Today is the first day of the Region-wide mandatory mask by-law and coincides with Oakville's fifth-straight day of not having any new coronavirus cases.

Thank you Oakville for continuing to crush the curve. Our town currently has just five active cases thanks to your diligence. And as we move into Stage 3 of the Province's reopening plan on Friday, I encourage you to stay the course.

While masks are mandatory they are not a substitute for staying home when you're feeling unwell, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, covering coughs and sneezes and maintaining physical distance. And remember the by-law has many exemptions, so please be kind.

Please also follow my three Cs of COVID-caution to keep our case count low: Avoid crowded places, closed spaces and close-contact settings. As you'll read below, experts are warning that large, indoor gatherings are accelerating the spread of coronavirus in other parts of the province, country and world.

Also below you'll find the updated timeline, which shows how far we've come in the pandemic and where we're headed in recovery.

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.

Total confirmed cases in Halton increased by +2 with both cases pending from 811 to 813 with 0 new confirmed cases in Oakville, holding at 265.

There are currently 2 COVID-19 patients being cared for at OTMH and 5 active cases in Oakville.

There was +2 reported recovery in Oakville, from 283 to 285 and +6 recoveries in Halton Region from 837 to 843 . 

Ontario reported an additional 165 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with just over 50 per cent of those in people who are under the age of 40, according to the Minister of Health.  That brings the province’s total to 38,107, 33,812 of which are considered resolved with 2,755 deaths. There are currently 128 COVID patients hospitalized in the province, 37 of whom are in the ICU and 19 on a ventilator.



As of 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Canada has seen 111,699 coronavirus infections. Provinces and territories listed 97,757 of those as recovered or resolved, with a total of 5,048 still active.

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

One of Canada's top doctors is urging Canadians to keep following public health measures as cases of COVID-19 among young people continue to tick upwards — and he warns that if they don't, the country could face a potential "backslide."

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The majority of the newly infected are young adults, many of whom have contracted the novel coronavirus by going to bars, restaurants and attending indoor parties, officials say.

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Donation will help Legion raise funds

Today I joined Royal Canadian Legion Branch 114 Steve Thomas as he accepted a donation of gift cards from Imran Hasan on behalf of Chuck's Roadhouse.

The gift cards will be used to raise funds for the Legion as they remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hasan, a member of Streetsville Branch 139, has been visiting Legions across Halton and Peel Regions with gift cards to help prevent their permanent closure due to the pandemic.

Playgrounds and sports fields begin to open on Friday, more facilities to follow

Halton has been given the green light to enter into the province’s Stage 3 of the reopening plan. That means on Friday, July 24 more town facilities will begin to gradually re-open, including public playgrounds and sports fields for organized play.

“We’re excited to be moving one step further into recovery, and will be pleased to see playgrounds and sports fields back in use this summer. Council and I are committed to ensuring we return services and reopen facilities for our residents in a safe and responsible way. There are many tasks to complete and safety measures to put in place before other recreation facilities can reopen. We ask for your patience,” said Mayor Burton.

The town has over 150 playgrounds, including 100 accessible swings, as well as the outdoor fitness park at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Play and fitness equipment will need to undergo safety inspections before they can reopen. Residents are asked to only use the structures that are marked open and continue to stay off the areas that are still closed or taped off until staff can inspect them and ensure all equipment is properly reinstalled.

Once open, the equipment will not be sanitized. Residents are reminded to wash or sanitize their hands after use. Signs will be posted at each location indicating health measures and reminders.

Also starting Friday, the town will begin replacing nets and preparing sports fields for sports organizations to begin organized team play.

In Stage 3, community centres are also permitted to gradually re-open, subject to ensuring the appropriate health and safety measures are in place, as well as limits on gathering sizes. Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people. Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people. In all cases, individuals are required to continue to maintain physical distancing of at least two metres with people from outside their households or social circles.

The town is working with Halton Region and our community user groups to review all of the safety guidelines that need to be in place before we can completely reopen our community centres to the public.

As part of Stage 2, some community centres have already partially opened for summer camps and limited indoor pool use only.

“The health and safety of our residents and staff remain a priority and we must ensure we have the appropriate COVID-19 safety measures in place and that gathering limits can be maintained before reopening these facilities,” said Colleen Bell, commissioner of community services. “We continue to work through our reopening plans and bring back staff to gradually reintroduce programming in a safe and responsible manner. Some spaces will be able to open in the coming weeks.”

The Oakville Centre for Performing Arts remains closed until December 31, 2020.



The town has a COVID-19 recovery framework in place to help guide and support our reopening of programs, services and facilities. Details will be posted as they become available, on oakville.ca and on the town’s  Twitter , Facebook and  Instagram accounts.

To find out more about what can and cannot open in Stage 3, visit ontario.ca .

