August 6 Office of the Mayor and Council Update |
|
Let's continue to be careful and kind while remaining vigilant
|
|
In early June, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health updated public health advice to allow social circles of up to 10 members, including those outside the immediate household. Social circles support the mental health and well-being of Ontarians and help reduce social isolation.
As playgrounds and outdoor space becomes available, we should keep in mind that close contact between individuals who are in the same social circle is permitted. Masks are not mandatory when you are outside or while dining at a restaurant or having a coffee.
It’s important to not jump to conclusions when we see a group gathering that is under the 10-person limit around town. We can all continue to be careful and kind while remaining vigilant.
We have come a long way, Canada continues to drop in the cases by country category: Canada is down to 24th after having been in 12th place just ahead of India in early May.
|
|
Items in this update:
- COVID case counts
- COVID-19 in the U.S.: How do Canada's provinces rank against American states?
- Pressure on Canada’s airlines to provide more passenger info for contact tracing
- Doug Ford pledges help for ‘overworked,’ ‘underpaid’ personal support workers
Oakville and Halton
- Mayor's Update on Morning Live
- Oakville Public Library's Path to Reopening
-
Fraud Investigation in Burlington Leads to Three Arrests
Provincial Government announcements
- Ontario Investing $6 Million to Boost the Fight Against Crime
Government of Canada announcements
- Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
- Government of Canada announces new measures to support essential air access to remote communities
National News
- What fully-online learning will look like for Ontario students who stay home this fall
- Manitoba announces 2nd-highest daily jump in new COVID-19 cases since pandemic started
International News
- Philippines Passes Indonesia as Worst Southeast Asia Outbreak
- Surge in Virus Cases Dampens Europe’s Hopes for Rapid Recovery
In related news
- Alaska's first cruise of the season cut short after passenger contracts COVID-19
- 56 NFL players positive for COVID-19 since training camps open; opt out deadline looms
- Florida tops 500,000 total virus cases as testing resumes after storm
- Germany fights virus uptick with mandatory testing for travelers
|
|
|
|
Did you receive this email from someone? Please consider signing up so you never miss an 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 +1 from 831 to 832 with 0 new confirmed cases in Oakville, total remains at 273.
There are currently 0 COVID-19 patients being cared for at OTMH and there are 6 active casss in Oakville.
There were 0 reported recoveries in Oakville, total remains at 292 and +4 recoveries in Halton Region, from 871 to 875.
|
|
In Ontario there are 95 new cases today, bringing the total to 39,809, 35,906 of which are resolved. There have been 2,783 deaths in the province. Currently there are 71 COVID patients in Ontario hospitals, 29 of whom are in ICU with 13 of those on a ventilator.
There are 120,009 confirmed cases in Canada as of today with 104,377 resolved and 9,001 deaths.
|
|
COVID-19 deaths per million |
|
COVID-19 in the U.S.: How do Canada's provinces rank against American states? |
Overall, even Canada’s highest-reporting regions are low compared to places south of the border.
When you create a sorted list of the provinces and states (including Washington, D.C.), Canada's first province, Alberta, ranks 50th when it comes to recent cases per capita. Only 2 states currently have fewer average daily cases per million (Maine, Vermont).
Even at their peaks, Canada’s provinces are still relatively low – Quebec tops the list for Canada at 38th overall in terms of highest all-time average daily cases per million people.
|
|
Pressure on Canada’s airlines to provide more passenger info for contact tracing |
|
British Columbia’s transport minister made an official plea to her federal counterpart Wednesday to quickly make airlines provide more details on travellers to aid contact tracing efforts that could help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Concerns about the level of detail airlines provide have been greatest in B.C., where the provincial health officer has lamented a lack of movement from federal officials.
In a letter to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, the B.C. government noted the information the province has received from airlines is “not necessarily complete and is sometimes unusable.”
|
|
Doug Ford pledges help for ‘overworked,’ ‘underpaid’ personal support workers |
|
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is promising to introduce measures to help improve conditions for the province’s personal support workers.
Ford says the PSWs, who have played a major in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, are underpaid and overworked.
