Tag Archives: Westport
Stage 3 of Recovery starts today
We have been together on this path of uncertainty for 4 months and have shown cooperation, support and leadership along the way. Today the recovery has moved into Stage 3, which means all businesses in Westport can open. There are some exceptions in Stage 3, however they do not apply to Westport businesses. Physical distancing and wearing masks are still required under Stage 3 as is frequent hand washing. Please support local businesses and continue to practice all of the health precautions that we have incorporated into our daily lives since March. The virus is still active and yet, we have demonstrated how to successfully keep it out of the Village.
I have attached the link for the government guidelines on all sectors. I think you will find it an interesting read.
Call if you have any concerns or questions. 273-9195
Click to access mof-framework-reopening-province-stage-3-en-2020-07-13.pdf
Nearly All Businesses and Public Spaces to Reopen in Stage 3
| News Release
July 13, 2020 Public Gatherings Will Increase in Size as the Province Continues its Path to Economic RecoveryTORONTO — The Ontario government announced nearly all businesses and public spaces will reopen in Stage 3 of the province’s reopening framework with public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in place. As Ontario continues down the path to economic recovery, decisions on which regions will enter Stage 3 and when will be made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts and based on trends of key public health indicators. Details on the Stage 3 reopening framework were provided by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “Our success in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and getting Ontario to a place where we are ready to reopen most of the province is a testament to the hard work of business owners, individuals and families right across the province,” said Premier Ford. “So many have stepped up and played by the rules, demonstrating that we can restart our economy safely and responsibly. Small actions can make a big difference. Now more than ever, we must continue to follow the public health advice to preserve the progress we have made together.” As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage to the following:
Public gathering limits apply to indoor and outdoor events, such as community events or gatherings, concerts, live shows, festivals, conferences, sports and recreational fitness activities, fundraisers, fairs, festivals or open houses. A two metre distance must still be maintained at such events. Regions remaining in Stage 2 will maintain the existing gathering limit of 10. Social circles in all stages at this point will also be kept to a maximum of 10 people province-wide, regardless of stage. The Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health experts and other officials have advised the following, high-risk places and activities are not yet safe to open, even if a region has entered Stage 3, due to the likelihood of large crowds congregating, difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID‑19:
For more information on the restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health guidance necessary to keep the people of Ontario safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen. The province is committed to working closely and collaboratively with businesses and sectors not yet able to reopen or who are experiencing significant challenges for reopening due to Stage 3 restrictions. These businesses can visit Ontario.ca/reopen to work with the government on a reopening proposal that will enable them to safely resume or increase operations. Government and public health officials will review proposals and contact businesses for feedback or clarifications. “With almost all businesses and services able to resume operations, Stage 3 is a major step forward in our plan to reopen the province,” said Minister Phillips. “We have to keep treating each other with respect and acting responsibly to keep up the progress in our fight against COVID-19. Our government will continue working with our partners across Ontario to rebuild our economy so that our province is a place of economic strength and prosperity for every person and family.” The following public health unit regions will be allowed to move into Stage 3 first, on Friday, July 17, 2020:
Businesses and municipalities will be permitted to enter Stage 3 based on their region and, as in the previous stages, may choose to take more time before reopening. For a list of regions that will remain in Stage 2, visit Ontario.ca/reopen. At the beginning of each week, the province will continue to reassess local trends in public health indicators, including rates of transmission, hospital capacity, progress on testing and contact tracing, to determine if additional public health unit regions can progress to Stage 3. The Chief Medical Officer of Health and other public health experts will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be further loosened or if they need to be tightened or reapplied. “Having seen a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases as the province safely re-started over 90 per cent of economic activity with Stage 2, we now have the confidence to move certain regions into Stage 3, including expanding the size of gatherings indoors and outdoors,” said Minister Elliott. “As we do, it’s never been more important for all Ontarians to continue to practise physical distancing and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge, such as safely visiting a favourite local store. Together, we’ll continue to move Ontario forward.” As the province safely and gradually enters Stage 3, child care centres and home child care providers across Ontario will be able to continue to operate with strict safety and operational requirements in place. Beginning on July 27, 2020, child care centres will be permitted to operate with cohorts of 15 children, which is an increase from the current cohort cap of 10. This change will allow parents to return to work, and bring the child care sector to approximately 90 per cent of its operating capacity before the COVID-19 outbreak. “Providing child care for parents is critical so that, as more Ontarians return to work, they can do so with confidence in knowing that their children are being safely cared for,” said Minister Lecce. “Child care is an integral enabler to the continued restart of Ontario’s economy, and we remain committed to working to ensure child care remains accessible, affordable and, most importantly, safe as we gradually increase capacity of Ontario’s child care sector.” The government, in partnership with health and safety associations, has released over 170 guidance resources at Ontario.ca/COVIDsafety to help employers in multiple sectors ― including fitness, restaurant and food services, and the performing arts ― keep spaces safe for workers and customers. Guidance will be available for all spaces permitted to open in Stage 3. As they prepare to reopen, employers are strongly advised to review and implement appropriate measures to help protect their communities. “As we enter Stage 3 and continue on the path to economic recovery, it is more important than ever that we support business owners and workers,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “That is why we launched the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory to provide businesses with information on personal protective equipment suppliers so they can keep their employees, customers and clients safe as they resume their operations. By continuing to work together, we will ensure Ontario is prepared and well-supplied for any future challenges.” Based on community needs, some municipalities and local medical officers of health have implemented more restrictions or requirements, such as mandatory face coverings in commercial establishments and all indoor public places. Check your local public health unit‘s or local municipality’s website. |
Council passes bylaw establishing guidelines to address racism, discrimination and harassment.
