Dear Neighbour, 

I’m writing with important updates on two fronts — vaccines and stay-at-home orders.

After much pressure from health care workers at the frontlines, from the opposition parties, and people across the province, the Premier will finally prioritize vaccinations for those most impacted by the third wave --  individuals 18 and above in hot spot communities, teachers, education staff and ECEs. These vaccinations will start with those in the highest-risk areas and eventually be rolled out to the entire province.

Please note that right now there is no specific information yet on how appointments can be booked for these groups. I will be sure to share this information as soon as it becomes available, which hopefully will be in the coming days.

In Parkdale--High Park, the highest rate of COVID-19 is in the postal code M6K. Vaccination for M6K is open to all aged 50+ as I shared previously, but I wanted to let you know that I am also working with our community and health partners to get the province to set up a mobile clinic in South Parkdale for easier access to those who face language and internet barriers. 

As well, the Ontario government announced the third state-of-emergency declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01am, the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes.  Residential eviction enforcement has been suspended. Please find details about the stay-at-home orders below.  

As our community knows too well, stay-at-home orders do little to protect those who cannot work from home. The Premier continues to refuse to provide paid sick days for essential workers, which experts have stressed is critical to stop the spread of the virus. We need robust support and leadership that listens to science to get out of the mess that has been created. You can count on me to continue to bring that to the Legislature. 

Stay safe,

• The province has announced that eligibility will be expanded for all individuals aged 18 and over, living or working in “hot spot” communities. 

  • Mobile teams are being organized to administer vaccines in high-risk congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based locations, and large workplaces for all individuals aged 18 and above. 

  • Pop-up clinics will also be set up in highly impacted neighbourhoods, including faith-based locations and community centres in those hot spots. 

  • Details on how to access these appointments is forthcoming. 

• Those eligible for appointments made through the province’s booking system will also be expanded. On Friday, individuals in high-risk areas aged 50 and over will be able to book an appointment at mass immunization clinics. 

  • Previously, eligible individuals under this criteria in our community were only able to book at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and CAMH. 

  • The list of high-risk neighbourhoods is as follows:

• Beginning during the April Break, education workers (including ECEs) who provide direct daily support to students with special education needs will be eligible for vaccination

• Beginning during the April Break, all education workers (including ECEs) in high-risk neighbourhoods in Toronto and Peel will be eligible for vaccination. As vaccine supply allows, eligibility will be expanded to teachers who work in high-risk areas in York, Ottawa, Hamilton, Halton, and Durham, followed by a rollout across the province as supply allows.

The City of Toronto will be opening three more City-operated vaccination clinics on Monday, April 12 at 11am:

• Cloverdale Mall, 250 The East Mall

• North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave W

• Carmine Stefano Community Centre, 3100 Weston Rd.

The following measures will come into force as of Thursday, April 8 at 12:01am. Detailed information about emergency orders can be found at Ontario.ca/alert. 

• Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
• Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along with other restrictions;
• Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only;
• Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:
  • Safety supply stores;
  • Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies;
  • Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental;
  • Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public;
  • Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft;
  • Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and,
• Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
• Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25 per cent capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• The enforcement of residential evictions will be suspended. However eviction hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board are still being allowed to continue. My colleagues and I am continuing to push for relief for tenants, which is especially important given the situation right now.