At 12:01 tomorrow morning, Oakville will join much of the rest of the province in Stage 3 of reopening.

Over the course of the last week we’ve watched our surrounding municipalities move into the Province’s restart phase and prepared the town for a safe, smooth transition.

Playgrounds and sports fields will begin to open tomorrow. That will be welcome news for families that have, for the last few months, had to keep their children off of playground equipment and out of sports fields. But we remind residents that not all equipment at the town’s 150 playgrounds will be open tomorrow. For example, our accessible swings require some assembly and will be up and running as soon as possible. In the meantime, please only use equipment that’s marked as open.

Please also remember that playground equipment will not be sanitized and it is everyone’s responsibility to follow public health measures. Please stay home if you are unwell, wash and sanitize your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes and keep a distance. Outdoors, when keeping distance isn’t possible a mask, on children aged 5 and up, should be worn.

More businesses will open as we take a step further into recovery and while that’s welcome news for many, others find it worrisome. That’s understandable as we’ve spent so long forced to stay inside and away from these places that are reopening and our comfort with doing so will come in time. In the meantime, remember my three Cs of COVID-caution to help us continue to flatten the curve.

Avoid crowded places, closed spaces and close-contact settings.

The COVID-19 pandemic wages on, but for a reminder of how far we’ve come, please scroll to the end of this email for the updated timeline.

Items in this update:

Oakville Town Council represents seven wards with a Town and Regional and Town Councillor in each riding.

Find and connect with your Councillor by clicking the link below.

Confirmed cases in Halton increased by +7 from 811 to 818 with +2 cases in Oakville from 265 to 267 .

There are currently 2 COVID-19 patient being cared for at OTMH and 7 active cases in Oakville.

There were 0 reported recoveries in Oakville, total recoveries remains at 285 and +1 recoveries in Halton Region from 843 to 844 . 

There are 103 new coronavirus cases in Ontario today, but 26 new patients being cared for in Ontario hospitals. The brings Ontario’s confirmed cases to 38,210 , 33,963 of which are resolved. There have been 2,755 deaths. Currently 154 patients are hospitalized in Ontario, 35 of whom are in ICU with 21 on a ventilator.

As of today Canada has 112,240 coronavirus infections. Provinces and territories listed 98,142 of those as recovered or resolved, with a total of 5,194 still active.

Visit https://art-bd.shinyapps.io/covid19canada/ for the U of T COVID-19 data aggregation map

This afternoon in a Special Council Meeting, my Council colleagues and I received a comprehensive COVID-19 update, a report from staff about Bill 197 - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 (read more about that below), as well as a report on Bill 195-Reopening Ontario, an amendment to public delegation and a report on Wearing of Non-Medical Masks and Face Coverings Policy and Procedure.

Click the image to see the full agenda and watch the video.

Limited public computer access is now available at OPL’s Central and Glen Abbey branches. Services include internet and WiFi access, plus printing, photocopying and scanning.



These services are by  appointment only  (with some drop-in availability). You can also  call the respective branch  at which you want to schedule a session. Sessions are available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.

What's happening now

Allan to Reynolds

Reynolds to Trafalgar

Trafalgar to Dunn

Navy to Dunn

What's been completed

Allan to Reynolds

Granite tree wells complete on south side

Granite paver base installed south side

Decorative streetlights energized

Temporary street light poles removed

Reynolds to Trafalgar

Trafalgar to Dunn

Navy to Dunn

Weather permitting, stone work completion is scheduled for end of next week, followed by the installation of street furniture.

Ontario’s Bill 197 has made substantial amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act  (EAA), unraveling many environmental protections. And, according to Ontario Nature, undermines the democratic process.

Read the full story

In support of the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and as part of the province's plan to end hallway health care, the Ontario government is announcing five new Ontario Health Teams and is providing additional funding to better connect care.

The five new Ontario Health Teams are:

Ontario Health Teams bring together health care providers to work as one team to improve patient outcomes. Through an Ontario Health Team, patients will experience easier transitions from one provider to another, including, for example, between hospitals and home care providers, with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan. Patients and families will also have access to 24/7 navigation and care coordination services.

The province is also investing up to $25.25 million to directly support the 29 approved Ontario Health Teams. Of this funding, $9.5 million will be dedicated to virtual care, which will provide more support for vulnerable populations and individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. With the remaining $15.75 million, each Ontario Health Team will receive up to $375,000, to be used for:

Last year, the Ontario government began implementing its plan to build a new, integrated health care system for patients by announcing the first 24 Ontario Health Teams and Ontario Health, a single agency to oversee quality health care delivery, and improve clinical guidance and support for providers. The strong partnerships and integrated care established by Ontario Health Teams and Ontario Health has helped better position the province to respond quickly and effectively to COVID-19. As Ontario Health Teams continue to expand across the province, these partnerships and the lessons learned will also help better prepare the province for a potential second wave of COVID-19 and flu season.

The Ontario government is providing the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) with $110,000 from the Ontario Together Fund to deliver online tools and resources that will support Indigenous businesses as the province implements its made-in-Ontario plan for renewal, growth, and economic recovery.

CCAB is a not-for-profit organization that works to strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy across Ontario and supports almost 500 Indigenous and non-Indigenous business members province-wide. The funding provided through the Ontario Together Fund will help the CCAB:

The impact of COVID-19 on businesses varies in sectors and communities across the province. Through gathering accurate information to assess the effects of COVID-19 within the Indigenous business community, tailored online tools will help these businesses adapt during the safe and gradual reopening of the province.

