General

With Ontario facing dangerously high rates of COVID-19 that threaten more deaths than seen during the first wave, Premier Doug Ford declared a second provincial emergency Tuesday and announced a slate of new restrictions in an effort to bring the virus under control.

Here are the new restrictions in place effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday:

• Ontario will be placed under a stay-at-home order, which will require everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy; accessing health-care services; exercising; or doing essential work.
• There will be no in-class instruction until Feb. 10 at the earliest for the following public health units: Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Hamilton and Windsor-Essex.
• All businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home does so.
• Outdoor gatherings are restricted to five people, consistent with the first-wave lockdown rules.
• Masks remain mandatory indoors at open businesses or organizations. Masks are also now being recommended outdoors where physical distancing of more than two metres is not possible.
• All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, will be forced to close by 8 p.m. ET and open no earlier than 7 a.m. These limits don’t apply to stores that primarily sell food, gas stations, pharmacies, convenience stores or restaurants providing take-out or delivery.
• Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
• No restrictions on the purchase of non-essential items.

The province says the measures are in effect for all of Ontario and will remain in place until at least Feb. 11.

Friday, January 8, 2021

Acting MOH Urges Vigilance to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

With the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to rise throughout the province, the local Acting Medical Officer of Health is urging area residents to do everything they can to stop the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, is echoing comments made today by Premier Doug Ford when he said that today’s numbers are “scary,” and the province is in a “desperate situation” after reporting a record number of cases and deaths.

“We too are seeing record numbers in our local area, and it is very worrisome,” said Dr. Gemmill. “Please don’t become complacent about this virus. It is very real and has caused deaths in the vulnerable, even in this area.”

Since the beginning of January, the local Health Unit has seen days with as many as 20 new cases. Today, the Health Unit is reporting 12 new cases for a cumulative total of 628 cases.

As well, the Health Unit has reported 25 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, including four deaths in the past week. Three of the deaths were City of Kawartha Lakes residents, and one was a Northumberland County resident. While none of the deaths are related, those who have died have been high-risk contacts of a confirmed case.

“I want to offer my deepest condolences to those families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic,” he said. “It is a very sad time for so many people.”

To help to stem the sweeping tide of cases, Dr. Gemmill is urging people to follow the public health recommendations: stay home except for essential travel; do not socialize with people outside of your household, except by phone or computer; stay home if you are sick; wear a mask when you need to be out in public; maintain a physical distance of six feet from others; and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

“Our actions affect other people,” said Dr. Gemmill says. “If you choose to get together with friends and you get the virus, you could just experience mild symptoms and recover. You could also spread the virus to someone else who is older and more vulnerable, and they may not be so lucky.”

Until everyone is vaccinated, Dr. Gemmill says following the public health measures is the only way to stop the spread of the virus. The province is currently rolling out the first phase of its vaccine distribution plan, vaccinating residents and staff in long-term care and retirement homes in areas of the province with the highest numbers of cases. The Health Unit is working with area hospitals and health care partners to prepare for the next phase, which will see vaccine available in our local area, but that may not be until the spring, added Dr. Gemmill.

“Until we can get the vaccine into everyone’s arms, we need to remain vigilant and to continue to do our part to protect each other,” he said.

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For media inquiries:

Chandra Tremblay, Manager, Corporate Services; Communication and IT Services: Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1212 or ctremblay@hkpr.on.ca

(NOTE TO MEDIA: A PDF COPY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR USE.)

– Accountability. Collaboration. Communication. Professionalism. Respect – These are the Values of the HKPR District Health Unit. The information in this email is intended solely for the addressee(s) named and is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please advise the sender by email, and delete or destroy all copies of this message.

Special Programming for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Xmas Eve: (Thursday)

You will hear all Christmas Music with a few special programs for your enjoyment.

• Regular programming on Thursday until 3pm.
• At 7pm we will have a Haliburton Ministerial Church Service with Dramatic readings and Classic Christmas Carols.
• Judy Neimann and Rolly will be on the air from 9pm until 11pm with Soundtracks of Our Lives they will be taking your Christmas requests by phone or text.

Xmas Day: (Friday)

• At 8am we will have a repeat of the Haliburton Ministerial Church Service with Dramatic readings and Classic Christmas Carols.
• 9am – Word Nuggets with Rev Bev Hicks
• From 11:30 until 2:30 we hope that you will sit and enjoy a nice hot cup of tea or hot chocolate with Arlene and Bob Stiles.
• At 4pm you will hear the Christmas version of Mark Leighton’s Highland Rewind…..Mark plays some great Christmas songs that you don’t often hear on Commercial radio.
• At 7pm you will be treated to Canoe FM’s Radio version of the popular tale a Christmas Carol. This story is being told in sections broken up with some of your favorite Christmas Carols
• Ed Sharp will be here to keep you company from 9-11pm on Rockin the Canoe as he plays some unique Christmas music that he has found on his juke boxes.
• We close out Christmas Day with Classic Albums from the Attic with host James Reilly. Tonight, James will open up the vault and entertain you with an all Elvis Presley Christmas hour.

