restlessness and excitement that we feel at the start of spring. While there's no official medical condition or diagnosis for "spring fever" there is definitely some science to explain the way the change in seasons can affect your mood. It's unclear exactly why people feel better around spring but as the days get longer we are exposed to more sunlight. Maybe it is spending more time in the sunlight that makes people feel happier but whatever the reason spring is here. Get out and enjoy it but remember to keep your physical distance.
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The Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP) and all other Parks Canada facilities are temporarily closed.
All visitor services remain suspended and all visitor facilities remain closed. This means that all parking lots, washrooms and day use facilities are closed until further notice. Roadways that pass through the park will remain open.
While access to the trails is still physically possible throughout Rouge National Urban Park, you are discouraged from visiting as parking lots will be closed and locked. Anyone considering a visit to Rouge National Urban Park at this time should cancel their plans. Further details can be found
here
.
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Time of Use Rates Suspended for 45 Days
- T
he Government of Ontario is providing temporary 45 day emergency relief to support Ontarians impacted by the global COVID-19 outbreak. As of March 24 households, farms and small businesses who pay
time-of-use electricity rates
will be charged off-peak rates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Alectra Utilities is prepared for any emergency to ensure they can continue to deliver a reliable supply of electricity to you. They have put their pandemic plans into action.
Operations are being scaled back to focus on safe and reliable delivery of electricity and until further notice, they are no longer accepting visitors at any of their locations and drop boxes have also been closed. Bill payment options can be found
here
.
Alectra will work with customers to provide flexible payment terms and will not disconnect customers during this time. Customers seeking financial assistance programs can find information
here
.
Alectra will maintain call centre services to handle customer moving and payment inquiries, as well as full emergency power restoration capabilities to respond to storms and other events. Answering calls might take a little longer. They can be reached at
1 833 253-2872
or
online
.
Be aware of scammers
- Scammers continue to target residents and businesses, threatening the disconnection of service and asking for immediate payment over the phone. Alectra will never ask for personal information or demand payment using gift cards.
Learn more
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All
Markham Public Library branches
are closed until further notice. Items that have due dates during the closure have been extended to April 30, 2020 and will not accumulate fines.
Access the digital library at
markhampubliclibrary.ca
to read newspapers, magazines and more. Great news! You can now enjoy the more than 1,100 eBooks, eAudiobooks and movies from the
Bonus Borrows Collection
on Hoopla. Downloads from this special collection are FREE and will not be deducted from your monthly limit.
Also, MPL has provided information to enjoy live-streamed concerts, virtual tours and more. Enjoy some culture and feel connected to the world without actually going outside. Details
here
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We all know how important small businesses are to our economy. The
Markham Small Business Centre
has information, helpful tips and links to resources available during the disruption caused by COVID-19.
We must shop and support them when they reopen. Many local restaurants are open for take-out. Why not bring dinner in one night to support these local spots.
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We all have a responsibility to keep Markham clean.
While we have been out walking this week, we have noticed a lot of garbage on streets, by sidewalks and in the parks. It is always everyone's responsibility to dispose of garbage and recycling properly. Public parks and public garbage containers are not for household garbage. The City's regular collection schedule remains unchanged.
Don't dump masks, gloves or garbage in our parks and public spaces. That's disgusting!
Place latex gloves and masks in clear bag garbage. For everyone’s safety, tie all plastic bags and put them out on your collection day with your regular household garbage.
Help keep our City clean and safe for all.
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Keeping Canada’s supply chain moving
As a critical link in Canada’s supply chain, Toronto Pearson handles 45 per cent of Canada’s air cargo. Canada’s largest airport is well positioned to welcome more freight aircraft at a time where passenger traffic is limited due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Toronto Pearson is already taking steps to refocus operations to support the movement of critical goods, preserve jobs and support community needs.
This means making sure lifesaving medicine continues to reach the critically ill; this means acting as a channel to keep medical equipment moving at a time of great need; and this means ensuring Canada’s food supply remains intact.
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Are your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms working properly? Do you have a home fire escape plan?Perhaps review the Spring Home Safety
checklist
.
