The Ontario government will release its 2020 Budget on Thursday, November 5, 2020. It will focus on protecting the health and safety of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much-needed supports to families, workers, and employers, and laying the foundation for future growth, renewal and economic recovery. 

This morning, MPPs Parm Gill (Milton), Jane McKenna (Burlington), Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz sent a letter to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams.

The Ontario government is working arm-in-arm with the federal government and the Canadian Red Cross to deliver temporary assistance to high-priority long-term care homes that are facing significant challenges due to COVID-19.

The Ontario government is providing municipalities and Indigenous community partners with over $241 million to help protect the province’s most vulnerable from COVID-19, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The Ontario government is investing over $5 million to help food rescue organizations purchase refrigerated trucks, freezers, storage space and kitchen equipment so they can safely collect, preserve and distribute unused surplus food from places like grocery stores and restaurants to those in need during COVID-19 and beyond.

On October 21, Burlington MPP, Jane McKenna, wrote a letter to Mayor Meed Ward and members of Burlington City Council to strongly encourage them to support local restaurants in Burlington by extending patio season through the 2021 Victoria Day weekend and allowing them to winterize their patios.

The Ontario government is providing Pollution Probe with $375,000 to collect plastic waste from marinas around the province using innovative plastic-capture technology.

The Ontario government is introducing a package of legislative and policy measures that would, if passed, accelerate the building of key infrastructure projects to create jobs and lay the foundation for a strong economic recovery.

The Ontario government is providing $24.3 million in targeted investments to hire additional staff, increase access to counselling and therapy, create new programs to help manage stress, depression and anxiety, and address eating disorders and other challenges facing children and youth.

The Ontario government has introduced a new regulation that will require producers to collect and safely manage the full life-cycle of their electrical and electronic equipment, such as cell phones, computers, printers and gaming equipment.

The Ontario government is investing $550 million to build 20 new schools and eight permanent school additions across the province in 2020-21.

The Ontario government is introducing the Supporting Ontario's Recovery Act, 2020, that if passed, will provide liability protection for workers, volunteers and organizations that make an honest effort to follow public health guidelines and laws relating to exposure to COVID-19.

The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending most orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA). This extension will be in effect until November 21, 2020 to ensure the government continues to have the necessary tools to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Ontario government released an action plan to make government services simpler, easier to use, and more convenient and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Ontario is kicking off Waste Reduction Week by unveiling regulations to improve the blue box program.

"As Ontarians begin to prepare for Halloween this year, I'd like to remind everyone to take extra precautions to ensure you are keeping yourself and your families safe." - Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health

The Ontario government is adding York Region to the City of Ottawa, City of Toronto and Region of Peel, as areas with higher community spread of COVID-19.

In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Measures Table, local medical officers of health and other health experts, the Ontario government is introducing additional health measures for York Region.

The Ontario government welcomes the decision by Roche to invest $500 million over five years to establish a Global Pharma Technical Operations site to oversee its global supply chain in Mississauga.

The Ontario government continues to work together with businesses and the manufacturing sector to expand production of domestic PPE to ensure preparedness, both now and for the future.

As part of Ontario's Cyber Security Strategy, the government has appointed ten new members to an expert panel to help modernize cyber security across the Ontario Public Sector.

To help further minimize the spread in Burlington, we are respectfully asking our valued friends in neighbouring hot spot communities to voluntarily refrain from in-person visits to businesses outside their local area. We encourage those in our local community to continue supporting the many local businesses, as they have done throughout the pandemic.

The Ontario government is working with some of the most influential brands in Canada, including Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, to encourage more people to download the made-in-Ontario COVID Alert app and help protect people across the country from the pandemic.

The Ontario government is expanding innovative and proven reactivation care models across the province by adding over 200 more transitional care beds.

"Our government is fully committed to standing up for students and parents who deserve the best, most qualified, and reflective educator at the front of the classroom." - Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education

The Ontario government is adding to the precautions taken last week to protect residents and staff in the province's long-term care homes.

