Newsletter: January 28, 2022

Friends, This week Ontario reached two incredible milestones, in our COVID-19 vaccine rollout – over 30 million doses have been administered, and more than six million Ontarians have received their booster dose!  That is a great achievement, and now Ontario is leading the country in getting boosters into arms. Nearly 50% of all third doses in Canada have been administered in Ontario, as we are ensuring strong protection against Omicron.  As of January 18, 2022, eligible businesses that were required to close or reduce capacity in compliance with public health measures put in place to control the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can apply for the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program.  Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100% for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions. Businesses who have questions about public health and workplace safety measures can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. For public inquiries call ServiceOntario at 1-855-216-3090 (Toll-free in Ontario only).  Stay safe.  Christine

VACCINE INFORMATION

We encourage everyone born in 2016 or older to get their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.   You can make an appointment for your COVID-19 vaccination at: Cloverdale Mall (250 the East Mall) Toronto COVID-19 Immunization Clinic. Monday to Friday from 2 – 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday from from 11 AM to 5 PM. For more information, please click here.  You can also visit a local COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at: Bishop Allen Academy (721 Royal York Road), January 29, 12 – 6 PM. Children aged 5 to 18 can receive their first or second dose, individuals 18+ can receive their third (booster) dose. Access code is 22toronto. To book your appointment, please click here.  Looking for a COVID-19 vaccination? Text VACCINE to 1-833-750-0888 for more info on City-run clinics and a selection of the 450 pharmacies offering vaccinations near you.   You can also book an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination 👇:  Provincial Portal click here to book online or call 1-833-943-3900. For the list of pharmacies, click here.

Steps to Reopening With key health care indicators starting to show signs of improvement, we are releasing details of steps to cautiously ease public health measures. Effective January 31, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will begin the process of gradually easing restrictions while maintaining protective measures. Learn more

Lowering Electricity Rates Our government is providing 21 days of electricity rate relief to support families and workers spending more time at home, as well as small businesses. To help Ontarians get through this difficult time, electricity rates have been lowered to the lowest price, the off-peak rate of 8.2 cents, 24 hours a day. Learn more

Addressing Cybercrime Our government is investing approximately $1.7 million over two years across the province by encouraging community collaboration to help fight the rapid increase in cybercrime. Last November, I organized a Roundtable with a special guest Constable Marco Ricciardi to discuss crime prevention, including cybercrime. Learn more

Building Safer Ontario Our government is providing $1 million in 2021-2022 to help police services across the province expand coverage of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, a key tool in the fight against guns and gangs and other criminal activity in our communities. This announcement is part of our government’s approximate $185 million investment to combat gun and gang violence. Learn more

EXPANDING ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES

Our government issued a statement reiterating Ontario’s ongoing work to support safe and convenient access to vaccines for children and youth. In addition to many options available to families, including through mass vaccination clinics, pharmacies and through primary care, the province has already set up 400 school-focused vaccine clinics with 184 more anticipated to be held by the January 30.

Ontario Electricity Plan As of January 1, 2022, industrial and commercial electricity customers can benefit from the full savings introduced through our government’s Comprehensive Electricity Plan (CEP), which we announced in Budget 2020, and first implemented in January 2021. Learn more

Clean Energy in OntarioAs businesses look for more choice in how they pursue their environmental and sustainability goals, we are taking action and leveraging our world class clean electricity grid by developing a voluntary clean energy credit registry to attract more jobs to Ontario. Learn more

Better Serving WorkersOur government is redrawing the system to address Ontario’s labour shortage and make the trades a career of choice for more people. Skilled Trades Ontario will lead promotion and marketing of the trades, develop the latest training and curriculum standards, credentials issuance, exam administration, etc. Learn more

Housing Summit On January 19, our government hosted a Provincial-Municipal Housing Summit with big city mayors and regional chairs to discuss the housing supply crisis and how Ontario can coordinate efforts to increase the supply of homes, so that all Ontarians can find the home that meets their needs and budget. Learn more

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR ONTARIANS

We know that since the start of the pandemic, people of all ages have felt the impacts of the pandemic on their mental health, showing that mental illness can truly affect anyone, including our family members, colleagues, and closest friends. Our government made it our mission to protect the mental health of all Ontarians during the pandemic, which is backed by an investment of $194 million in pandemic-related emergency funding to enhance and expand mental health and addictions services and supports for Ontarians of all ages.  Please find supports that are available for every Ontarian: ConnexOntario Helpline (1-866-531-2600) or web chat; Good2Talk (1-866-925-5454) for people ages 17 to 25. Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) for children and youth ages 5 to 20 or live web chat.  BounceBack (1-866-345-0224) a free cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program that offers guided mental health self-help supports for adult and youth 15 and older.  Breaking Free Online is a free online therapy tool designed to help Ontarians ages 16 and older reduce or stop the use of over 70 substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, including opioids.  For additional supports, please click here.

Attention Condo OwnersJoin my special guest Heather Zordel, Chair of the Condominium Authority of Ontario, on February 17th, from 6 – 7 PM to answer your questions on condo ownership and to discuss the latest changes within condominium sector. RSVP

COVID-19 InformationCOVID-19 Vaccine Details Wearing face coverings or masks How to self-monitor Government of Ontario Ontario Public Health Government of Canada City of TorontoReopening Ontario

Christine Hogarth, MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore, 21-195 Norseman Street, Etobicoke, ON M8Z0E9, 416-259-2249Unsubscribe