As of today, residents and visitors in Halton, aged five and up, are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering while in most indoor public spaces.

Read the full story for everything you need to know about the by-law.

The Ontario Legislature adjourned after an unprecedented session that saw cross-partisan collaboration in the fight against COVID-19. Since reconvening in February, the legislature passed 18 pieces of legislation, including emergency measures needed to protect public health and prepare for economic recovery. The legislature has now risen until September 14, 2020.

Premier Doug Ford and Paul Calandra, Government House Leader, thanked the Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) for coming together during a time of crisis to support individuals, families and businesses across the province.

"In our hour of greatest need, MPPs stood shoulder to shoulder as Team Ontario to protect the public during the COVID-19 outbreak," said Premier Ford. "The people of this province expected us to work together and we reached across party lines to quickly introduce and pass critical legislation. We will continue to work for the people of Ontario to help them get back on their feet as we chart a path to recovery for every region in the province."

After authorizing safe, limited sittings of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to allow for the passage of emergency legislation and in cooperation with the opposition parties and independent Members, the government charted a path to the responsible resumption of legislative business in May. The resumption of business facilitated the passage of 18 important pieces of legislation, including the  Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020  and the  COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020.

"In the last five months, working through an unprecedented global public health crisis, our government adapted and innovated to ensure that all MPPs could be fully engaged in legislative business," said Minister Calandra. "From the passage of 18 bills, one-third by unanimous consent of all parties, to the ground-breaking study into the economic and fiscal impacts of COVID-19 by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, our government has been working cooperatively to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians."

The  Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020  ensures important measures remain in place to address the threat of COVID-19 once the provincial declaration of emergency has ended. These measures will provide the province with the necessary flexibility to address the ongoing risks and effects of the COVID-19 outbreak as Ontario moves towards recovery. The Act will come into force on July 24, 2020 to coincide with the termination of the declared provincial emergency.

The  COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020  will help create jobs and generate development by getting key infrastructure projects built faster. It will also strengthen communities by ensuring municipalities are equipped with the tools they need to continue to provide critical services, along with protecting consumers, modernizing services, improving the education system and removing social and economic barriers for young people.

"Ontario's municipalities are the backbone of this province and their success is our success," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "We are helping to ensure our municipal partners across the province are well-positioned to play their critical role in our economic recovery."

Additional emergency legislation introduced and passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic includes:

The Ontario government is providing stability to Ontario's rental market by increasing fines for unlawful evictions and reinforcing the necessity for landlords to explore repayment agreements before considering evictions. These measures are included in the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act which received Royal Assent today.

"We know tenants and landlords have struggled during COVID-19, and some households may be facing eviction due to unpaid rent during this crisis," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "By making these changes we are trying to keep people in their homes, and at the same time, helping landlords receive payment through a mutual repayment agreement. It's a better approach, especially during these difficult times."

The legislation, which updates the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and Housing Services Act, 2011, will make it easier to resolve disputes while protecting tenants from unlawful evictions by:

The changes will also modernize and streamline the dispute resolution processes at the Landlord and Tenant Board and encourage the use of alternatives to formal hearings to resolve certain issues and encourage negotiated settlements. The Landlord and Tenant Board must now consider whether a landlord tried to negotiate a repayment agreement with a tenant before it can issue an eviction order for non-payment of rent related to COVID-19. Certain disputes, such as those related to unpaid utility bills, will shift from Small Claims Court to the Board.

In addition, as part of the multi-year strategy to stabilize and grow Ontario's community housing sector, the government has made changes to the Housing Services Act, 2011. These amendments will help maintain the existing community housing supply by giving housing providers with expiring operating agreements and mortgages ways to remain in the community housing system by sigining a new service agreement with service managers as well as encourage existing and new housing providers to offer community housing. Changes would also require service managers to have an access system for housing assistance beyond just rent-geared-to-income housing, and enable an outcomes-based approach to accountability by modernizing outdated service level requirements.

Ontario will consult with service managers and stakeholders on regulations to protect, repair and grow community housing supply, new access system rules, and ways to encourage new, innovative approaches.



These changes build on the commitments in the government's Community Housing Renewal Strategy and the steps already taken to make life easier for tenants and housing providers - including simplifying rent-geared-to-income calculations, and removing rules that penalize people for working more hours or going back to school.

The Ontario government is investing $1.7 million over the next two years in community-based programs to combat hate-motivated crimes. The funding will flow through the Safer and Vital Communities (SVC) Grant  to not-for-profit organizations and First Nation Band Councils. Applicants are required to partner with their local police service and are encouraged to partner with at least one other organization from a different sector to ensure a broad range of community engagement.