In 2019, the Burlington Curling Club received a $67,900 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to make needed upgrades to its facility.

The Ontario government is taking immediate action to expand case and contact management to help track, trace and isolate new cases of COVID-19.

The Ontario government is investing over $1.4 million in Mississauga-based Microbix Biosystems to expand production of COVID-19 testing supplies and further support the province in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

The Ontario government is helping to keep the cost of energy low for families, small businesses and farmers by keeping electricity rates stable and providing customers with more choice and energy assistance programs.

The Ontario government is encouraging everyone to support local restaurants and the food services industry during COVID-19.

The governments of Canada and Ontario are taking additional steps to help farmers better protect the health and safety of agri-food workers in the province during the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure the continued supply of locally grown food all year round.

The government is acting on the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Public Health Measures Table to put in place additional targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel and Toronto by moving them into modified Stage 2 restrictions for a period of at least 28 days in response to higher than average rates of transmission.

In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Measures Table, and local medical officers of health and other health experts, the Ontario government is introducing additional targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto public health unit regions.

The government of Ontario has amended the Marriage Act to enable Indigenous officiants to perform marriage ceremonies according to their customs and traditions, and to submit a marriage for registration with the Ontario Registrar General.

Ontario is investing $9 million through the new Reconnect Festival and Event Program to support municipalities and event organizers during COVID-19.

The Ontario government is matching a $295 million investment with the federal government to retool Ford of Canada's Oakville Assembly Complex into a global hub for battery electric vehicle production.

The Ontario government is providing an additional $176 million this year to help expand access for critical mental health and addictions supports during COVID-19.

The Ontario government is making the skilled trades more accessible by investing an additional $75 million over the next two years to help apprentices cover living expenses during their in-class training.

The Ontario government is continuing to help businesses rebuild, reinvest and create good jobs across the province.

Ontario has completed over four million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic and continues to lead the country in both the number of tests completed and daily testing capacity.

The provincial government is continuing regulatory modernization efforts to make Ontario more competitive, attract investment and create jobs to support economic recovery and growth.

The Ontario government is announcing the allocation of $35 million to provide additional immediate school board supports in the communities of Peel, Ottawa, Toronto and York Region to enhance public health measures and protection strategies.

The Ontario government is taking new precautions to protect residents and staff in the province's long-term care homes.

To mark Fire Prevention Week 2020, Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal encourages all Ontarians to take action to ensure they are safe from kitchen fires at home.

The Ontario government is investing nearly $5 million in grants to help independent local book and magazine publishers access new markets and bring Canadian creative content to new audiences, both at home and around the world.

The Ontario government has appointed Devon Clunis as the province's first Inspector General of Policing. In this new role, Mr. Clunis, a former chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, will provide oversight of policing in Ontario.

In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, local medical officers of health and public health experts, the Ontario government is tightening public health measures.

Today, Ontario is releasing two child care reports: Strengthening Early Years and Child Care in Ontario and the Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2020.

The Ontario government is marking the beginning of Cyber Security Awareness Month by hosting in partnership with Ryerson University the province's first-ever cyber security conference for the broader public sector and announcing the launch of a new academic partnership with Ryerson University's Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.

The Ontario government is supporting personal support workers (PSWs) and direct support workers in the home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals, and social services sectors by investing $461 million to temporarily enhance wages.

The Ontario government has announced changes to the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2020 (TRESA). These new changes will modernize rules for registered real estate brokerages, brokers, and salespersons across the province while also addressing consumer concerns.

In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is updating its COVID-19 school and child care screening guidance.

Ontario’s auto insurers reported consumers have been eligible to receive almost $1 Billion in relief in response to COVID-19. This represents an increase of over $300M or 45% since insurers last reported in May 2020.

The Ontario government is seeking public input on its proposal to reduce the amount of food and organic waste going to landfills.