Good evening Kanata North,
During these uncertain times, many in our community are wanting to help others and looking for ways to do so. I am sharing these suggestions and opportunities for those interested:
| How you can help | Details |
|---|---|
| Volunteer to help your Kanata North neighbours | Over 180 Kanata North residents have signed up to help those in self-isolation run errands such as groceries, medication pick up or walking pets. Sign up here. |
| Make Personal Protective Equipment | |
| Support the Kanata Food Cupboard | You can support by donating food at local grocery stores or the warehouse at 340 Legget Drive (door 46), providing monetary donations, or volunteer. |
| Support the health care workers at the Queensway Carleton Hospital and the new Care Clinic in Bells Corners | Donations can be made to the following: |
| Pick up litter | With the snow uncovering garbage throughout our community, this is much needed during this time of year and a great way to help beautify our neighbourhoods. |
| Support local businesses | Our small businesses need our support during these uncertain times. The Kanata North Business Association and the Kanata Central Business Improvement Area have created webpages so you can #SupportLocal. You can support by buying gift cards or ordering take out. |
| Donate blood | Blood donations are needed now more than ever. If you can, donate blood with Canadian Blood Services. You can book your appointment here |
| Support your neighbours, family and friends | These uncertain times can be challenging for many. Please check in on your nieghbours and friends. Please contact me anytime at Jenna.Sudds@ottawa.ca if anyone needs any additional assistance. |
| Fly your Canadian flag | Fly your Canadian flags as a sign of solidarity for essential workers and our frontline health care workers. |
| Big community shout out | Step outside, on to your porches or balconies, every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Bring out your pots and pans, horns, bells, and whistles to make some community noise and cheer so all the essential workers in Ottawa can hear how much we appreciate them! |
- I love seeing the creative activities neighbours have been sharing using #KickCovidtotheCurb. I also love the Canadian flags and painted rocks throughout our community. Keep sharing your activities and ideas to inspire your neighbours! The positivity and gestures of encouragement are appreciated!
- Join MP Karen McCrimmon and me on April 9th at 12 p.m. on Facebook Live as we discuss COVID-19 from both municipal and federal levels of government. Be sure to come with questions. We will do our best to answer them!
City Hall/Ottawa Public Health Update
- Ottawa Public Health has confirmed an additional 25 cases, bringing the total to 370 in Ottawa and sadly, there have been six deaths. 13 per cent of the total cases have been hospitalized, including six per cent in intensive care. More detailed information can be found on the Ottawa Public Health website.
- To help protect the public from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Ottawa announced today that they will extend the closure of city facilities, services and large group gatherings to June 30th.
- All essential services will continue through this time. Reopening facilities and reestablishing services will be done in a thoughtful, phased approach. It is anticipated that it may take many months to return the city to full service.
- A virtual town hall is hosted by Mayor Jim Watson and City Leaders on April 9th at 2 p.m. to discuss the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are encouraged to ask questions during this time. You can watch via the city’s social media channels or on Rogers Television.
- Ottawa Public Health is providing information about physical distancing for children. This tool provides real-life examples that you can share with your kids. I encourage you to check it out.
- Due to facility closures and cancellation of programming, many part-time employees are without work. As a result, the City of Ottawa has worked in partnership with CUPE 503 to place approximately 4,000 part-time employees from the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department (RCFS) and approximately 280 part-time employees from the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) on an unpaid, job-protected legislated leave of absence, or declared emergency leave, under the Employment Standards Act. During the period that city facilities are closed, there is insufficient work for these employees and this negotiated agreement ensures that staff are not laid-off.
