Community News Update - December 11, 2020
Dear Community,
To start today, a housekeeping note. You will be receiving one more of these newsletters next week, and then you will see these correspondences return in January, with one per week until the Legislature returns to session in February (unless there is an urgent matter that must be addressed).
Ontario has reported another 1848 cases of COVID-19 today, and 45 more death. The 45 deaths mark the highest single day death toll since June 4th. Across Ontario, two new regions are moving into lockdown, with York Region and Windsor-Essex joining Toronto and Peel Region in lockdown, as we continue to grapple with the pandemic.
As we approach the holidays, it is more important than ever that we do everything that we can to slow the spread of COVID-19. As vaccines are beginning to arrive, we must stay the course and wear our masks, wash our hands, and only break physical distancing barriers with those people with whom we reside.
We are not out of the woods just yet.
This pandemic has been very hard on our small business community, with local stores closing across Ontario. For many months, I have been advocating for better supports for our small business community, with things like real rent relief and financing support for businesses at the top of my demands.
Today, I was able to drop by (at a safe distance) and show my support for our small business community and had the chance to speak to some of the folks whose businesses have been affected by the pandemic along Eglinton West.
I want to thank the Eglinton Way BIA for their advocacy, and I can assure you that I will not relent in my support for our local businesses.
Even before COVID-19, I have raised repeatedly the issue of compensation for the businesses that have been adversely affected by construction in our community. Stay tuned next week for a further update on that work.
Another important local story I want to shine a light on is what is happening at the Rose of Sharon Korean Long-Term care facility that located in the Vaughan Rd and St. Clair area of our community.
Rose of Sharon is currently on track to have its long-term care licence transferred to Rykka Care Centres, a for-profit company with no ties to the Korean community, and a poor track record during COVID-19. I am calling for this transfer to be stopped, and for the licence to be transferred to a non-profit, or to be publicly owned.
This Monday is the deadline for public submissions about the transfer, and if you would like to lend your voice on this matter, you can email your submission to [email protected] – and please include “Project #21-010” on your submission.
For more information about this please click here, and here.
Finally, I want to remind everyone that this Monday at 6PM I will be holding an Environment Town Hall with MPP Peter Tabuns on Facebook Live! If you’re interested in tuning in, you can RSVP or Facebook here, or on my website here.
In Solidarity,
Jill Andrew