April 30th COVID-19 update

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Greater Sudbury,

As provincial governments across Canada are starting to discuss re-opening of their economies, it is important for all of us to keep following the advice of our public health officials. Keep up the great work; and remember to stay at home, wash your hands, and exercise physical distancing – your actions are making a difference.

Over the past few weeks we’ve heard news about the spread of COVID-19 at long-term care homes and other congregate care settings in communities across Ontario. Unfortunately, three homes in Sudbury now have cases of COVID-19. My thoughts are with the residents, workers, and their families.

We have also heard about a number of cases in which essential service workers have contracted COVID-19. We know that workers on the frontline of this pandemic – in health care, in grocery stores, and all other essential workplaces - are particularly vulnerable to catching the virus.

Health and safety in the workplace must always be a priority. It is clear now more than ever that our provincial government needs to take action to make sure every worker comes home healthy.

In this update you will also find:

Sudbury's virtual Day of Mourning ceremony and information about the NDP's bill to expand WSIB coverage to workers who contract COVID-19
New resource from the City of Greater Sudbury with fun and educational activities for individuals and families
Information on the new federal wage subsidy program that opened on Monday
Update on the re-opening of community gardens during the pandemic

Note: This newsletter is up to date as of April 30^th.

If you know someone who may be interested in receiving these updates, please share the sign up page found here.

A detailed list of the supports for people impacted by COVID-19 can also be found at: JamieWestMPP.ca/Coronavirus

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns to 705-675-1914 or JWest-CO@ndp.on.ca. My team and I are here to help.

Sincerely,

Jamie West
MPP for Sudbury

Here are some concerns the NDP is working on, and solutions we’re pushing for:

Rent is due Friday, yet the government of Ontario continues to pass of its responsibility to residential tenants to the federal government. The NDP is pointing out that, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is the responsibility of provinces to help tenants--NDP Leader Leader Andrea Horwath and NDP Tenant Rights critic Suze Morrison said that means the ball is squarely in Ford’s court, and are again calling for an 80 per cent rent subsidy for renters.
The NDP continues to push for more testing — including testing everyone in seniors care and other congregate care settings. Doug Ford once announced that Ontario would be testing nearly 20,000 people per day by April 17 – but we’re barely more than half-way there.

Here are some new developments:

Trudeau believes Canadians will be open to providing certain personal information voluntarily, via mobile or digital tracking, to allow the government to do what's known as contact tracing.

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked Trudeau to guarantee that Canadian companies registered in foreign tax havens do not receive financial assistance from the government -- meanwhile, many commercial tenants and landlords are afraid the government's commercial rent program will not help them.

Ontario is expanding the list of essential workers who are eligible to receive free emergency child care.
Six weeks into workplace closures and physical distancing measures, Ontario has little understanding of community transmission of COVID-19, which appears to account for about half of the province's cases--the bulk of cases have occurred in long-term care facilities, or among other health care workers--the NDP has been urging the government to better protect seniors and those who care for them.

Sudbury Community Remembers our Lost and Injured Workers on
The Day of Mourning

Tuesday April 28th was Worker’s Day of Mourning, when we remember workers who were killed or injured due to workplace hazard or occupational exposure.

This year the Sudbury Day of Mourning Organizing Committee organized an virtual ceremony, accessible to the public on youtube. You can view the virtual ceremony video here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of continuing to fight for rights of the living and ensure that essential workers are protected and safe when they go into work each day.

I am proud to support the bill put forward by my NDP colleague, MPP Wayne Gates, to give presumptive WSIB coverage to every worker in Ontario who contracts COVID-19 while performing essential work, or experiences PTSD or trauma as a result.

Thank you for attending the virtual ceremony and for sharing your own videos of support for our workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greater Sudbury Releases Online Programs and Activities

As the weather gets nicer it might start to feel harder to stay inside. However, maintaining physical distancing is more important than ever to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

To support you and your family through this time, the City of Greater Sudbury has created new online resource portal for our community. Find fun and educational activities you can do from home here.

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy Program Has Now Launched

Applications opened this week for the federal wage subsidy program.

Businesses of all sizes, charities, and non-profits who have seen a 30% decline in their revenue may be eligible. Payments cover up to 75 percent of wages. The subsidy is available for 3 months and is retroactive to March 15, 2020.

More information about the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is available here.

Update: Community Gardens Declared an Essential Service

Community Gardens in Ontario are allowed to re-open as the province has deemed them to be an essential service.

Community Gardens provide an important supply of fresh food to people in our community, and especially for those who are facing food insecurity.

The Sudbury Community Gardens Network has great resources on their website for anyone who would like to try gardening in their own yards or balconies. You can find the resources here.

Thank you again Sudbury. Email me to let me know how you’re doing, what you’re concerned about: JWest-CO@ndp.on.ca

Our mailing address is:
Unit 4B
555 Barrydowne Rd.
Sudbury, ON P3A 3T4

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