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The Province of Ontario announced earlier today that a number of regions will move to Stage 2 of the recovery process, which includes Halton Region.

This is effective this coming Friday. Many businesses are now preparing to open in the coming days. I know many of us are excited to be able to get haircuts, share a brew or 2 on a patio and help support our local business owners, but we ask you to be patient.

Depending on what kind of business it is, there are a number of guidelines and regulations that need to be followed in order to qualify. It’s important that these companies focus their efforts to ensure they are being as safe as possible and communicate to the public what has to be done.

Here is the official press release from Halton Region earlier today. Don’t forget to #ShopLocal and #ShopMilton.

What is also very important is that we don’t lose focus on what got us here. We need to continue to be cautious, keep doing what were doing in the form of physical distancing, washing hands etc.

Be safe everyone and let’s keep our eyes on the prize.

It may be sooner rather than later where Milton restaurants can be able open up their patio’s and sidewalks for customers – not at full volume though.

Over the last several days, we have been working with our economic development department, planning as well as our local restaurant owners to work on a plan to get them ready to go when the call comes from the province.

I don’t even have to say how much our local businesses have been hurting since the COVID19 situation hit. The phrase “hanging on by a thread” doesn’t count anymore as many businesses would love to even have a thread to hang on to.

Obviously a lot has to do with the provincial government and allowing regions to move to Stage 2 of recovery. Last week they announced some regions who were allowed to move forward from Stage 1 … this didn’t include us in Halton Region.

The purpose of getting this approved at a special council meeting this week (Wednesday June 17) is to get our Milton residents to the starting line. For those familiar with drag racing, it’s lining up and being prepared for when the lights go from red to green.

We are hoping to hear something this week about Haltons ability to move to Stage 2. Last week Halton Chair Gary Carr, along with the 4 area Mayor’s, wrote a letter to Premier Ford requesting Halton Region be allowed to proceed to Stage 2 of the recovery process.

It’s not only our restaurants that are hurting. It’s the hundreds of small businesses in downtown and all over Milton that are hurting. Revenues down, doing the best they can to hang on and we need to fight for them as well.

Milton council will do whatever we can do to help get things moving … and that includes reports like this for our restaurants and help make sure the playing field is leveled.

Our administration needs to make sure that we “find our way to YES!” and get things like this done quickly and efficiently.

I know many around the Council table will support this and help getting the ball going in repairing this economy. It’s our job to ensure that happens. It’s our job to “get to yes” and get things done.

In the meantime… for the Troys Diners, for the Rad’s, for the Eddie’s, the Casa Americo’s and the dozens of other restaurants in Milton. Let’s help support them and all the local small businesses in town when we can.

Earlier today Halton Region Chair Gary Carr along with Halton‘s Mayors wrote a letter addressed to the Province of Ontario outlining why our region should move to Stage 2 timeline that was announced yesterday.

It is of vital importance that we do everything we can to get our local small and medium sized companies up and running as soon as possible. The health of our residents and the health of our economy are our top priority and they need to prepare their employees and products/services and move towards our new “normal”

Due to the ever changing circumstances of the COVID19 situation and doing our best to keep in line with the Province of Ontario plans for a gradual, phased in re-opening and recovery, the Town has taken a number of steps to phase in some activities and work towards future changes to some of our amenities.

Keeping in mind we are in constant dialogue with the Halton Region COVID Response team as we make these decisions.

As you will read in the news release, the Town has decided to cancel all Town run summer camp programs. This is a heartbreaking decision to make as many children and adults take advantage of Milton’s high quality, fun and educational camp programs during the summer season. I personally support this decision consulting with public health directives as well as our top priority of keeping Milton residents & employees as safe as possible. Should things change, our staff is working on possible modified programs that will be announced and advertised in the community.

Please note the directives on park activities, including off leash parks, tennis courts, and sports fields.

As always stay tuned to the Town of Milton social media for up to date changes & announcements.

From the News Release – May 21, 2020

Summer Camps:

Following the Ontario Government and public health directives, Milton is cancelling all Town-run summer camp programs. The health and safety of staff and participants is paramount and based on a variety of factors, the Town of Milton is not in a position to run our regularly scheduled summer camp programs this year.  As restrictions from the Province and Public Health are lifted, the Town may implement a redesigned or modified summer camp program where possible. If so, these modified programs will be advertised to the community.

Residents are asked to please be patient during this time as we expect it will take 2-4 weeks for staff to process these cancellations. Registrants will receive an email from the Town outlining the refund process.

Park activities and re-openings:

While parks were never closed for walk-through traffic, residents can now enjoy a few more activities in parks and green spaces, following physical distancing and with no more than five people:

• Picnics
• Flying a kite
• Playing catch
• Sitting on a blanket reading

As of Friday, May 22, 2020, the following will re-open with restrictions:

• Off leash dog parks
• Tennis courts
• Park benches and shelters
• Sports fields as open spaces

The following restrictions are in place for sports fields (such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields) or green space:

• No more than five people gathered together
• Must maintain physical distancing
• No organized group or team sports

A number of park services and facilities remain closed. Visit the Town’s website to view the status of use for park equipment and services.

Town staff will continue to monitor and re-open amenities as it is deemed safe to do so, the priority continues to be the health and safety of our community.

For more information about the Town’s overall response to COVID-19, visit www.milton.ca/coronavirus

Earlier today we held a special council meeting to update us on our COVID19 response. You can find the report here

During today’s meeting we made necessary changes to our meeting bylaws that will allow virtual participation from residents who want to comment on items listed on our agenda. Having the public take part in our council meeting, watching and commenting, is vitally important to us and resident will now be able to register with the clerk and present to council.

The other item was our COVID19 update which outlines a number of issues from business continuity, plans for economic recovery, operations going forward with reduced staffing levels and road plan mapping when we get the green light from the province and medical officer of health.

Plans are in place to get the Mayor’s Business Roundtable to become Milton’s economic recovery taskforce. In my role as chair of the Milton Economic Development Advisory Committee (MEDAC) I will be with our towns business leaders to devise an action plan to phase in business life – post COVID. While we haven’t received a date from the Province of Ontario, we will be setting up the course of action to be ready when that time comes.

Check out the video above for a synopsis of this meeting and if you have any questions or comments please let me know Mike.Cluett@Milton.ca