Provincial

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of people across the province, the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23, 2020, including the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential ...

To stop the spread of COVID-19, the Ontario government is implementing the next phase of its strategy to significantly expand and enhance testing. In addition to the ongoing testing of the general public at any of the 100 assessment centres now established across the province, Ontario will be proactively testing several priority groups, including: Hospital inpatients; Residents of long-term care ...

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ontario government is temporarily preventing child care centres from collecting payments from parents, while also ensuring that their child care spaces are protected. Child care centres, with the exception of those accommodating health care and other frontline workers, were ordered closed to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep the children and child care staff safe. ...

The Government of Ontario is partnering with SPARK Ontario to help seniors and the most vulnerable stay connected and healthy as they self isolate during the COVID-19 outbreak. SPARK Ontario is the province’s first bilingual volunteer hub designed to direct volunteers to where they are needed most. The needs of each community vary, but groups across the province are looking ...

Today, Premier Doug Ford issued the following statement to mark Good Friday: “Christians across Ontario and around the world today will observe the sacred occasion of Good Friday and look forward with hope to the joy of Easter Sunday. Many of them will spend the day in prayer, fasting, and charitable giving to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While ...

The Ontario government has launched a new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee which will focus on getting businesses up and running and people back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. While the government’s primary focus is on combatting the virus, supporting frontline health care workers and providing immediate relief to people and businesses, this new committee will be ...

NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath held a kitchen table chat by video conference with small business owners in Ontario who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Horwath heard from Mark Furukawa in Hamilton and Melissa Durrell in Waterloo. Furukawa is the Owner/Operator of Dr. Disc, an iconic Hamilton storefront that sells new and used CDs, LPs, and DJ ...

Today, Premier Doug Ford issued the following statement to mark the beginning of Passover: “This evening at sundown, the Jewish community across Ontario and around the world will begin the eight-day celebration of Passover. Passover commemorates the Exodus and liberation of the Israelites from bondage in ancient Egypt. It is a celebration of freedom, faith, and the tremendous perseverance of ...

The Ontario government is offering direct financial support to parents while Ontario schools and child care centres remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The new Support for Families initiative offers a one-time payment of $200 per child 0 to 12 years of age, and $250 for those 0 to 21 years of age with special needs. The ...

To support public health units’ extensive efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, Ontario is taking further action to redirect existing resources to focus squarely on the fight against this new virus while allowing for public health units to considerably increase their capacity. Ontario has launched a new user-friendly online portal for the public to easily access their COVID-19 lab test results. ...

There were no new fires discovered by early afternoon on April 3. There are no active fires in the Northeast. For up to date forest fire hazard conditions in your area, see the interactive fire map atOntario.ca/forestfire.   RESTRICTED FIRE ZONE IN EFFECT – For all zones in the fire region of Ontario In order to ensure public safety and well-being ...

Following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is reducing the list of businesses classified as essential and ordering more workplaces to close. This measure is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the people of Ontario, while ensuring that necessary goods and services remain available. The government is ordering ...

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is asking the Ford government to follow the actions of the British Columbia and Alberta governments and release its infection modeling so that Ontarians can better understand the importance of physical distancing and staying at home during this pandemic. Alberta’s modeling has revealed their healthcare system will require thousands of intensive care beds and ventilators.   ...

There were no new fires discovered by early afternoon on April 2. There are no active fires in the Northeast. For up to date forest fire hazard conditions in your area, see the interactive fire map at Ontario.ca/forestfire A RESTRICTED FIRE ZONE WILL BE IN EFFECT for all zones in the fire region of Ontario. In order to ensure public ...

Ontario government is making it easier for everyone, especially those on the front lines, to reach out for mental health support during the COVID-19 outbreak. To improve access, the province is providing emergency funding of up to $12 million to immediately expand online and virtual mental health supports and $2.6 million to hire new psychologists and other mental health workers ...