Expanded and repaired schools, plus expanded hospitals and highways are coming to the GTA, tucked in between the billions of dollars of pandemic-focused spending in Ontario’s 2021 budget.
Here is a look at the new projects and funding coming to Toronto and beyond, according to the provincial budget released Wednesday:
Nearly $1 billion to keep cities afloat
The province is committing more than $900 million this year to Ontario’s 444 municipalities. Half of that is going to ease cities’ budget pressures as revenues drop and pandemic costs go up.
A $255-million portion is slated to help shelter systems cope with the additional costs of housing people safety during the pandemic. Then another $150 million is going to help keep public transit on the road as ridership revenues continue to be historically low.
All this cash is on top of last year’s $4 billion Safe Restart Agreement. The province is also calling on the federal government to commit more cash to municipalities.
Commitment to public transit
The budget affirms Ontario’s commitment of $61 billion to public transit over the next 10 years.
The document also singles out the Ontario Line, Scarborough subway, Yonge North Subway Extension and Eglinton Crosstown West Extension as priorities – without further outlining project timing or financial commitments.
It also underlines the province’s commitment to upping GO rail service to every 15 minutes on core lines.
Peel hospital to expand
William Osler Health System’s Peel Memorial site in Brampton is slated to get a new in-patient wing.
Per-capita access to healthcare in Brampton is lagging behind the rest of the province and Mayor Patrick Brown has been calling on the province to build an entirely new facility.
The government has set aside $1.5 million for planning the new wing, but details on how many patients it will serve, as well as costing and a construction timeline, have yet to be released.
GTA Highway cash absent
One project not mentioned in the budget is Highway 413. The roadway would run through Vaughan, Brampton and Georgetown, connecting Highways 410 and 407.
Toronto, as well as the Region of Peel, has opposed the project.
Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy said Wednesday there’s no money set aside in the budget because the province is waiting on the results of an environmental assessment and public consultations.
However, the province is committing $2.6 billion this year to expand and repair highways and bridges. In the GTA, the main project is expanding Highway 400 to 10 lanes, for 26 km between Langstaff Rd. and Highway 9.
Most of the expansion would also include high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Work is already underway and is set to be done in 2026-27.
Repairing and expanding schools
The government is planning to give out $14 billion in capital grants to school boards over the next 10 years to help build 20 new schools and add eight additions to existing schools.
Three of those schools, that had been previously announced, are coming to the GTA, in North York, Etobicoke and Brampton.
Universities and colleges province-wide are getting $5 billion to help with operating costs. The province is in talks with Ryerson University to add additional healthcare training and the budget also says the province is planning another healthcare school for Brampton.
Money for racially diverse, low-income and newcomer communities
As part of the province’s COVID-19 response, it’s dedicating $50 million to communities that are particularly at-risk.
It has designated 15 priority neighbourhoods in Durham, Toronto and Peel. Those neighbourhoods are getting mobile testing sites and custom community outreach to address historical discrimination.
Funding will go to local community ambassadors to help ensure residents have access to vaccinations and other supports, and to address vaccine hesitancy.
The money will also go to the distribution of PPE kits. Some money will go to funding isolation centres, so people who are sick can recover while keeping loved ones and roommates safe.
The province had previously invested $42 million in such isolation centres.
Urban indigenous vaccine outreach
The province is putting $50 million into ensuring the GTA’s indigenous community, along with other urban indigenous communities and First Nations, has access to vaccinations and relevant information.
Property tax reassessments paused
In 2020, the provincial government postponed this year’s property tax assessments. The budget says they are further postponing them to help give homeowners budget certainty.
Want to get out of the city?
Under the budget, between May 1 and September 2, access to provincial parks is free for the day from Monday to Thursday.
TORONTO, Kan. — Critics of Ontario’s $186-billion spending plan say it fails to meet the immediate needs of residents and small businesses struggling through the pandemic.
The budget tabled by the Progressive Conservative government includes $6.7 billion in pandemic spending, including $1 billion for the provincial vaccination effort and $2.3 billion for contact tracing and testing.
The government will offer a second round of grants to small businesses to help with pandemic expenses, create a new job training tax credit and provide more benefits to families with children.
