This morning I participated in a virtual consultation with Provincial Government Officials and business owners organized by MPP Donna Skelly. The feedback through the “Economic Impacts of COVID-19: A Virtual Discussion with MPP Donna Skelly” will be forwarded to the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.
We heard from several business leaders, BIAs, charities, not-for-profits, and NGOs expressing their concerns and the impacts on their businesses as a result of the lock down. Some spoke to the reopening of the economy and the inequities in the current phasing. There were questions as to why some retail operations are permitted to open while other retail stores are ordered to remain closed. Concerns were raised about the hospitality industry and the impact of social distancing orders. Others spoke to the banquet and convention operations and the impacts of minimizing gatherings to just five people. I have heard that this is a real challenge for couples planning to marry. There were also issues regarding what is deemed essential and non-essential in the construction industry.
Candidly, my observations are that the reopening of the economy through a phased approach to protect the public health is likely more complicated than the original shut down. Surely, we can put in place health and safety rules for the industries and sectors of the economy to operate while protecting their employees and costumers.
My hope is that we can restart the economy while effectively protecting the public health through the inevitable second wave. Unfortunately, that may mean the use of enforceable quarantine orders on confirmed cases and their households rather than the sequestering of the entire population to their homes.
Closing the economy down again could prove to be disastrous for many businesses and their employees.
If your business or organization operates in Ward 9 and I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office at 905 546-2703, my private cell 905 977-0679, or email me at brad.clark@hamilton.ca
We worked together to protect our families from COVID-19, now lets work together to restart the Ontario Economy.
Highland Green Park or Pond #64 is a wet pond with both the forebay and main cell requiring clean out in 2020 to remove accumulated sediments and restore the functionality of providing water quality treatment of surface storm runoff originating from the surrounding developed lands.
This storm water management pond is within a regulated area of the Eramosa Karst Provincial Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. Accordingly, the City of Hamilton has secured a permit from the Hamilton Conservation Authority for the work to proceed.
Contractors will gain access from Shadetree Crescent with a mud mat installed at the entrance. The laydown and storage area will be located in the space between the site entrance and the main cell, with light-duty fiber barrier surrounding this area.
The Karst features to the north will be protected from any unintentional sendiment flow by light-duty fiber barriers.
The work will involve the following steps:
The construction site will be protected with construction fence to prevent access. The fence will be installed on the south side to prevent access along the path from Fairhaven Drive and the path into the facility on the northwest side along Richdale Drive.
Sediment Sampling – will be done by a qualified professional to determine the chemical composition of the accumulated sediment, and to determine the best method for disposal or beneficial re-use. No dredging works will be allowed to proceed until the Engineer’s recommendations have been provided to the City.
Fish & Wildlife Rescue – The Contractor will not be authorized to proceed with any work, including pumping activities, until the qualified Biologist has: (1) evaluated the site; (2) provided documentation to the City that no fish rescue is required; or (3) carried out a fish rescue. Once the City has confirmed the receipt of the Biologist’s documentation, the City Project Manager will provide the Contractor with written authorization to proceed.
Pump By-Pass – The Contractor will set up a dam and pump to by-pass any incoming flows to the facility from the street and routed around the west side of the main cell into the outlet structure. The pump suction head intake will be protected with fine mesh screen.
Sediment Removal – Prior to removing sediment, the Contractor is to de-water the work area. All de-watering activities are to discharge to sediment bags, for filtering purposes which will be located on the north-east side of the main cell, above the top of bank. Sediment within the facility will then be stockpiled within the sloped area of the facility and be allowed to de-water. Once the sediment has sufficiently de-watered, it will be put into dump trucks and transported off-site to a suitable disposal location.
Erosion and Sediment Control – Silt sacks will be used within the street catch basins to capture any free sediment that may become mobilized during hauling of material off-site. The grating of the outlet structure of the facility is to be covered with filter cloth, to prevent sediment from leaving the work area. Heavy duty silt fence barrier (OPSD 219.130) will be installed on the north side top of bank of the main cell. Additional preventative measures, such as silt socks or coir rolls, maybe be required and will be stored on-site.
