Dear Friends,
As we navigate the rise in Omicron, the Government of Canada will be here to support you. There are a number of COVID-19 benefits available for individuals, workers, and business owners. For more information, please visit the Government of Canada website
here.
It is important that we all do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19. We must continue to follow local public health guidelines and be sure to register at
Halton.ca for your first, second or third dose. I was pleased to receive my third dose at a local pharmacy here in Burlington.
In my role as Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, I have been working hard on securing agreements with the Provinces and Territories to deliver $10 a day childcare.
As of January 24, our government has successfully signed agreements with nine provinces and now all three territories. Our government will continue to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners across the country to ensure that all families have access to affordable, inclusive, and high-quality early learning and child care no matter where they live.
We are at the table and committed to working with the Government of Ontario to reach an agreement that will support families across the province and make an early learning and child care system a reality, Canada-wide. For the latest on how negotiations are going, I invite you to listen to my interview on CBC's Metro Morning, linked
here.
One of the top issues I continue to hear about from people in Burlington is affordable housing and housing availability. Earlier this month, our government
announced that we are ensuring every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home. Through the Rapid Housing Initiative, we will ensure the creation of 2,870 safe and affordable homes here in Ontario.
The start of 2022 has been tough, and it is important to take care of your mental health. The federal government has introduced PocketWell, a companion app to Wellness Together. This provides Canadians with another way to access mental health and substance use resources online, 24/7.
Our government also launched the call for nominations for the 2022 Canada Volunteer Awards. This is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the incredible efforts and generosity of community members in Canada. You can learn more at the link here.
As we look forward to February, I encourage all Canadians to take part in online events for
Black History Month to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of Black Canadians, and to learn more about the vital role they continue to play in building a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive country. We will continue to listen to communities and combat anti-Black racism and all forms of racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.
Sincerely,