But opposition critics, unions and other stakeholders say supports for people are too slow, insufficient or nonexistent.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath highlighted the lack of funds for hiring more teachers, slow relief for long-term care and the absence of a paid sick day policy to protect workers during the worsening third wave of COVID-19 infections.
Catherine Fife, the NDP’s finance critic, says business grants didn’t expand to more sectors and left out a large number of small businesses that employ many Ontarians.
“If there was ever a budget in the history of this province to invest in people, in businesses, this was the one, and this government missed the mark,” Fife said Wednesday.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the budget is a missed opportunity that makes more promises to help businesses than struggling workers.
“This budget is just classic trickle-down economics and it’s the last thing communities need,” CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn said, also pointing to the lack of paid sick days.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said the budget doesn’t offer adequate support for women, young people and racialized Ontarians who have lost work during the pandemic.
Unions representing education workers criticized the budget for not spending on adequate in-school safety measures, noting health impacts on workers during the pandemic including hospitalizations from the virus. They said the government is “shortchanging” students and families.
“Obviously, education is not a priority for this government,” their joint statement said.
Advocacy group People for Education said the budget made no mention of the critical need to address the effect of the pandemic on schools, students and staff. Instead, the government is sending “small cheques” to parents through its Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit, it said.
“It would be more efficient (and) effective to spend that amount collectively on resources and programs in schools to address long-term impacts of COVID,” Annie Kidder, the group’s executive director, said on social media.
Others criticized the lack of environmental considerations in the economic recovery plan. Keith Brooks, programs director of Environmental Defence, said his organization was disappointed the budget didn’t include plans for a green recovery that centres on climate change.
“We were hopeful that the Ontario government would take this opportunity to revisit and reset its hostile approach to the environment. Sadly, that’s not the case,” Brooks said in a statement.
Business, health-care and industry groups, meanwhile, welcomed relief laid out for their sectors.
Anthony Dale, CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, said the group appreciates new funding as hospitals work to “maintain stability during this ongoing crisis.”
Ontario Long Term Care Association CEO Donna Duncan said long-term care spending around staffing and expansion of available beds “will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Ontario’s seniors now and in the future.”
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce also welcomed supports for businesses and funding specifically geared toward the tourism sector, jobs training and broadband internet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2021.
Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press
Peel Regional Police say investigators from the airport division criminal investigations bureau have charged an Edmonton man after he allegedly used a fraudulent COVID-19 document upon arrival from an international flight at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Police were notified to assist the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on March 19 around 4:00 p.m. when border officers were inspecting documents related to international travel.
Following further inspection by the Public Health Agency, they determined that one of the papers was fraudulent.
A 45-year-old man from Edmonton was arrested and charged for unlawfully and knowingly using a fraudulent document.
He was held for a bail hearing and made a court appearance in Brampton on March 22.
The man was released from custody on specific conditions and returned to CBSA at Pearson Airport for processing by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to contact investigators.
In early March, the federal government said it was working with authorized hotels to address the growing number of stories of travellers facing chaotic conditions when they arrive for their mandatory three-day hotel quarantine after flying into Canada.
The opposition Conservatives have repeatedly called on the feds to suspend the hotel quarantine system, a request that began after an alleged sexual assault that took place at a quarantine hotel on February 17.
Heart-wrenching details about a massive blaze at an Oshawa row house came to light Tuesday as a resident of the home who escaped the inferno shared his experience and recollections from a traumatic night.
WATCH: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/03/23/oshawa-fire-survivor-experience/
Michael Thompson was in bed on the second floor of the home on Olive Avenue when he says the blaze broke out on the first floor, making its way up. Tenants from the first floor alerted him to the fire around 1 a.m. Monday.
“When we opened the bedroom door, there was so much smoke, we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “We had to feel our way around, go to the back of the house, smash out a window and get out through the back,” because the stairs were engulfed in flames.
While breaking through the window, Thompson injured himself, leaving him with stitches and a bandaged right hand.
He said the owner of the home then went to the third floor and smashed out some windows for the two men who lived there as tenants.
“He screamed for them, but there was no answer,” said Thompson. “They were already either overcome by smoke or heat. There was no answer whatsoever so they didn’t make it out.”
Thompson added that a couple and one of their sons were on the first floor and made it out of the home. Two other boys who were in bed on the second floor unfortunately did not, due to a misunderstanding during the chaotic situation.
