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Dear Neighbour,

Today is April 1 and I have been thinking of the many tenants in our community, both residential and commercial, who are facing a tough day because they are not able to pay rent due to the COVID-19 crisis. I heard from a tenant whose rent increased 2.2% effective today. Another wrote to tell me she made the difficult decision to not pay rent in full so that she has enough money to buy food. As well, another local small business has decided to shut down. Many tenants, locally in our community and across the province, are part of the #KeepYourRent campaign. 
 
The Federation of Metro Tenants Association reported today that many tenants across the city faced threats of eviction and some were even locked out. Whatever your private rental arrangement, you cannot be forced out of your home and even if your landlord issues an eviction notice, they can't be enforced. If you get an eviction notice, do NOT leave your home. Please get in touch with our office and we can support you, including by following up with the landlord directly, making sure they understand their obligations. You can find a copy of the Court Order suspending residential evictions here.
 
Premier Doug Ford has said in recent days that “if you can’t pay rent, and if you’re in a crisis, you don’t have to pay rent”. I am urging the Premier to provide immediate relief to tenants and small businesses to help make their payments without racking up crushing debt. I have also called for a federal moratorium on mortgage foreclosures. No one should face the prospect of losing their home in the midst of a pandemic. 
 
Finally, given the rising incidence of community transmission, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has encouraged local medical officers of health to use their powers to enforce isolation of cases and contacts of COVID-19. 
 
As such, the City has now issued stronger measures:
  • All individuals with COVID-19 and those who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are ordered to stay home for 14 days. 
  • Mayor Tory has indicated that fines could be issued where there is non-compliance and additional orders could be issued by the Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. 
  • City bylaw enforcement officers and the Toronto Police Service will work together to enforce orders. 
  • You can call 311 to report any worrisome or unsafe behaviours that you witness to Toronto Public Health. 
As well, given the infection rate, the Official Opposition has sent a letter to Premier Ford asking for a substantial tightening of the rules around “essential” workplaces and in particular related to construction. You can read the full letter below. 
 
Wash your hands. Stay home (except if you must work). Be kind. We are all in this together.
 
Warmly,
Bhutila Karpoche,
MPP for Parkdale—High Park
Letter from Andrea Horwath

Premier Doug Ford 
Premier's Office Room 281, Legislative Building, Queen's Park 
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 

April 1, 2020

Dear Premier Ford,

I am writing to request a review of the industries and businesses currently exempted from the emergency management orders to cease operation.

In particular, I would like you to review the blanket exemption for construction, an industry in which it’s often impossible to practice safe distancing. Protecting workers’ health and safety, and ensuring we’re doing every practical thing possible to stop the spread of COVID-19, must be Ontario’s priority right now. I ask you to look seriously at limiting construction activity to emergency and essential work only.

Ontario has included some services and businesses on their list of essential services that other provinces have not. In Quebec, car dealerships have been ordered to close, except as necessary for maintenance and repair; and construction, except as required for provision of emergency services, has been ordered to stop.

On Wednesday, the City of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen De Villa, said there is a need to “… reduce the number of open workplaces and businesses. To be clear, it’s not within my jurisdiction as the local medical officer of health to make determinations as to what businesses remain open, but I assure you we are working here at the city of actively engage our provincial partners to see what can be done to reduce the number of open workplaces and businesses so as to reduce the spread, while at the same time meeting essential needs.”

Now, more than ever, precaution can save lives and we must not hesitate to take whatever steps are needed to slow the spread of COVID-19. I urge you to conduct an immediate review of the list of essential services to ensure that Ontario is doing everything we can to protect vulnerable citizens and prevent infection.

I further urge you to work with the federal government to ensure affected businesses can access wage subsidies and other support for affected workers and to provide provincial wage support where federal initiatives fall short of what is needed for people and businesses to keep their heads above water.

Sincerely, 
Andrea Horwath 
Leader of the Official Opposition
Reminder: For the most up-to-date information please visit Toronto Public Health, Ontario Ministry of Health, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Contact information is available on my website here.
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While our office will be closing to the public as part of our efforts to manage the COVID-19 virus, we will continue to provide services for constituents via phone and email. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. 

Phone: 416-763-5630
Email: BKarpoche-CO@ndp.on.ca 
BhutilaKarpoche.ca
Copyright © 2020 MPP for Parkdale—High Park, All rights reserved.


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