Earlier today, the Ontario legislature passed Bill 189 (Coronavirus COVID19 Support and Protection Act which amended a number of laws including the Education Act, the Planning Act, the Development Charges Act along with the Police Services Act.

This will provide all levels of government the flexibility to adapt their own legislation to ever changing deadlines due to the declarations of emergency at both the provincial levels as well as here locally in Milton and Halton Region.

Through this new bill, the province has extended the provincial state of emergency until May 12th, with provisions available for further extensions if needed. This is an incredibly fluid situation with the numbers of COVID19 infections continue to rise which can lead to a longer period of time for the state of emergency.

I spoke with Milton MPP Parm Gill today before the vote (we recorded an interview segment for my weekly YourTV program “Local Matters” which airs every Tuesday at 8pm on channel 14/700HD) where he outlined the intention of the new piece of legislation.

Here are some details listed in the press release from the Province of Ontario:

Today, April 14, the legislature also passed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act to amend the Education Act, Planning Act, Development Charges Act, Police Services Act and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act as follows:

Education Act

• Amending the Education Act will allow school boards with an expiring education development charge (EDC) by-law to use their existing by-law for an additional six months after the end of the COVID-19 outbreak, so they can continue to charge fees on new construction. This change ensures school boards can retain a vital source of revenue that helps support new school projects.
• The Education Act is also being amended to provide a fair and consistent, province wide approach to addressing school suspensions and expulsions. During the closure period and with the physical distancing requirements, it is not feasible for boards to complete investigations and hold expulsion hearings.

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act

• Amending the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act will temporarily suspend student loan payments for OSAP borrowers and initiate a six-month interest-free moratorium on OSAP loans. Both measures will automatically apply to current OSAP loans, providing immediate relief to OSAP borrowers during this difficult time.

Planning Act

• Amending the Planning Act will provide municipalities the time they need to focus on local public health priorities by making it possible to suspend certain planning decision timelines during a declared state of emergency. These changes will temporarily pause the need for municipalities and planning boards to make planning decisions within specified timelines without the risk of appeal.

Development Charges Act

• Amending the Development Charges Act will ensure municipalities can continue to count on a vital source of revenue that helps pay for local growth-related infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewers as well as fire and police services. This change allows municipalities with an expiring development charge by-law to use their existing by-law during the current emergency and for six months following the end of the emergency declaration, so they can continue to charge fees on new construction.

Police Services Act

• The amendments to the Police Services Act allow the Solicitor General to extend the deadline for community safety and well-being plans past January 1, 2021, which will help ensure municipalities are able to meet the legislative requirements and complete their community safety and well-being plans within new required timelines, which will be set at a later date.

From Halton’s perspective, we have already passed and approved our Community Safety & Well Being plan and the province had legislated other municipalities to have theirs approved by a certain date, so this doesn’t apply to Halton Region as we were ahead of the curve. To see a copy of our CSWB plan, click here.

These new provisions will allow municipalities like Milton to be able to collect much needed development charges from developers to be able to continue to fund new infrastructure during the COVID19 situation.

As was outlined by staff during todays Milton Town Council meeting, there has been a huge financial impact so far on town revenues during the COVID19 situation. The report states:

As uncertainty remains with respect to the time horizon and degree to which COVID19 will continue to impact operations, a number of financial scenarios are being
assessed. If closures were to extend to the end of 2020, as an example, gross
revenue losses could exceed $14 million with a remaining operating budget pressure
of $2 million after the existing list of available forms of mitigation are considered. If
the Town’s fall programs are able to generate approximately the normal amount of
revenue, the existing list of mitigations may be sufficient to offset a large portion of the
budget pressure that is expected.

This obviously is the worst case scenario provided this current level of social and physical distancing continues until the end of the year. We are currently working on these assumptions but hope for the best – and as long as residents continue to follow the direction from our medical officer of health, we will get through this. We are getting through this! Day by day we are getting closer to be able to get back to being with our friends, family members and neighbours.

One of the things that must be remembered, municipal governments can not run deficits like our provincial and federal partners. We MUST balance our budget with the limited revenue tools that we have at our disposal. Either taxes/DC’s have to increase or spending decreases are needed to ensure we balance the books. Given this situation there are financial plans in place and Milton is in a good position for cash flow, reserve accounts etc to mitigate this impact. If the situation does get worse, we would have to look to other levels of government to provide assistance. Now that the province has passed this legislation, hopefully the dialogue between the municipalities and Queens Park continues and options are left open to assist towns & cities should they require the help.

More updates to follow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. More statistics are coming from Halton Region regarding COVID19 later today but I wanted to give you a quick update as to what is happening this week at the Town of Milton as our community continues to deal with our state of emergency.

A message that I wanted to stress…a narrative that I think needs to be changed. The narrative of “We will get through this” needs to be changed to “We ARE getting through this!” Thank you Milton for doing your best to continue social & physical distancing, staying home whenever possible and to flatten the curve to get back to where we want to be…a community … together.

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Earlier today with the support of Milton Town Council, the Town of Milton & the Crisis Management Team has officially declared a State of Emergency. This declaration supports Halton Region and the Province of Ontario’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and on-going measures to “flatten the curve”.