“I thought the father had them, he thought we had them,” he said, tearing up. “By the time we realized they were still in there, the house was engulfed in flames. Flames were shooting out the window, it was impossible to go back in.”
“I freaked out…panicked…heart racing. I knew they weren’t going to get out,” he added.
Thompson said he was absolutely helpless, describing the feeling as having his hands tied. He explains that even the firefighters could not get into the home due to the size and temperature of the fire.
“I couldn’t help anybody, that’s what’s bothering me the most” he said through tears. “I think everybody should have gotten out.”
Thompson said he only returned to the area to meet one of the victim’s brothers who lives on the street, but cannot bring himself to visit the wreckage.
“I can’t look at this house right now,” he said.
On Monday evening, two bodies were recovered from the home and two other people are still unaccounted for at this time. Their ages and other details have not been released.
WATCH: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/03/23/oshawa-fire-survivor-experience/
The fire sent a total of four residents from the home to hospital and three were released the same day. One resident remains in hospital with serious injuries.
With files from News Staff
The federal government says it does not believe COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Canada would be affected by export restrictions being considered by the European Union.
A report in the New York Times says the E.U. is finalizing emergency legislation that would give it broad powers to curb exports for the next six weeks of COVID-19 vaccines as part of its response to supply shortages at home.
The report says rules would make it harder for pharmaceutical companies producing COVID-19 vaccines in the European Union to export them.
In an emailed statement, the press secretary for Mary Ng, minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, says Ng’s counterparts have assured her that these measures will not affect vaccine shipments to Canada.
Youmy Han says the federal government has been in constant contact with its counterparts in the E.U. and its member states at all levels of government.
She says Canada will continue to work with the E.U. and its member states to ensure that our essential health and medical supply chains remain open and resilient.
“We share the urgency of Canadians to ensure access to life-saving vaccines as rapidly as possible, and our government is operating with this sense of urgency every single day,” Han wrote late Tuesday.
“Our expected shipments of vaccines have been arriving in Canada and we are on track to receive 9.5 million doses by the end of March.”
The Ford government is expected to present a budget big on spending Wednesday afternoon at Queen’s Park. Sources tell 680NEWS it will be a plan aimed at getting Ontario through the pandemic.
The third full budget from the Ford government will be tabled by its third finance minister, Peter Bethlenfalvy.
His predecessor, Rod Phillips, resigned on New Years Eve after it was revealed he took a trip to St. Bart’s despite travel advisories.
In November, Phillips unveiled a record $189 billion budget featuring a $38.5 billion deficit. Those numbers are expected to swell further Wednesday.
Bethlenfalvy, who in line with tradition, will buy a new pair of shoes Wednesday morning, has already been busy making big spending pre-budget announcements: $933 million to increase and improve long-term care spaces last Thursday, $1.2 billion in hospital funding on Monday, and $3.7 million Tuesday to help seniors and people with disabilities get transportation to their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Sources tell 680NEWS that the government is not ready to take its foot off the pedal because Ontario remains in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis.
“I said right from day one, I will not hesitate to spend what it takes to protect people,” Premier Ford said Tuesday.
“We’re definitely protecting and investing in peoples’ health,” Bethlenfalvy said, adding that, “The second piece is supporting jobs.”
Along those lines, the government may look to a suggestion from Restaurants Canada to help out the troubled bar and restaurant sector by allowing establishments to buy alcohol from the LCBO at wholesale prices rather than the six per cent markup that’s currently paid.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation may not get much off its budget wish list, which includes reduced government spending on non-essentials, a plan to eliminate the budget deficit, and tax reductions.
Another big item to look out for is universal child-care. The finance minister’s former chief of staff wrote a newspaper op-ed Monday saying such a move would be wise as it would increase women’s participation in the labour force. When asked about this Tuesday, Bethlenfalvy said,”We’ll have a lot more to say about that.”
“The Premier made an unconditional promise to all Ontarians a year that we would do whatever it takes to protect people from this pandemic and spare no expense, and I have the privilege to be the Minister of Finance to support him and all our colleagues and all the people of Ontario to get that job done,” added Bethlenfalvy.
The biggest questions in Wednesday’s financial blueprint may be to what extent the government lays out a path out of the record deficit, and what exactly its plans are to boost an economy ravaged by the COVID-19 shutdowns.
