Welcome to the Markham-Stouffville
Community Update for February 18, 2022
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Family Day Weekend
This coming weekend is Family Day Weekend in Ontario and, with key public health and health care indicators showing signs of improvement, I am encouraging families to rediscover attractions across our community.
Attractions play an important role in our province’s economic and social prosperity. On this Family Day weekend, a variety of special programs, events, and festivities are being held across the community.
Learn more:
visitmarkham.ca/things-to-do-this-family-day-weekend
ca.apm.activecommunities.com/townofws
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Ontario Moves to Next Phase of Reopening
With key public health and health system indicators continuing to improve, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is cautiously and gradually easing public health measures sooner, with the next phase of measures being eased on February 17, 2022 at 12:01 a.m.
Effective February 17, 2022
Ontario will further ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
- Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
- Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
- Cinemas
- Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
- Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
- Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
- Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 percent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
- Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.
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Family Fishing Weekend
This Family Day Weekend February 19-21, invite your family and friends to fish for free! Canadian residents of all ages will have the opportunity to fish in Ontario without having to purchase a fishing license.
This marks the first of four license-free fishing events in 2022. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity and get outdoors to connect with nature and loved ones.
Government-issued identification is required, and anglers must follow catch and possession limits for Conservation Fishing Licences.
Learn more: www.ontariofamilyfishing.com
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Ontario Launches Largest Tutoring Support Program
The Ontario government has a plan to respond to the impacts of the pandemic that has led to significant disruption to families and learning loss and mental health challenges for students.
To ensure children get back on track in more normal, healthy and positive classrooms, the government under Premier Ford is increasing investments in public education by $683.9 million to $26.6 billion in 2022-23 — the single largest investment in Ontario’s history. The highest funding levels ever recorded for learning recovery, mental health, special education and transportation.
The Government announced a detailed plan — Ontario’s Learning Recovery Action Plan to strengthen learning recovery in reading and math, anchored by the largest provincial investment in tutoring supports, summer learning, and mental health.
Ontario’s Plan includes $175 million for students to access free publicly funded tutoring in small groups after school, during school, on weekends, over the summer, and into the next school year (until December 2022).
Ontario is investing more than ever before to get students back on track – learning, growing, and thriving in a normal classroom enriched by clubs, sports, and expanded tutoring and mental health supports.
Learn more:
news.ontario.ca/ontario-launches-largest-tutoring-support-program
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2021 Seniors Community Grants announced and new 2022 application Intake opening
The Ontario government is investing a record $11 million dollars in combined funding for the Seniors Community Grant program that helps municipalities and local organizations deliver programs keeping Ontario’s seniors stay fit, active, healthy and connected to their friends, families, and communities.
A record investment of $5 million for the 2021-22 Seniors Community Grant program is another step forward in our government’s commitment to help ensure the safety and well-being of Ontario’s seniors, and we are proud to invest in over 250 local projects this year that will meet the needs of seniors in their community, especially during COVID 19.
In addition, the government is building on this record by increasing its investment to $6 million dollars for 2022-23 program year – which doubles the amount of funding by the previous government. Applications for the 2022-23 intake opens from March 1st until April 28th.
Learn more:
news.ontario.ca/ontario-keeping-seniors-healthy-and-engaged
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Constituency Office Services
My constituency office is here to serve you. We offer assistance for various provincial government services such as the renewal of Driver’s Licences, Health Cards, WSIB claims, ODSP/FRO cases, and any other service under provincial jurisdiction.
Due to the risk of COVID-19, our office is currently working remotely. Our staff remains avaliable to respond to your inquiries via phone or email. Should you require any assistance, please email paul.calandra@pc.ola.org or call 905-642-2588. We will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
To reduce in-person visits to ServiceOntario, a number of provincially-issued documents have extended expiry dates. Please click here for further information and to confirm the revised expiry date for your product or identity document.
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