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Dear Neighbour,

The Ontario legislature has adjourned until September 14 after an unprecedented session that saw cross-partisan collaboration in the fight against COVID-19. The people of this province expected us to work together and we reached across party lines to quickly introduce and pass critical legislation. Eighteen bills were passed with one-third of the bills having unanimous consent from all parties.

I am excited to return to my duties in my constituency office where I will be available to meet with constituents virtually, as well as spending some time reconnecting with businesses and organizations across Eglinton-Lawrence.

Hate crimes have been on the rise and it is saddening to see how individuals demonize and discriminate against others on the basis of race, religion and/or gender. Our government has zero tolerance towards hate crimes in Ontario. Over the last number of weeks communities across our province and country, and around the world, have come together to speak up against the injustice, intolerance, and discrimination they continue to experience.

This week, the Ontario Government announced an investment of $1.7 milion over the next two years to combat hate crime within our province. The funding will be available to not-for-profit organizations and First Nation Band Councils through the Safer and Vital Communities (SVC) Grant.

Effective solutions to tackle hate crimes and all forms of hate, racism and discrimination cannot come from government alone and the Safer and Vital Communities grant will allow community-based organizations to be full partners in the fight against hate in Ontario.

This week, the province passed Bill 195, An Act to Enact the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.

Many health experts anticipate further outbreaks in the fall simply because more people will be inside in groups together. With the passing of this bill, the government will have the necessary flexibility to address the ongoing risks of COVID-19, while discontinuing many of the extraordinary powers afforded to the government under a State of Emergency.

Throughout the pandemic, all of the emergency orders put in place to protect public health in Ontario have been made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). This act was designed to deal with short term emergency events and did not anticipate situations requiring additional resources and supports over an extended period of time, such as the one COVID-19 presents.

Rather than continuing to use the broad emergency order powers under the EMCPA, Bill 195 maintains only those powers necessary to manage the continuing public health threat. Specifically, Bill 195 allows the government to amend or extend existing emergency orders only, but not to issue new ones. It also provides for regular reporting to a committee of the legislature, at which the Premier or his designate will be questioned by MPPs from all parties.

In addition, the government passed Bill 197 COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020.

It's indisputable that COVID-19 has impacted everyone and Ontario's economy. It is vital to get Ontarians back to work.

Bill 197 will stimulate Ontario's Economic Recovery by facilitating the creation of jobs and generating development, and by getting key infrastructure projects built faster. It will also strengthen communities by ensuring municipalities are equipped with the tools they need to continue to provide critical services, along with protecting consumers, modernizing services, improving the education system and removing social and economic barriers for young people.

My constituency office has reopened with limited staff on an appointment only basis. If we are able to address your inquiry through a phone call, email, or a Zoom meeting, we continue to ask that you do not attend the office in person to protect both your safety and ours.

If you are in need of any assistance you can make an appointment by calling my constituency office at (416) 781-2395 or email me at robin.martin@pc.ola.org. Stay safe!

Until next week,

Robin Martin, MPP
Eglinton-Lawrence

(416) 781-2395 - robin.martin@pc.ola.org

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HIGHLIGHTS
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The Ontario government is providing stability to Ontario's rental market by increasing fines for unlawful evictions and reinforcing the necessity for landlords to explore repayment agreements before considering evictions.
Couples with a qualifying unused marriage licence issued from December 1st, 2019 to the end of the Declaration of Emergency are encouraged to hold onto it. They now have up to 24 months to use it and do not need to replace their marriage licence.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care is appointing Humber River Hospital as interim manager at Villa Colombo in North York.
The Ontario government is investing $625 million to expand and improve highways, roads and bridges across Northern Ontario.
The Ontario government is allowing seven more regions to enter Stage 3 on Friday, increasing the number of businesses and public spaces that will reopen across the province. Toronto continues to remain in Stage 2.
The Ontario government is providing the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) with $110,000 from the Ontario Together Fund to deliver online tools and resources that will support Indigenous businesses as the province implements its made-in-Ontario plan for renewal, growth, and economic recovery.
The Ontario government is investing $1.7 million over the next two years in community-based programs to combat hate-motivated crimes.
In support of the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and as part of the province's plan to end hallway health care, the Ontario government is announcing five new Ontario Health Teams and is providing additional funding to better connect care.

For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information from the Government of Ontario visit ontario.ca/coronavirus

HIGHLIGHTS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Government of Canada intends to propose legislation that would make the benefit available to more people and expand the one-time payment to include approximately 1.7 million Canadians with disabilities, who are recipients of any of the following programs or benefits:
→ A Disability Tax Credit certificate provided by the Canada Revenue Agency;
→ Canada Pension Plan disability benefit or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit; and
→ Disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, Bardish Chagger, launched the recruitment campaign to find members for the next cohort of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council (PMYC). They are looking for Canadians aged 16 to 24 from across the country, with wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences, who are eager to share their voices.
The Federal Government announced an investment of $5.7 million from the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), to support Sepsis Canada, a new national research network that will improve the treatment and recovery of sepsis patients.

HIGHLIGHTS
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Mayor John Tory, on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, again urged all apartments and condominiums to adopt a mask or face covering policy for common areas of shared residential buildings.
Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto is joining Canada United, a campaign to support local businesses in communities across the country. Toronto residents can watch the Canada United videos online at GoCanadaUnited.ca, like posts from @GoCanadaUnited on social media and use #CanadaUnited to demonstrate their support. For each of these actions until August 31, RBC will contribute 5 cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the new Canada United Small Business Relief Fund.
The City of Toronto launched ParksPlayTO and Summer in the 6IX that will engage Toronto youth, children and their families and help animate up to 100 local Toronto parks and outdoor spaces this summer

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Digital Activity Book for Kids

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