He says he plans to ask the provincial Health Ministry to come up with a plan to bolster salaries and take other steps to ensure the workers are properly compensated for their efforts.
|
|
Mayor's Update on Morning Live |
This morning on my weekly update on CHCH Morning Live I discussed Oakville's COVID-19 case numbers, our fitness centres reopening and provided an update on paid parking.
|
Oakville Public Library's Path to Reopening |
As of August 13, Oakville Public Library (OPL) will move into Stage 3 and reopen its doors to welcome customers back into the branch, for adjusted services.
Five of our 7 branches will resume services: Central, Glen Abbey, Iroquois Ridge, Sixteen Mile and Woodside. Clearview and White Oaks branches remain closed until further notice, but will still offer Library Takeout for contactless pickups and returns.
We thank our customers and the Oakville community for their patience and support as we gradually reopen more services, and work diligently to get thousands of holds off our shelves and into your hands.
Reopening for Stage 3
August 2020 and Onwards
*includes upgrading digital access only library cards to full-service library cards
New Opening Hours
*Effective August 13
Central, Glen Abbey, Iroquois Ridge and Woodside
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 11:30 am to 7 pm
- Fridays and Saturdays: 9:30 am to 5 pm
Sixteen Mile
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:30 am to 7 pm
- Fridays and Saturdays: 9:30 am to 5 pm
Clearview and White Oaks branches remain closed until further notice, but will still offer Library Takeout for contactless pickups and returns.
Library Returns:
*Effective August 13
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 11 am to 7 pm
- Fridays and Saturdays: 9 am to 5 pm
Not Available
- In-person programs
- Room rentals
- Group gatherings within branch
- Access to in-branch children’s toys (Tinker toys, board games, etc.)
|
|
Fraud Investigation in Burlington Leads to Three Arrests
|
|
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has made three arrests after an investigation into a large sum of money that was stolen from the City of Burlington.
In April of 2019, Burlington was the target and victim of a sophisticated email fraud scam. During this offence, approximately $500, 000 was stolen from the city.
A yearlong investigation by the HRPS Fraud Bureau led to the arrest of three males. Search warrants were also executed at two homes.
Arrested and charged:
- Abayomi Musa (38) of Toronto
- Adnan Nawaz (39) of Brampton
- Hardness Oppong (37) of Toronto
All three have jointly been charged with Fraud over $5000. The accused have been released pending a court appearance on October 6, 2020 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton.
Anyone with information with regards to this incident is asked to contact Detective Constable Ed Spence of the Regional Fraud Bureau at (905) 465-8742.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
|
|
Region of Halton looking for feedback
on Regional Official Plan
|
|
The Region is seeking community feedback by September 28, 2020, in two ways:
-
Take the general questionnaire: Provide high-level feedback on theme areas relating to the Regional Official Plan.
-
Complete the technical questionnaire: Provide detailed feedback on theme areas relating to the Regional Official Plan. The technical questionnaire contains questions on each of the five discussion papers. It is designed to enable participants to only answer those questions for which they have an interest.
You can access the Regional Official Plan discussion papers and other related information on the Regional Official Plan Review at:
LPS52-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Natural Heritage Discussion Paper
LPS53-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Rural and Agricultural System Discussion Paper
LPS54-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Climate Change Discussion Paper
LPS55-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - North Aldershot Planning Area Discussion Paper
LPS56-20 - Regional Official Plan Review - Regional Urban Structure Discussion Paper
|
|
Provincial Government announcements |
|
Ontario Investing $6 Million to Boost the Fight Against Crime |
|
The Ontario government is investing more than $6 million over the next three years to help combat crime and build safer communities. The Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant will be made available to 16 police services across the province to implement 21 crime prevention and community safety initiatives that help fight gun and gang violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence and harassment. The grant is supported with funds forfeited to the province during criminal prosecutions.
"By cutting off the resources of these crooks and redirecting that money to our brave men and women in uniform, we will ensure our police can keep our streets safe and put violent criminals behind bars where they belong," said Premier Doug Ford. "Thanks to the relentless work of police forces across the province, we're able to deliver $6 million more to help combat the most heinous crimes."
