Hello,
With all the recent snow, it officially feels like winter! I know that the coming months will be especially challenging as it becomes more difficult to socialize safely outside. Through the shorter days and colder temperatures, please take the time to look after yourself and reach out if you need support.
Here are my updates from the last two weeks:
Forum on Justice and Police Reform
This Wednesday evening, I hosted a Forum on Justice and Police Reform that was moderated by Councillor Rawlson King and featured a number of insightful experts. We discussed how we can make positive changes to the police and justice system at the provincial level to support an approach that recognizes and addresses the unjust treatment of racialized individuals. The event drew an impressive number of participants and the conversations were rich in experience and filled with hope. I look forward to building on the positive elements to continue the necessary work on this issue and to develop a report that will inform future actions. If you didn’t have a chance to join us, you can still watch it back on my Facebook page.
Ottawa Public Health Update
Ottawa Public Health (OPH), in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, is continuing to explore how best to support residents and businesses as provincial and local COVID-19 restrictions are modified. You can make your feedback heard through their new survey and forum questions on Engage Ottawa: https://engage.ottawa.ca/covid19.
OPH is reporting indications of a slow decline in transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa, but that will only continue if we keep our guards up and continue to follow guidelines. As cases continue to climb in other regions, it’s especially important to remain vigilant. OPH published a report looking at where the transmission of COVID-19 is occurring in Ottawa and three common risk factors were identified:
- Socializing outside of one’s own household where talking, eating and drinking was involved.
- Close contact in small spaces during social and workplace settings.
- Inadequate/inconsistent mask use when interacting with people outside of one’s own household in crowded environments and where physical distancing is not maintained.
I encourage you to read the full report online to better understand how we can continue to slow the spread in our region.
OPH continues to offer flu shot clinics and they are encouraging everyone, especially seniors, to make an appointment. I know it has been incredibly difficult for many to get their flu shots this year and I want to thank everyone for continuing to try. Appointments should be available, so visit www.ottawapublichealth.ca/flu for more information.
Update from Queen’s Park
In the last two weeks, the Auditor General released two reports: one focused on the environment and one on the government’s COVID-19 response. The first report made it clear that climate action isn’t a priority for this government and that they have used the pandemic to undermine environmental regulations. You can read the full report here and watch my interview in French with Radio-Canada on this subject here. The second report found that the government’s response to COVID-19 was slow and late in almost every step of their response. For more details, you can read this report here. These reports are very important and will help us as we work to hold the government accountable.
Ontario Health Tools and Reports
Ontario Health has released its inaugural issue of the Ontario Health Connection, an e-newsletter designed to help front-line health care providers and those who support them. Should this interest you, you can read the issue at this link and subscribe for future editions!
Talk soon,
Lucille