Tag Archives: MPP Steve Clark

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Canada Day 2020 in Westport

Join Westport Mayor and Council for a ZOOM get together between 9:30 and 10:30 on July 1st.  Westport’s Canada Day ZOOM call will include the announcement of this year’s SENIOR OF THE YEAR.  Always a surprise!  

MPP Steve Clark will be joining the call to bring Canada Day greetings from the Ontario government and answer your questions.  He will be joined by Michael Barrett, the federal representative for the riding, who will bring greetings from the Canadian government and also answer your questions.

Another amazing guest will be sharing Canada Day with Westport.  Who do you think it is?  No.  Nope.  Not even close!  Another surprise! The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will be ZOOMING in to join Westport’s Canada Day Celebration.  She will bring greetings from the Queen and wants to hear from you – your questions, concerns, family traditions for Canada Day and whatever else you want to share.

Here is what you can do to help prepare for the July 1st celebration:  

Step 1: If you are interested in joining Westport’s Canada Day ZOOM call, you need to register.  As you likely know, Zoom calls can be “bombed” by “trolls”.  The way to avoid this is to register by sending your request to Patti Mueller – pmueller@villageofwestport.ca.  You will receive your invitation for the call closer to July 1st.  If your email or cell phone number is not registered, you will not be given access to the Canada Day ZOOM call on July 1 st.

Step 2: Both MPP Clark and MP Barrett will answer your questions during the first half hour of the call.  To help you prepare for the Lieutenant Governor’s visit, is there a question you would like to ask her?  Your children might want to ask how she fulfills her role as the Queen’s representative for Ontario.  You might want to share with her and get her response to “If I was Lieutenant Governor for one day, I would…”  Your family might want to tell her what you enjoy the most about living in Westport or Ontario or Canada.  Let’s put Westport on Her Honour’s list of the most patriotic communities!

Step 3:  The Mayor will be hosting the call and will try to get all your questions answered.  It would help if you cold limit your question to under 1 minute.  Let Patti know before the ZOOM call that you want to be called upon to ask your question and she will provide Mayor Jones with your name.

Step 4:  Decorate your home or business in red and white.  Raise the Canadian flag and show your pride to be a Canadian.

We can’t congregate on July 1st, but we can CELEBRATE CANADA DAY!

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Ontario Government – one page web portal for information on benefits during COVID-19 for people, businesses, workers, students/parents

Once again, I would like to give MPP Steve Clark credit for making this one stop web portal  a reality.  I spoke to him about it just 10 days ago and it is now available.  Great work MPP Clark.

If you have questions about the funding announcements from the provincial government or other questions about COVID-19, pls go the link below.

https://covid-19.ontario.ca

call if you have any questions.  273-9195

 

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UPDATE FROM MINISTER S CLARK Seasonal trailer parks and recreational campgrounds are not essential businesses and are required to be closed as of 11:59 p.m. April 4, 2020

April 4, 2020
Dear Head of Council:

 

Subject: Operation of Seasonal Trailer Parks and Recreational Campgrounds – Amended Essential Business Order as of April 3, 2020

Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians. Since first learning of COVID-19, Ontario has taken decisive action to contain the spread of this new virus.

Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the province has declared an emergency so that we can take immediate action to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public. On Tuesday, March 24th, the province ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces pursuant to Ontario Regulation 82/20 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. On April 3, 2020 the province released an amended list of essential workplaces and ordered all businesses not covered by the amended emergency order to close their physical locations effective as of Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Seasonal trailer parks and recreational campgrounds are not listed as essential businesses and, as such, are required to be closed as of 11:59 p.m. today.

We recognize Ontario “snowbirds” are returning to Canada earlier than they normally would. In some instances, seasonal trailer parks and campgrounds may have been opened earlier than usual to permit individuals to take up temporary accommodation in their mobile homes, recreational vehicles or trailers. For Ontarians whose only Canadian residence is at one of these seasonal trailer parks or campgrounds, they are permitted to continue their occupancy and complete their mandatory self-isolation as required by the mandatory isolation order made by the federal government under the Quarantine Act which took effect on March 25, 2020.

Everyone has a role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and we are asking that our enforcement partners assist in this effort. We encourage you to assist in enforcement efforts to ensure that seasonal trailer parks and/or campgrounds are not being used for recreational purposes. We encourage you to work with park operators and local public health officials in this regard, including to take into consideration the continued need for accommodation of those individuals outlined above.

