Dear Friends,

Though summer is a little different this year, we’ve been fortunate to have beautiful weather to enable us to enjoy our community, while still respecting public health guidelines. I’ve certainly enjoyed evening strolls by the lake with my family and an ice cream from one of our many local establishments and it’s been great to see the creativity of our local businesses, organizations and citizens adapting to the new requirements. I’ve missed the many events where we would normally get together, I’m always grateful when I run into folks (from a safe distance) out and about in the community.

On July 24th, Burlington entered the Province of Ontario's Phase 3 designation in their Framework for Reopening our Province. Stage 3 means that additional restrictions will be lifted in Halton Region and several other regions of Ontario. At this time,  the emphasis  of the province's COVID-19 efforts will begin to target recovery efforts in our communities and focus on adapting to our new normal. Many of the activities and businesses that comprise our community  such as recreation centres, movie theatres, and playgrounds will once again be accessible to the public while following strict public health guidelines. I encourage you to continue to practice physical distancing and follow local guidance when it comes to wearing facial coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Federal Government is ensuring the provinces have the resources they need to safely reopen the economy through our Safe Restart Agreement, because our top priority is protecting your health, safety and your economic well-being. You can read more about it here.
 
The City of Burlington and Halton Region have implemented a temporary Mandatory Mask Bylaw for indoor public spaces across the city.  The mask bylaw applies within business, public transportation, entertainment spaces, and city and community facilities. Exemptions of the mask bylaw are made for those physically or developmentally under the age of three, those whose use of a mask poses physical or emotional risk, and those unable to use the mask without assistance. It is critical  that we all adhere to these guidelines for the safety of ourselves and our communities, however it is also of the utmost importance that we continue to treat each other with kindness and compassion, and not shame or stigmatize those who have legitimate reasons for being unable to wear masks.

Tomorrow, August 1^st, marks Emancipation Day. On this day in 1834, the Abolition of Slavery Act became law, freeing over 800,000 enslaved people across the British Empire, including in Canada. As we continue to work to eradicate anti-black racism in Canada, I invite you to learn more about the history of slavery in Canada and the factors that contribute to systemic racism. Right here in our own community, the Halton Black History Awareness Society does great work educating on Black History and working to build a more inclusive Halton. You can learn more about them and the work they do here. If you’re interested, I invite you to read the recommendations put forward by the Parliamentary Black Caucus on the actions we can take as a federal government to address systemic racism in our country.

As we continue to safely restart the economy, many Canadian businesses and workers are continuing to face significant challenges and uncertainty. That’s why our government is proposing changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) that would provide broader and better targeted support so that workers can return to their jobs quickly as the economy restarts. To date, the CEWS has supported around 3 million Canadian workers stay on the payroll, and with these proposed changes even more Canadian workers will benefit. We are committed to extending  the subsidy until December 19, 2020, introducing a top-up subsidy to those who have been the hardest hit by the pandemic, and ensuring  that those currently using the program can continue to receive support, even as they recover. As a government we are committed to continuing to support hard working Canadians and  our businesses.

Today, the Government of Canada launched the COVID Alert App to help notify Canadians if you have been exposed to COVID-19. You can download it on your mobile device here.

I encourage you to remain committed to following public health guidelines and remain dedicated in your efforts  to slow the spread of COVID-19  as we shift into the next phase of recovery efforts.  If you have at least one symptom or are concerned that you  have been exposed to COVID-19, you can get tested at Joseph Brant Hospital's COVID-19 Assessment Centre. To ensure physical distancing, testing is done by appointment only. For further details, or for guidance on how to book your appointment, please consult the link found here. 

Most importantly, make sure you are taking care of yourself. Living through a global pandemic is stressful to say the least, not to mention the additional stressed and burdens we are facing. Know there are resources available to you. The Government of Canada, for example, has launched the wellnesstogether.ca initiative to provide free and accessible support for your mental well-being. It is free and easy to use. If you or someone you know could benefit, please check it out at the link found here. 
 
Stay safe, healthy, and resilient. The future is in our hands.

Sincerely,

Hon. Karina Gould

Member of Parliament

Burlington

To read more, please consult the link found here.