More resources are available
here
.
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Lessons from the longest study on happiness
Thanks to Barry M from Amica for this Ted Talk suggestion
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you're mistaken.
As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this
talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.
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Disinfecting wipes might be good for cleaning but they are very bad for pipes and sewers.
There are countless items that should NEVER be flushed and disinfecting wipes are one of them. Flushing these wipes (even ones labelled flushable) can cause big problems for your home pipes and at wastewater treatment facilities. Please put all wipes in the garbage, not down the toilet.
Learn more
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Organic Gardening Workshop
Looking for something to do this week?
Free organic gardening workshop 'Plant Families, Crop Rotation and Pest ID'
Date: Tuesday March 31st from 1pm-3pm
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Scammers Are Still Hard At Work
There has been a marked increase in cyber-criminal activity attempting to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This includes COVID-19 related threats and scams, phishing and fraudulent emails or texts, links, attachments, text messages, phone calls and malicious websites.
Additional malicious emails or texts may appear to be from your bank or other trusted organization, asking you to click on a link or download a file to complete a seemingly COVID-19 related application update. As always be cautious:
- Never open emails, file attachments or links coming from unknown senders or with unusual characteristics. Even if an email looks legitimate, double check the email address to be sure it is correct.
- Do not give out personal information unless you are absolutely sure of who is asking. Confirm with the sender independently (phone them or send them a separate email, not a reply) that their request is valid, or connect to their website using an address you know to be legitimate.
- Be extra vigilant when working from home. Your home networks may not have the same level of security protection or monitoring as your office networks.
The
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
has put out a list of reported scams that are already occurring. Some of these scams identified are:
- Cleaning or heating companies offering duct cleaning services or air filters to protect from COVID-19
- Local and provincial hydro/electrical power companies threatening to disconnect your power for non-payment
- CDC or WHO offering fake lists for sale of COVID-19 infected people in your neighbourhood
- Public Health Agency of Canada giving false results saying you have been tested positive for COVID-19 tricking you into confirming your health card and credit card numbers for a prescription
- Red Cross and other known charities offering you free medical products such as masks for a donation
- Coronavirus themed phishing emails, tricking you into opening malicious attachments to reveal sensitive personal and financial details
- People selling household decontamination services
- Private companies offering fast COVID-19 tests for sale. Only hospitals can perform the tests. No other tests are genuine or guaranteed to provide accurate results
- Selling fraudulent products that claim to treat or prevent the disease. All unapproved drugs threaten public health and violate federal laws.
This is a list of trusted organizations with reliable COVID-19 information:
Sadly as we battle against the COVID crisis scammers and fraudsters will be out in full force.
If we all take precautions, we can avoid falling victim to the scammers in these exceptional times.
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Groaners
What goes SSSS Boom Baa?
What do you call a snowman in the Spring?
In search of fresh vegetable puns?
What kind of tree fits in your hand?
What did one plate whisper to the other plate?
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Find a word for each of the following categories that starts with the letter B. Extra points if you can think of more than one word.
- something that grows
- what you might find on a ship
- a beverage
- something that is green
- name associated with a girl
- something in the ocean
- an item of clothing
- something that crawls
- mode of transportation
- a vegetable
- a word to describe the weather
- forest animal
- something that makes you smile
- found in a museum
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A calendar of York Region meetings and other information is available
here
.
More information about the items highlighted in the Council Highlights can be found
here.
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Community Meetings and Events
All City of Markham meetings are listed on the City's website at
Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings
. Unless noted differently on the link above, meetings are held at the Markham Civic Centre and are open to the public. If you aren't able to attend in person, meetings are live streamed.
The calendar of York Region meetings is available
here.
You can listen to meetings on line. The details from past meetings are available online.
As it stands now, these are the upcoming events. While it is unknown whether more events will be cancelled, the current changes have been
struck through
and they maybe rescheduled.
- Upcoming Markham Public Library Events - here
- Upcoming Varley Gallery Events - here
I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters. Please forward the details to
dhamilton@markham.ca
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Working together to make Markham better!
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