We hope that you have enjoyed all the Christmas programming that our hosts have put together for you over the last few weeks.

From all of us to all of you …..Have a very Merry Christmas and thankyou for listening to Community Radio and supporting all of our amazing volunteers.

MPP Laurie Scott Announces Additional Financial Relief for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock

New funding to help local governments avoid operating deficits in 2021

NEWS                                                                                                                                                              December 16, 2020

Today, MPP Laurie Scott announced more than $1.7 million dollars in additional provincial assistance for municipalities in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock as part of Phase 2 of the Safe Restart Agreement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This new funding will help municipalities in HKLB develop a 2021 budget that reflects the challenges of COVID-19,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “As we continue on the path of renewal, growth and economic recovery, our government is supporting municipalities so they are able to provide the critical services community members rely on.”

Local municipal funding is as follows:

The Ontario government is allocating an additional $695 million across the province to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry operating deficits into 2021.This investment builds upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer.

“This joint funding will help Ontario’s municipalities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 faster, by helping them to enter into 2021 without operating deficits from this year,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By ensuring our municipal partners are in a sound financial position to begin the new year, they can better focus on keeping their capital projects on track while continuing to provide the critical services their residents rely on.”

Of the $695 million announced today, $299 million is being allocated across all 444 municipalities to help provide more financial relief, as 2021 operating budgets are finalized. An additional $396 million is also being allocated to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering their 2020 operating deficits.

QUICK FACTS

• The federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement is a historic partnership that secured up to $4 billion in emergency funding for Ontario’s municipalities to help them on the road to a safe recovery.
• In August, an initial investment of $1.6 billion was provided so every Ontario municipality could address their operating pressures, support transit systems and help vulnerable people.

• The Ontario government has provided $510 million to municipalities and Indigenous community partners through the Social Services Relief Fund to help protect the health and safety of vulnerable people during COVID-19.
• The province has made an additional three-year, $45-billion commitment to help communities recover as part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover. This includes critical investments in health and other initiatives, to ensure Ontario is more resilient in the future.
• Ontario is also supporting municipalities in finding budget savings and efficiencies through the Audit and Accountability Fund and Municipal Modernization Program — supporting municipalities with third-party audits and service reviews. Municipalities have already received $215 million through these programs.

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Contact information

Christine Bujold

416-454-1782

Christine.bujold@ontario.ca

Province Helps Agricultural Businesses in Haliburton-Kawartha
Lakes-Brock Capture Online Presence
Supporting the agriculture sector during COVID-19 and providing families with greater
variety of foods and agriculture products
NEWS December 15, 2020
The Ontario Government is investing over $3.5 million to support more than 700
businesses in the Ontario agri-food sector to establish or expand their online presence,
helping provide consumers with more access to local food.
Under the Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative, 22 businesses in HaliburtonKawartha Lakes-Brock will each receive provincial grants of up to $5,000. The grants
will be used to establish an online marketing presence and are providing a total of
$97,698.60 in financial support for businesses in HKLB.
“Our government will continue to provide supports that help local agri-food businesses
to adapt to the challenges COVID-19 presents,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for HaliburtonKawartha Lakes-Brock. “Developing an online market place not only allows people to
expand their business, it also increases safe options for community members to buy
locally sourced products.”
With $3.5 million in Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership) funding, food
producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and
agricultural associations have developed or expanded e-commerce ventures this year,
which are helping to broaden their marketing channels, increase online sales and
provide consumers with greater access to a wide variety of food and agriculture
products.
“This support has helped many Ontario agri-food businesses to better and more quickly
adapt to the retail challenges of this unprecedented time and to modernize their
operations for the future,” said Minister Hardeman. “COVID-19 has changed the way we
shop, and our investment in e-business will go a long way to safely connect more
retailers with more consumers.”
QUICK FACTS
• Since June 2018, both the federal and provincial governments have committed
support to more than 4,200 projects, through the Canadian Agricultural
Partnership
• The funding is in addition to other programming launched this year to assist the
sector in meeting challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including:
o The $25.5 million Agri-food Prevention and Control Innovation Program to
help reduce disruptions in business operations and risks of COVID-19
exposure in the workplace;
o The launch of a portal to connect farms and other agri-food sector
business with labour needs to job seekers;
o The creation of a $26.6 million Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection
Program;
o The investment of an additional $50 million into the Risk Management
Program for 2020, one year earlier than originally promised.
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