Officers are encouraged to undertake a graduated approach to enforcement of the emergency orders, which may include educational messaging to businesses around the emergency order, specific warnings, the issuance of a ticket under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act (POA) or a summons under Part III of the POA. Officers are also encouraged to review the applicable provincial and federal emergency orders, and to continue to monitor ontario.ca/alert for any updates or changes to provincial orders.

By staying home and avoiding contact with others we can stop the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your continued cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,

Steve Clark                                          Sylvia Jones

Minister of Municipal Affairs       Solicitor General

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Time to pause to say thanks

It has been a little over two weeks since the community began to pull together, putting strategies in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.  I am aware of the cooperation taking place to keep everyone in the Village safe as well as the “out of the box” thinking underway to meet these new challenges.   You make the Village safer and me very proud to be your Mayor.

We have seen extraordinary leadership from Tracey, Neil & Martha and Paul.  Early decisions were made by many businesses to prevent the spread of the virus – either by early closures or restricted access.

Essential services are keeping us provisioned and we are thankful to – Les, Paul&Marcia, Guy&Cathy,  Canada Post staff, Morgan, Frank & Steve, John&Cynthia, Steve, Tara&John, Doug&Susan, $store.  The LCBO keeps us stocked. CRCHC takes care of our medical needs and Paul, Anne-Marie, Peter, Jamie and Brandon are keeping the lights on at Town Hall.

I also want to bring to your attention the support of three people that you might not be aware of.  Our Medical Officer of Health, Dr Paula Stewart, has answered each one of my many emails seeking answers to your questions. There are many municipalities in the tri-county area covered by the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Health Unit. And yet she provides the information we need, often in the evening, telling me she is working long hours.  Thank you Dr Stewart.

Our MP, Michael Barrett reached out to me in early days and offered his support.  I have had to contact Michael several times and his responses have been prompt, accurate and complete.  Great working with you MP Barrett.

Finally, our MPP, Minister Steve Clark has been a workhorse.  With his dual roles – as our MPP AND as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Minister Clark and his staff have been incredibly supportive and helpful.  All calls are returned quickly with the information we need to continue our planning in the Village.  And to receive a phone call from Steve in the middle of busy days for both of us – just to check in – well, I think that says it all.  You are doing a great job, MPP Clark.

Despite the hard work to date, everyone needs to continue to keep our safety net around the Village and not drop our guard.  COVID-19 is spreading around us and we need remain vigilant.

On behalf of Jacky, Barry, Rob and Melissa, thank you everyone – for all that you do.

Call anytime – 273-9195

 

 

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Good Job MPP Clark on Freezing Tourism Sign rates for 2019

The 2019 annual fee for the Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing Program (TODS) was going to double and in some cases triple this year and many small and rural businesses said they would have to remove their highway signs.  The PCs have announced that they have frozen increases for 2019 and will phase them in beginning in 2020, which gives small businesses time to budget and plan.

The signs are key for these small and rural businesses to advertise on highways.  Villages, like Westport, feel the benefit of these signs as it draws tourists into the municipality who might  have passed us by.

Thanks for listening and acting Ontario government!

Here is the media release from MPP Clark.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

ONTARIO FREEZING TOURISM SIGN PROGRAM RATES FOR 2019: CLARK

(BROCKVILLE) – Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark says Ontario’s Government for the People is making life more affordable by bringing relief to tourism operators who rely on the province’s Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing Program (TODS) to generate a positive economic in the riding and across Ontario.

In April 2018, the Liberal government signed a contract with Canadian TODS Limited towards the end of their administration. The people of Ontario have expressed their concerns about this contract, and the significant fee increases being placed on small business owners across the province.

“I’m proud that our government has listened to small business owners and tourism operators, including those in Leeds and Grenville, who have expressed their concerns,” said Clark. “We have worked with Canadian TODS Limited – the third party responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the TODS program – to freeze all price increases for 2019.”

“Our Government for the People has heard clearly from tourism operators across the province about their concerns regarding the fee increases associated with the TODS program. The Liberal government deliberately froze prices for 10 years, ignoring the cost of inflation and completely failed to communicate with TODS customers,” said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “We are taking real action to ensure businesses and customers have time to adjust to the increased prices, and we look forward to continuing to work with Canadian TODS Limited over the coming year to look for ways we can help mitigate this price increase.”

The TODS program is designed to provide motorists with signage on provincial highways to direct visitors to tourist attractions, operations and services.

“Our Government for the People was elected on June 7 with a clear mandate to respect the taxpayers of this province and to restore trust and accountability in the province’s finances,” said Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation. “We heard loud and clear from small business owners across Ontario, and have fixed a problem that the previous government created. Today we’re providing relief to small business owners, as we do our part in promoting and strengthening tourism in Ontario.”

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