- The closures of the city-managed facilities include:
- All recreation and cultural facilities – including recreation complexes, community centres, arenas, swimming pools, theatres, and museums
- Public access to administrative buildings, including City Hall
- All city parks and amenities: ball diamonds, courts, skateboard parks, play equipment and play structures, enclosed dog-park areas, and sports fields (including those at City recreation facilities)
- Ottawa Public Library facilities – including the bookmobile
- City-managed public spaces at Lansdowne – including the parks, Aberdeen Pavilion and Horticulture building
- The city will also continue to suspend in-person services, which include:
- Temporary closure of all city client service centres
- The Provincial Offences Act courthouse, located at 100 Constellation Drive, Nepean, will be closed until May 29, 2020 (to be reassessed thereafter)
- The closure of licensed childcare centres, including municipal childcare centres, and EarlyON Child and Family Centre
- Building Code Services counters
- Rooming house inspections
- Taxi inspections
- All hearings for the Animal Control Tribunal and the Property Standards and License Appeals Committee
- Interior noise meter readings between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
- The Spay/Neuter Clinic at 26 Concourse Gate – clients with previously scheduled appointments will be contacted to reschedule for a later date
- The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue
- All front counter services for business licenses will be suspended. Clients can call 3-1-1
- The Chief Licensing Inspector will also exercise delegated authority to extend renewal dates to be implemented for licensing categories expiring in March and April (to be reassessed thereafter)
- OC Transpo has confirmed a second employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is a red-vested O-Train Ambassador and has been in self-isolation since April 2. OC Transpo and Ottawa Public Health are working together to contact anyone who may have been in contact with the individual. The O-Train Ambassador worked the following shifts, travelling to and from their shifts by car:
- Sunday, March 29:
- Travelled from St. Laurent Station to Lyon Station on O-Train Line 1 at 8 am;
- Worked at Lyon Station from approximately 8:20 a.m. to noon;
- Travelled to Parliament Station on O-Train Line 1 at approximately 12:10 p.m.;
- Returned to Lyon Station on O-Train Line 1 at approximately 12:55 p.m.;
- Worked at Lyon Station from 1 pm until 3:30 p.m.; and,
- Travelled from Lyon Station to St. Laurent Station at approximately 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 29:
-
- Monday, March 30:
- Worked at Blair Station from 6 am to 1:30 pm.
- Monday, March 30:
- To slow the spread of COVID-19, Bylaw is patrolling our community to ensure people are not gathering in groups larger than five people. 43 tickets were issued over the weekend to citizens who were not following the new regulations set out to protect our community. Please call 3-1-1 should you see the following:
- Gatherings of five or more people.
- Restaurants allowing people to dine-in.
- Retail stores that are non-essential that remain open.
- Anyone using park equipment or facilities. Residents are permitted to move through the parks, however, please do not touch any equipment or structures as they are not being sanitized at this time.
Provincial Update
Today, the Provincial Government provided these updates in response to COVID-19:
- The Ontario government announced new financial support to parents while Ontario schools and childcare centres remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The new Support for Families initiative offers a one-time payment of $200 per child 0 to 12 years of age, and $250 for those 0 to 21 years of age with special needs. Families can complete a simple online application at Ontario’s Support for Families web page to access this financial support. Parents already receiving Support for Parents payments through direct deposit will be automatically eligible for this financial support and do not need to submit a new application.
- Today, the provincial government announced new emergency measures to protect Ontario’s first responders and stop the spread of COVID-19. First responders have a greater risk of being directly exposed to COVID-19. In order to better protect themselves and the public, this emergency order will allow police, firefighters and paramedics to obtain COVID-19 positive status information about individuals with whom they are coming into contact. The information disclosed will be limited to an individual’s name, address, date of birth, and whether the individual has had a positive COVID-19 test result. Once the declaration of emergency is lifted, this data will be made inaccessible to first responders.
Federal Update
The Federal Government shared the following updates:
- The Canadian Response Emergency Benefit (CERB) is available today for those who have lost employment due to COVID-19. Those who are eligible will receive a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months. Those who have already applied for E.I. since March 15, 2020 do not need to reapply. They will be transferred to the CERB.
- You can apply over the phone with an automated phone service: (1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041), or online here. To help manage the influx of applications, the following schedule has been created so you can determine the best time to apply:
| If you were born in the month of | Apply for CERB on | Your best day to apply |
|---|---|---|
| January, February or March | Mondays | April 6 |
| April, May, or June | Tuesdays | April 7 |
| July, August, or September | Wednesdays | April 8 |
| October, November, or December | Thursdays | April 9 |
| Any month | Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays | Not applicable |
- Thank you, Kanata North, for your continued messages, questions and kindness that you are showing to your neighbours and community. We must remain diligent. Please stay home.
The Federal Government is working on plans for how they will support people who are working 10 hours or less through the CERB. They will also announce ways they are helping those who are still working but making less that they would from the benefit. - Wearing a non-medical mask is an additional measure that you can take to protect others as it reduces the chance of your respiratory droplets coming into contact with others or landing on surfaces. However, a non-medical mask does not always protect the person wearing it. If you decide to wear a non-medical mask, please protect yourself by:
- Avoid touching your face mask while using it.
- Change a cloth mask as soon as it gets damp or soiled.
- Non-medical masks that cannot be washed should be discarded and replaced as soon as they get damp, soiled or crumpled.
- Dispose of masks properly in a lined garbage bins.
- Do not leave discarded masks in shopping carts, on the ground, etc.
Stay healthy.