This action provides the municipality with the flexibility needed to manage this rapidly evolving emergency situation. Declaring an emergency supports the Town’s ongoing efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19 through the implementation of public safety measures and encouraging social distancing.

This measure is used to ensure that the Town of Milton does everything we can to protect the health and safety of our residents throughout the COVID-19 situation.

As always, we want everyone to follow the advice of the medical professionals at both Halton Region and the Province of Ontario by doing the following things.

1. Stay at home and only leave when necessary / to get essential items like food & prescriptions.
2. Keep a social-distance of 2m or 6ft between people when outside the home.
3. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds on a regular basis.
4. Monitor any symptoms you might have & use the self assessment tool on www.halton.ca/covid19
5. Call 311 or Telehealth Ontario if you have any questions.
6. If you have symptoms and they become severe, please call 911.

Check in on friends and family as well, either by phone or internet video options. It can make someones day to see a friendly voice and face during times of self-isolation. This isn’t the time for play dates with kids, congregating at friends homes for parties, or gathering in large groups in parks.

My church, like many of yours has be cancelled for the time being and we urge all other religious gatherings to follow suit and postpone your services. It is so important at this point to stem the tide, flatten the curve and stop the spread of this as soon as possible. Schools will remain closed as well for the time being so please help your kids maintain contact with their friends through technology or picking up the phone and having them call.

As Ive said before, we will get through this. This situation is new for all of us and we’re dealing with things the best we can. I urge you all if you have any questions, please get a hold of me at mike.cluett@milton.ca – Call / text / WhatsApp me (647) 888-9032

For the most up to date information from our area please visit milton.ca/coronavirus or our Halton Region website www.halton.ca/coronavirus.

Other Links and Resources

milton.ca/coronavirus

halton.ca/coronavirus

ontario.ca/coronavirus

Public Health Agency of Canada

World Health Organization.

The Regional Municipality of Halton
For Immediate Release
March 24, 2020

Halton Regional Chair declares state of emergency in response to COVID-19

On March 23, 2020 Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr declared a State of Emergency in support of the Province of Ontario’s efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the advice and support from the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani.  Halton Region Public Health initiated its Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan on January 23 and Halton Region activated its Emergency Response Plan, including its Regional Emergency Operations Centre, on February 27 to ensure a coordinated and rapid response to the pandemic.

This declaration of a regional emergency is part of Halton Region’s ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of the community, and will ensure the Region can continue to act and respond quickly to the pandemic and any other events that arise in the weeks ahead.  A copy of the declaration is included below.

“This declaration is an important message to our community: we need to take this seriously and we need to act now,” said Chair Carr. “We need to listen to the recommendations of Public Health to practice social distancing and self-isolate when directed – to protect ourselves, the ones most vulnerable, our first responders and healthcare workers. We must all do our part to control the spread of COVID-19.”

Halton Region’s top priority remains the health and safety of our residents. Please continue to follow direction from Halton Region Public Health and visit halton.ca/COVID19 to get the latest information about symptoms, risk, when to contact 311 or seek medical attention.

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Media Contact:

Julia Le
Communications Specialist
Halton Region
905-825-6000, ext. 7763
Cell: 365-228-5342
julia.le@halton.ca

I had the opportunity to speak with Jessica Kaitting from Halton News (YourTV Halton) to bring Milton residents up to date on whats happening regarding the COVID19 situation. As I mentioned in the interview, we need to get the message out about social distancing, the possibility of a state of emergency declaration, staying away from playground equipment and staying at home unless necessary. Stay informed by visiting www.halton.ca/COVID19 and keep up that great Milton spirit.

News Release

March 13, 2020

Town of Milton shuts down recreation, culture and library facilities and cancels programs to help protect the community from COVID-19

Effective March 14, the Town of Milton is closing all recreation, culture and library facilities and canceling programming, until April 5 (inclusive), as a precaution following health directives and to protect the health and safety of the community from the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

The Town of Milton will automatically issue refunds within 2 – 4 weeks for programs and rentals that are impacted by this.

“The health and safety of our residents and staff is the number one priority for everyone at the Town of Milton,” said Mayor Gord Krantz. “As a response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, we are taking action to close recreation, culture and library facilities in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.”

With the evolving COVID-19 situation, the following facilities will be closed;

• Milton Leisure Centre
• Milton Sports Centre
• Mattamy National Cycling Centre
• Sherwood Community Centre
• Nassagewaya Community Centre
• Hugh Foster Hall
• John Tonelli Sports Centre
• Milton Indoor Turf Centre
• FirstOntario Centre for the Arts
• Milton Memorial Arena
• Milton Seniors’ Activity Centre

Town Hall and the Milton Innovation Centre remain open and Milton Transit will continue to provide service at this time.

For more information about the Town of Milton’s action to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, please visit milton.ca/coronavirus.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit

halton.ca/coronavirus

ontario.ca/coronavirus

Public Health Agency of Canada

World Health Organization

The Halton Region Public Health and the Province of Ontario sites provide up to date and accurate information on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention and when you need to contact Halton Region Public Health.

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For media inquiries, please contact: 

Tracy Hasselfeldt

Communications & Marketing Advisor

905-878-7252 x2196

media2020@milton.ca