Examples of initiatives to receive funding under the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant include:
- Providing training for frontline officers to help them better recognize gang activity and gather intelligence on crime;
- Adding community patrol officers to neighbourhoods experiencing a surge in gang-related violence or activity to strengthen relationships with community members and deter at-risk youth from entering gangs;
- Developing and implementing a diversion program to help at-risk youth exit gangs;
- Supporting covert operations run by police, supported by victim advocates, to identify potential victims of human trafficking and hold offenders accountable;
- Providing enhanced trauma-informed training and interview techniques for frontline officers to interact with victims in a compassionate and thoughtful way;
- Bringing together municipal, First Nations and provincial police to improve community responses to human trafficking to help survivors access the supports they need to safely move forward with their lives; and
- Launching comprehensive education campaigns targeting groups that are more susceptible to becoming victims of human trafficking, such as women in low-income groups, Indigenous and immigrant women, and at-risk youth.
"Crime should not pay and that is why we are standing up against criminals who prey on Ontario communities for profit," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "We are working with law enforcement and their community partners to protect Ontarians through this investment to ramp up the fight against guns and gangs, human trafficking and sexual violence."
|
|
Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on August 6, 2020 |
|
In lieu of an in-person update to the media, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, issued the following statement today:
"There have been 118,187 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 8,962 deaths. 87% of people have now recovered. Labs across Canada have tested 4,272,606 people for COVID-19 to date. Over the past week, an average of 48,360 people were tested daily, with 1% testing positive and an average of 400 cases were reported daily from across the country.
These past months, we have taken concerted action to address the COVID-19 pandemic and bring the spread of the virus under manageable control. These actions have brought us time as research and science accelerate at an unprecedented pace to find safe and effective vaccines and treatments. Now, as we learn to live with the virus in our midst, Canadians continue to rise to the challenge, adapting their daily routines to include important public health practices.
These adaptations - from physical distancing to wearing a mask or face covering indoors in public places, crowded spaces and close contact situations - have been challenging. And the uncertainties of this novel pandemic have been stressful, taking a toll on the physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
We must maintain our resolve and ensure our actions are guided by the best available science and evidence. With the rise of social media and other digital platforms, we are consuming more information than ever before. However, some of this information, including certain claims about COVID-19, is false or misleading.
In our fight against COVID-19, we need to do our part to stop the spread of misinformation. When we come across new information, we need to think critically about it, check it against credible sources and not share it further if there is any doubt as to its validity.
The Government of Canada website, Canada.ca/coronavirus, is a good place to start for credible information. You can also consult this resource guide to learn more on ways to reduce your risk of infection and spreading the virus.
There are also resources that can help you and your family boost your digital and media literacy skills. One example is Mediasmarts.ca, where you can find many resources including specific resources for families and educators to maintain a balance with technology use during COVID-19.
Don't lose hope, stay the course and keep being part of the solution!"
|
|
Government of Canada announces new measures to support essential air access to remote communities
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis in the aviation industry’s ability to service communities, which is having a significant impact on the remote communities that depend on small air carriers for essential goods, services, and access in and out of the community. As the pandemic continues to evolve, the Government of Canada is working with partners, including provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous partners and the air industry to address the unique needs of these communities.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau; the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Daniel Vandal; and the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Honourable Marc Miller, announced new measures to support essential air access to remote communities. These include:
- Seeking bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure continuity of service for at least six months.
- Establishing a $75-million funding program for the federal contribution for the first six months and maintaining these essential services through an investment of up to $174 million over 18 months, if needed.
Additional funding will depend on the needs of communities and the pace of recovery of air travel into remote communities.
This funding, in partnership with contributions by the provincial and territorial governments, will ensure minimum levels of essential transportation services to remote communities, and ensure the continued supply of food, medical supplies, and other essential goods and services.
Under these agreements, the provinces and territories would determine minimum essential services to remote communities and administer a program with air operators to deliver the required level of essential services. A fixed funding amount will be allocated to each jurisdiction that has remote communities based on historical passenger volumes.
|
|
What fully-online learning will look like for Ontario students who stay home this fall |
|
Parents of the two million students in Ontario schools face a choice this month: whether to opt for fully-online learning for September as a way to reduce their children's risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the classroom.