The finance minister has suggested tax hikes are unlikely and so the government will need to find new, creative measures to boost its bottom line and tackle the massive amounts of red ink.
The next provincial election is just over a year away on June 2, 2022. Whatever tangible measures the government has in mind to spark the beaten up economy will need to be put in place now in order for Ontarians to see the results by the time they head to the polls.
Jacob Robbins-Kanter, a PhD candidate studying Canadian politics at Queen’s University, said he doesn’t expect the province will chart a path to balance in the budget since a third wave of COVID-19 is underway.
“We don’t know with these new variants of concern exactly what’s going to happen,” he said. “I don’t know that we’re at the stage where budget projections can account for a return to normalcy.”
The government hasn’t said if the budget will include a path to balance, although the finance minister has acknowledged that record deficits aren’t sustainable in the long term.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath said Tuesday that the Opposition would like to see the government bolster investments for long-term care and education.
The government must also provide paid sick days for workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the vaccine rollout continues, she added.
“We want to see investments in jobs, we want to see investments … to keep people safe at work,” she said.
Liberal legislator John Fraser said the government should use the budget to hike pay for workers in the long-term care sector.
“The premier has been hedging his bets there,” he said. “You need to give them full-time jobs because he needs to stabilize the workforce there.”
MONTREAL – The NHL has postponed Monday night’s game in Montreal between the Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers, making it the first contest in the all-Canadian North Division to be shut down due to COVID-19 concerns.
The league announced the postponement shortly before the scheduled 7 p.m. ET opening faceoff after Montreal forwards Joel Armia and Jesperi Kotkaniemi were placed on the league’s COVID protocol list.
The league said in a statement it will provide more information on Tuesday.
The Oilers were looking to move into sole possession of first place in the North Division. They are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were idle Monday, with 42 points.
Edmonton and Montreal are next scheduled to play Wednesday at the Bell Centre.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2021.
A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said.
WATCH: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/03/22/police-responding-to-active-shooter-at-colorado-supermarket-2/
Boulder police Chief Maris Herold announced the death toll at a news conference Monday night, fighting back tears.
The suspect was getting medical treatment and there was no further threat to the public, authorities said. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect.
The officer who was killed was Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said.
Victims’ families were still being notified so their names weren’t released, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.
“This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, and in response, we have co-operation and assistance from local, state and federal authorities,” Dougherty said.
Yamaguchi said police were still investigating and didn’t have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometres) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado.
Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he “couldn’t tell if they were breathing.”
Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video.
Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken.
At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that “you need to surrender.”
Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then “we just ran.”
Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body.
“I knew we couldn’t do anything for the guy,” he said. “We had to go.”
James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops.
“I was then at the front of a stampede,” he said.
Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it.
One person was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his “heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community.”
Police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an “armed, dangerous individual” about 3 miles (5 kilometres) away from the grocery store but said at the news conference later that it wasn’t related to the shooting.
The FBI said it’s helping in the investigation at the request of police.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting.
In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered “thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to co-operate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation.”
Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away.
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Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Province-wide restaurant workers will get the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2, government officials confirm to 680 NEWS.
WATCH: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/03/22/ontario-restaurant-workers-to-be-vaccinated-as-part-of-phase-2-government-officials-say/
On March 5, Ontario officials released a list of eligible people for the COVID-19 vaccine during this phase.
This stage will see shots administered based on risk factors including age, neighbourhood, existing health conditions, and inability to work from home.
The province is planning on vaccinating nine million people in Phase 2 and the updated plan does not include the recently approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The province has split up workers into different categories including the following:
Those who live and work in congregate settings
All at-risk staff, essential caregivers, and residents from the following congregate settings will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Supportive housing
- Developmental services/intervenor and supported independent living (SIL)
- Emergency homeless shelters
- Other homeless populations not in shelters
- Mental health and addictions congregate settings
- Homes for special care Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters and Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) residents
- Children’s residential facilities
- Youth justice facilities
- Indigenous healing and wellness
- Provincial and demonstration schools
- Farmworkers who live in congregate settings, including Temporary foreign workers, Bail beds and Indigenous bail beds
- Adult correctional facilities
Essential workers/those who can’t work from home
Workers who can’t work from home will be vaccinated in two groups encompassing a variety of sectors. These include elementary and secondary school staff – as well as bus drivers – food manufacturing workers, childcare workers, and high-risk and critical retail workers such as grocery and pharmacy.