At the July 7 meeting, Council took the very strong step to pass a bylaw that states our commitment to upholding the human rights of individuals, empowering vulnerable communities and fostering a civil society that is committed to the elimination of racism, discrimination, marginalization, and poverty and also in empowering individuals to stand up against intolerance wherever it occurs. The passing of this public policy bylaw is the first step, the laying of a cornerstone. There is much to do for staff and council to implement the strategies and I look forward to the involvement of the public as we move forward.
I encourage you to contact me or any member of Council to share your thoughts and suggestions in relation to the approved strategies.
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF WESTPORT
BY-LAW 2020-35
BEING A BY-LAW TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE VILLAGE OF WESTPORT TO ADDRESS MATTERS OF DISCRIMINATION AND TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
WHEREAS the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977 protects people in Canada from discrimination when they are employed by or receive services from the federal government, First Nations governments or private companies that are regulated by the federal government such as banks, trucking companies, broadcasters and telecommunications companies. People can turn to the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect themselves against harassment or discrimination when based on one or more grounds of discrimination such as race, age and sexual orientation.
AND WHEREAS the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982 is part of Canada’s Constitution. The Charter protects every Canadian’s right to be treated equally under the law. The Charter guarantees broad equality rights and other fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. It only applies to governments, and not to private individuals, businesses or other organizations. This means that for the most part, a person cannot mount a Charter challenge against a private business, a private organization, or a person who is not acting on behalf of the government. The Charter also protects the rights of all Canadians from infringements by laws, policies or actions of governments, including authorities such as the police.
AND WHEREAS the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. The Declaration recognizes the fundamental rights and freedoms of all people and holds that only when the dignity, worth and equal rights of humankind are respected can we obtain freedom, justice and peace
AND WHEREAS the Ontario’s Human Rights Code is a provincial law that gives everyone equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in specific social areas such as jobs, housing, services, facilities, and contracts or agreements. The Code’s goal is to prevent discrimination and harassment because of race, sex, disability, and age, to name a few of the 17 grounds. All other Ontario laws must agree with the Code. This includes municipal by-laws.
AND WHEREAS the Village of Westport is committed to embracing the spirit of the United Nations Declaration and the Ontario Human Rights Code by upholding the human rights of individuals, empowering vulnerable communities and fostering a civil society that is committed to the elimination of racism, discrimination, marginalization, and poverty and also in empowering individuals to stand up against intolerance wherever it occurs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Village of Westport shall:
- acknowledge that racism, discrimination and harassment exist.
- commit to using equity, diversity and inclusive lenses on all future decisions,
- provide education to inform Council and Staff about implicit and explicit bias.
- direct staff to review all existing Westport public policies for systemic barriers to accessing government programs and services.
- raise awareness and assist in community collaboration to identify strategies and actions to combat racism, discrimination and harassment.
- direct that the Corporate Strategic Plan be amended to include the goals of this by-law as described in items 1 through 5 above.
ENACTED AND PASSED this 7th day of July 2020.
Masks Mandatory inside enclosed public spaces as of Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 12:01am
Local health units announce regional approach to mandatory masks
July 6, 2020
Today Medical Officers of Health from Eastern Ontario Health Unit; Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; Renfrew County and District Health and Ottawa Public Health announced a regional approach to the use of face coverings/masks in enclosed public places within their respective jurisdictions.
Each public health unit will be issuing an Instruction under the province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act Stage 2 which states that the person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall operate the business or organization in compliance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting.
In Leeds, Grenville and Lanark, this Instruction will require businesses to adopt a policy to ensure facial coverings/masks are worn inside enclosed public spaces/settings that are openly accessible to the public. The Instruction comes into effect as of Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 12:01am and will be reviewed on September 30, 2020. The LGLDHU, to support implementation of this Instruction, will provide information and consultation to operators of enclosed indoor spaces. This directive is to be primarily used to educate people on facial covering/mask use in enclosed public spaces where 2-metre physical distancing cannot always be maintained.
As the province continues to reopen, there are increased opportunities for people to have close contact with others in enclosed public spaces. This could lead to an increased risk of potential spread of COVID-19, especially indoors or confined spaces where there is minimal airflow, higher concentrations of people, and an increased chance of sharing high-touch surfaces.
Evidence shows that wearing a mask or face covering, such as a bandana, scarf or cloth that covers the mouth and nose, can help contain the spread of COVID-19 when used in combination with staying home when ill, frequent handwashing and practicing physical distancing. Facial coverings/masks that cover your mouth, nose, and chin help to prevent respiratory droplets from your mouth and nose from reaching others or landing on surfaces.
“We have learned over the course of this pandemic that we have to get ahead of the COVID19 virus – it is very infections and can spread easily among people with close contact in enclosed spaces. Most people do not have immunity to COVID-19 and some people may experience no symptoms but still be able to spread the virus,” says Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health. “We have been recommending the use of face coverings/masks in enclosed indoor spaces for many weeks. With the increase in opportunities for people to be indoors in public spaces with others, now this is the time to add facial covering/mask use to the existing requirements for operators of indoor public spaces. Each person wearing a facial covering/mask says I am protecting you. We all need to reciprocate this behaviour – it is social responsibility.”
The Health Unit has staff answering COVID-19 related questions and concerns for the public from 8:30am to 4:30pm every day at 1-800-660-5853 extension 2499. Public Health Inspectors are also available to discuss environmental health concerns. You can also get more information about COVID-19 by visiting www.healthunit.org/coronavirus or by connecting with LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter.
-30-
Robin, The Mayor 
You must be logged in to post a comment.