The Ministry of Education is requiring all school boards to provide the option of full-time remote learning as an alternative to coming to school when the doors reopen next month.
The province's reopening plan has elementary students in class five days a week with no shrinking of their normal class sizes, while high school students in large urban centres have a mix of online learning and face-to-face teaching in classes of no more than 15.
|
|
Manitoba announces 2nd-highest daily jump in new COVID-19 cases since pandemic started |
|
There are 30 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Thursday — the second-highest single-day jump since the start of the pandemic — including 18 connected to a cluster in Brandon.
The new cases were announced as more workers at a Brandon pork processing facility tested positive for the new coronavirus, prompting the union representing workers at the plant to call for it to shut down.
|
|
Philippines Passes Indonesia as Worst Southeast Asia Outbreak |
|
Despite imposing the longest, strictest lockdown in Southeast Asia earlier this year, coronavirus cases in the Philippines have now surged to almost 120,000, eclipsing Indonesia to become the region’s biggest outbreak.
The country re-imposed this week a second lockdown on its capital and nearby areas to curb infection spread, even as the economy suffered its deepest contraction on record, shrinking 16.5% in the second quarter from a year ago.
|
|
Virus Cases Dampens Europe’s Hopes for Rapid Recovery |
|
An increase in coronavirus cases across Europe threatens to snuff out hopes of a quick recovery as locations from Aberdeen to Catalonia reinstate measures to control the disease.
Spain, Germany and France all recorded jumps in the number of people infected with the virus this week. At the same time, a slew of companies across the continent announced jobs cuts, with industries from travel and hospitality to banking and insurance reeling from the pandemic.
|
|
In other COVID-related news: |
|
Alaska's first cruise of the season cut short after passenger contracts COVID-19
The first cruise in an already decimated southeast Alaska cruise season came to a devastating end Wednesday when a small ship carrying 36 passengers returned to Juneau because one of the guests had tested positive for COVID-19.
56 NFL players positive for COVID-19 since training camps open; opt out deadline looms
Fifty-six National Football League players have so far tested positive for COVID-19 since training camps opened to rookies July 21, according to players’ union data compiled through Wednesday.
Florida tops 500,000 total virus cases as testing resumes after storm
Florida surpassed 500,000 coronavirus cases Wednesday as testing ramped up following a temporary shutdown of some sites because of Tropical Storm Isaias, state officials said.
Germany fights virus uptick with mandatory testing for travelers
Germany announced mandatory tests for travelers returning from high-risk regions after new coronavirus cases breached the 1,000-a-day threshold for the first time since May, fueling fears of a return to an economically disruptive lockdown.
|
|
If you are interested, please register here.
|
|
Sign the CN intermodal e-Petition now |
|
This e-Petition is a collaborative effort between Milton RAIL, Milton Says No and Halton Region, to serve as the response from Halton residents during this last, vital public consultation period in the environmental assessment process.
The Review Panel Report states that the Project (CN intermodal terminal AKA Milton Logistics Hub) is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on human health caused by air quality.
The Federal Government can still determine that the environmental effects to human health - 1,600 transport trucks on the roads every day plus the operation of a dangerous industrial facility - are justified. This would be set a devastating precedent for Canadian municipalities.
This petition is meant to ensure the Federal Government understands that significant adverse effects to human health cannot be justified.
Instructions:
1. Sign the petition
- There is no minimum age to sign
- Every signature, however, must have a unique email address (an email address may only be used once on the petition).
2. Watch for an email from the House of Commons! You must verify and confirm your signature, it will not count unless you complete this step.
|
|
Food Banks experiencing record demand |
Oakville's food banks are in record-breaking demand. If you can donate anything, please do. Your help is needed.
Kerr Street Mission: 905-845-7485 or donate online at kerrstreet.com
|
|
|
|
Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakville Meals on Wheels continues to operate under increased safety measures.
|
|
|
|
Call the COVID-19 hotline |
For the duration of the pandemic, if a member of the public wishes to report an incident of non-compliance with the emergency orders, they may contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722
It is critical that our residents use 911 for emergencies only.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