The second group will be eligible once the first group has been vaccinated.
First group of essential workers (730,000 people):
- Elementary/secondary school staff and bus drivers that transport students
- Workers responding to critical events (e.g., police, fire, compliance, funeral, special constables)
- Child care workers
- Licensed foster care workers
- Food manufacturing workers
- Agriculture and farm workers
Remaining workers to be eligible (1.4 million people)
- High-risk and critical retail workers (grocery and pharmacies)
- Remaining manufacturing workers
- Social workers (including youth justice)
- Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole)
- Lower-risk retail workers (wholesalers, general goods)
- Transportation, warehousing, and distribution
- Energy, telecom (data and voice), water and wastewater management
- Financial services
- Waste management
- Mining, oil, and gas workers
After Phase 2 is completed, everyone b
etween the ages of 16 and 59 will be eligible for their first dose.
As part of Phase 2 of the rollout, the province will see vaccine shipments ramp up throughout March, with the most significant coming from Moderna.
Though non-committal on the matter, Retired Gen. Rick Hillier said mass-vaccinations could begin on June 20, depending entirely on vaccine supply in the coming months.
“Our aim is to allow the province of Ontario to have a first needle in the arm of every eligible person who wants it by the first day of summer,” he said. “That’s the challenge goal I put out there.”
Phase 2 is expected to formally begin in April.
The province also says that certain hotspots will receive additional vaccine supplies, such as Toronto, Peel, Durham, Halton, Hamilton, and York.
York Region announced Monday that it will be launching drive-through vaccine sites soon, along with expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to residents aged 70 years and older.
One drive-through site is slated to open at Canada’s Wonderland on March 29 and is currently being tested. Like all other sites, these clinics are also by appointment only.
“We are increasing the options for our folks. There are folks that may have some mobility issues, but can get into a car and they might find the drive-through option to be pretty good,” said Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s medical officer of health.
In addition, starting Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., those born in 1951 and earlier can book an appointment on the region’s vaccine portal. Those in earlier age groups are still eligible to book.
Appointments can also be booked via telephone by calling the specific clinics. Walk-ins will not be permitted.
The following locations will administer vaccines to the newly eligible priority group:
- Aaniin Community Centre located in the City of Markham, operated by York Region Public Health
- Cornell Community Centre located in the City of Markham, operated by Eastern York Region North Durham (EYRND) Ontario Health Team (OHT)
- Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital located in the City of Vaughan, operated by Mackenzie Health
- Georgina Ice Palace located in the Town of Georgina, operated by York Region Public Health
- Maple Community Centre located in the City of Vaughan, operated by York Region Public Health
- Ray Twinney Recreation Complex located in the Town of Newmarket, operated by Southlake Regional Health Centre
- Richmond Green Sports Centre located in the City of Richmond Hill, operated by York Region Public Health
Further, for eligible and vulnerable residents who cannot visit a vaccine clinic or use a drive-through, the region’s mobile outreach teams are set to begin vaccinating homebound people this week.
Staff involved in the mobile teams include paramedics, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and public health immunizers.
“We have accumulated, with our partnerships with many other seniors groups, a list of individuals who need to be visited in their homes,” said Dr. Kurji.
Meanwhile, a pilot program offering Oxford-AstraZeneca shots to those 60 and older that started this month in Toronto, Kingston and Windsor pharmacies is expected to expand to 700 sites over the next few weeks.
Ontario’s solicitor general Sylvia Jones said pharmacies in virus hotspots will be prioritized and Peel Region will “absolutely” be next for the pharmacy vaccine program, based on high rates of COVID-19 there.
Jones said the expansion depends on supply and the exact sites are being determined with the Ontario Pharmacists Association, looking at health units with higher COVID-19 positivity rates.
The government has been criticized for passing over hotspot neighbourhoods and regions in the initial pharmacy pilot.
Jones said hotspots weren’t forgotten, but the province was limited by vaccine supply and the April 2 expiry date for the first doses.
With files from Lucas Spadafora and The Canadian Press.