"Our government has zero tolerance for hate, racism and discrimination in all forms. We must continue to work together to confront these real-life barriers that threaten and limit opportunities for too many Ontarians," said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism. "Effective solutions cannot come from government alone and the Safer and Vital Communities grant will allow community-based organizations to be full partners in the fight against hate in Ontario."

The Safer and Vital Communities Grant is open to community-based, not-for-profit organizations as well as Indigenous community-based, not-for-profit organizations and First Nation Band Councils to implement local projects that tackle hate-motivated crime and address the increase of police-reported hate crime in Ontario. The theme of this year's grant program is Preventing Hate-Motivated Crime through Community Collaboration.

To be eligible, applicants must address hate-motivated crime in their community through programs and strategies. Applications could include recreational programs that positively affect the development of children and youth, raising awareness of hate-motivated crimes, as well as the improvement of security infrastructure. Successful applicants and projects will be announced in the winter of 2021.



Applications for the Safer and Vital Communities Grant are open from July 22 to September 16.

Nursing-home residents, families, neighbours and close friends are allowed indoor visits as of today.

Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton announced earlier that the new rules that will permit indoor visits of no more than two friends or relatives at a time.



Visitors can help with eating or washing and can provide emotional sustenance for people who have declined from months of loneliness and depression.

The Government of Canada is committed to building a clean energy future to stimulate the economy, create good jobs and promote efficient energy solutions. This commitment will be more important than ever as we reopen the economy and plan our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, today announced that Canada is joining the  Three Percent Club . The Minister highlighted Canada’s involvement, and the importance of energy efficiency in transitioning to a low-carbon future, during a discussion with IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol. The event was part of the agency’s Big Ideas Speakers Series, where global leaders, top thinkers and decision-makers discuss thought-provoking issues.

By joining the Three Percent Club, Canada commits to working collaboratively with international partners, including 15 other countries, to increase energy efficiency, accelerate the clean energy transition and help meet climate change goals. This collaboration of governments, businesses and institutions spearheaded by the  International Energy Agency  (IEA) has committed to work together to help drive an annual three percent improvement in global energy efficiency.

Improvements in energy efficiency will get Canada to a clean energy future sooner and are reflected in the government’s mandate commitments. Progress has already been made, including measures outlined in the  Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change  and by the government’s 2019 investment in new energy efficiency programs through the Green Municipal Fund — both of which are expected to reduce Canada’s energy use and cost year over year. Official membership in the Three Percent Club also aligns with the  Generation Energy Council’s  recommendations, which advised that Canada take steps to achieve greater annual energy improvements by 2030.



The government remains committed to building a clean energy future that will not only support our natural resource sectors through this tough economic time, but also grow the economy and create good jobs.

American tourist boat Maid Of The Mist (top), which is limited to 50 per cent occupancy under New York state's pandemic rules, glides past a Canadian vessel limited under Ontario's rules to just six passengers, in Niagara Falls on Tuesday.

California’s confirmed coronavirus cases have topped 409,000, surpassing New York for most in the nation.

John’s Hopkins University data showed Wednesday that California now has about 1,200 more cases than New York.

However, New York’s 72,302 deaths are by far the highest total in the country and nine times more than California’s tally, and its rate of confirmed infections of about 2,100 per 100,000 people is twice California’s rate.



California is by far the most populous U.S. state, at nearly 40 million people, while New York has about 19.5 million.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday that the U.S. has signed a contract with Pfizer for delivery in December of the first 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is working to develop.

The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement, Azar said.

“Now those would, of course, have to be safe and effective” and be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Azar said during an appearance on Fox News.

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defence Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly.



The agreement is part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously. The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021, according to HHS.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told residents to avoid unnecessary trips outdoors as much as possible during a forthcoming four-day weekend as the total number of coronavirus cases in the city topped 10,000.



Japan’s capital had another 238 cases on Wednesday, as the country heads into a long weekend that was originally scheduled to celebrate the start of the now-postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.

The government of Nepal has ended a lockdown 120 days after it was imposed to control the spread of coronavirus.

Information Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the number of cases was declining in Nepal. Khatiwada said schools and colleges would remain closed until further notice, but government and private offices would be fully functional from Wednesday, and markets, malls and shops would be also be allowed to open.



Airports and commercial flights will resume on Aug. 1. The country has seen 17,994 confirmed cases and 40 deaths from the coronavirus.

Military intelligence unit briefed Sajjan on COVID-19 risk on January 17: documents

A little-known medical unit within Canadian Forces Intelligence Command briefed Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about the COVID-19 crisis on January 17, 2020, the government confirmed in a document presented to Parliament this week.

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One of the original 'Rosie the Riveters' is now making masks to help defeat coronavirus

Mae Krier, one of the original "Rosie the Riveters" who worked in a Boeing factory during the Second World War, is now helping fight a different battle -- coronavirus.

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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.

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