The Ontario government is committing $3.3 million in cost-share funding to 58 projects through the updated Rural Economic Development Program (RED) to help rural and Indigenous communities diversify their economies, retain skilled workers, invest in local infrastructure and create jobs.

One local project that will receive funding through the RED program is the Ontario Water Centre. An investment of $150,000 will help support their Young Agripreneurs Program (YAP) that provides hands-on experience to young people interested in pursuing careers in regenerative agriculture.

This initiative is one of 58 successful projects receiving funding from the first intake of the updated RED program. Project applications to the RED program were subjected to a streamlined process starting last year to reduce the burden for applicants.

Supporting renewal, growth and economic recovery in rural and Indigenous communities is part of the government's plan to get every region of Ontario back on track so they can create jobs, opportunity and prosperity for everyone.

For-profit long-term care homes in Ontario saw significantly worse outbreaks of COVID-19 and more related deaths than their non-profit or municipally run counterparts, according to a new study released on Wednesday.

The paper in the peer-reviewed Canadian Medical Association Journal raises questions about the ownership status of nursing homes, a factor the association that speaks for the facilities said last year had no impact on quality of care.

Read the full story

Helping communities build back up from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is a key part of the Safe Restart Agreement between the federal government and the Provinces and Territories.

Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced that up to $2 billion in federal funding will be made available to cities and towns across Canada. The funding will support front line workers and critical municipal services as we keep people safe during the economic restart. Provincial and territorial governments will continue to support municipalities, and will cost-match federal supports with investments made this fiscal year.

And to help cities keep their transit systems running so that Canadians can get to work and home to their families safely, the Government of Canada will be providng $1 billion in federal transit funding, Minister McKenna announced today. 

Essential, front-line workers need good public transit, parents need child care, public health must be able to track and contain disease outbreaks, everyone requires personal protective equipment, and vulnerable communities – including seniors – need enhanced support as Canada gradually reopens while containing the spread of COVID-19.

These practical and essential services delivered by cities and towns across the country are among the seven priority areas in the $19-billion Safe Restart Agreement announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on July 16.



Canada is also committed to a safe municipal build up through our infrastructure plan, which is resulting in thousands of projects, creating jobs across the country and building stronger communities.

New measures will be introduced at B.C. restaurants, bars and nightclubs amid rising COVID-19 numbers, according to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Read the full story

It's been a bad couple of weeks for COVID-19 in Alberta.

From July 7 to 21, it recorded the most new cases, per capita, of all provinces, according to  federally compiled data .

Alberta also saw the highest percentage of positive tests over that time, and now has the highest per-capita rate of active cases in Canada. Its hospitalization rate is on the rise and second only to Quebec.

Read the full story

A Prince Edward Island man who tested positive for COVID-19 and allegedly refused to self-isolate has been jailed near Charlottetown.

Read the full story

The Prague Public Health Authority said 68 visitors to the club, seven employees and 23 family members and contacts have tested positive. Another 273 others have been put in quarantine.

Read the full story

Laboratories across the U.S. are buckling under a surge of coronavirus tests, creating long processing delays that experts say are actually undercutting the pandemic response. The testing lags in the U.S. come as the number of people confirmed to be infected globally passed a staggering 15 million on Wednesday.

Read the full story

‘There’s no way I’m going back’: Why some Canadians are cancelling their gym memberships

In order for gyms to retain their customers they will need to be creative in what options they offer members, as many may not want to return yet, experts say.

Read the full story

 

Working from home in Ontario will be recommended for the 'foreseeable future'

As most of Ontario enters the final stage of the government's reopening plan, many employees are wondering how long they will continue to work from home.

Read the full story

 

Toronto mayor says mask bylaw could be brought in if apartment, condo buildings don’t comply

Toronto Mayor John Tory said he's prepared to extend the city's mandatory masking order to shared spaces inside apartment and condominium buildings if management companies refuse to do it voluntarily.

Read the full story

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians could get a tax break for working from home during pandemic

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians could be eligible for a lucrative tax deduction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story

Forces buy new equipment to transport people with infectious diseases

As the COVID-19 pandemic wages on, the Canadian military is in the process of procuring new equipment to boost their capacity to transport people with infectious diseases, including a specialized shipping container that can fit up to 12 patients, according to new documents tabled in the House of Commons this week.

Read the full story

Only 1 in 10 Americans want schools to reopen without coronavirus restrictions: poll

Roughly three in 10 respondents to the poll say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldn’t happen at all, a stark contrast to U.S. President Donald Trump's plans.

Read the full story

1.4 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week, up for 1st time since March

A $600 weekly federal aid payment for people without jobs is also set to expire at the end of this week.

Read the full story

Halton Environmental Network is launching Pop-up Clean-ups! The socially distanced clean-ups are a safe and fun way to enjoy the outdoors while making a difference in your community. Not only will you be cleaning up litter, but you’ll be tracking the waste you find. The collected data will empower our community to make informed decisions on how to protect our environment.

 

You can either lead a clean-up or take part in one! Students also have the opportunity to gain volunteer hours for school credit with each clean-up they do. If you are interested, please register   here .  

Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate under increased safety measures. I f you know or are aware of someone who is struggling, call 211 and get help to navigate the network of health, community and social service programs. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has interpretation for over 150 languages. And, if you are able, please consider supporting the Meals on Wheels effort by making a donation.

More information