All disturbed areas will be restored using the OSC Early Succession Wet Meadow mix for restoration areas within the facility, sourced from Ontario Seed Company.
The Emergency Operations Centre announced the restart of some City services. There are some services we can restart on a modified basis in a way that ensures we continue to adhere to the provincial orders and the health and safety of our staff and the community.
As part of this restart, we will be implementing physical distancing practices, staggering hours and increasing cleaning practices. Restarting these modified services is critical to maintaining our facilities as the seasons change. Generally, the services include:
Grass cutting
Waste and litter collection in parks and in the right-of-ways
Asset safety inspections
Critical park maintenance
Burials in City cemeteries
Some work at Gage Park Greenhouse
Some pre-work for the fall Mum Show
Annual road maintenance programs will operate at reduced staffing levels due reduction of student resources and full-time staff will be redeployed to fill those duties
Cleanup of all escarpment crossings
Enhanced by-law enforcement related to property standards calls
Parking maintenance staff will do spring maintenance on surface lots including pothole filling, line painting and minor repairs.
Parking labourers will also be assisting with garbage and litter pick-up in areas surrounding downtown parking facilities
Ongoing enforcement of physical distancing and gatherings
City of Hamilton By-law Officers continue to use a progressive and education enforcement approach to help residents understand the City’s Physical Distancing by-law that prohibits certain activities and regulates physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency. While no charges have been laid under this by-law to date, it continues to be in effect and the fine for individuals is $500, which could increase to $10,000 for a serious offence and up to $25,000 for repeat offences. Corporations may receive a fine of up to $50,000 for a first serious offence and up to $100,000 for repeat offences.
To help media and the public keep track of charges laid under the both the City’s Physical Distancing by-law and under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection, stats have been added to the City’s website: https://www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/faq-about-enforcement Numbers on this page will be updated daily.
Supports for community agencies and our vulnerable residents
The City will be allocating provincial funding to local social service providers and community organizations for COVID-19 services that support the ultimate goal of reducing community spread. The funding need has to have been generated by COVID-19 and would be needed by the requesting organization to continue to deliver critical services, hire additional staff and find ways to promote physical distancing and self-isolation to keep people safe and healthy.
The First Ontario Centre continues to operate as an emergency overflow shelter. Currently, 50 residents are staying at the shelter.
ImportantHSR transit reminders
The City is reminding residents that public transit is for essential travel only. The public is asked to please not take public transit to pass some time during the day, transit is for essential trips only, such as going to work or a medical appointment. The public is also reminded to adhere to physical distancing measures and not sit in seats that have been blocked off to promote physical distancing.
Any residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or going to an assessment centre for testing should not use public transit. They are asked to contact the Public Health hotline for more information on appropriate transportation to the testing sites: 905-974-9848 or phscovid19@hamilton.ca.
Many years ago, I watched a loved one die, literally in my arms, fighting for his every last breath. It is a horrible memory that I cannot forget. I would not wish such a death on anyone. But this is exactly how our loved ones are dying from COVIDS-19.
If you want to experience what they are experiencing, place a drenched cloth over your face and try to breath. You will struggle, fight and gasp to get air into your lungs. Eventually, you’ll rip the cloth away to freely take a deep breath. Sadly, there is no cloth to rip away for our dying COVIDS-19 victims. This is a horrible virus that can go from a slight cough and fever to an impressive case of pneumonia needing immediate medical intervention to survive. This is a virus that does not target older adults and seniors. It can infect anyone. It has killed babies, teenagers, and young adults. To date, experts do not know why some young people without underlying illnesses have died from this infection.
However, we do know that physical distancing and self-isolation is the only way to end this virus. We know from experiences with other outbreaks that if the infected are isolated, if we ensure infection control precautions within our health care facilities and if we require physical distancing, we can burn out the virus. In effect, we stop the spread by preventing exposure to the infected. But this can only happen with time. If governments jump the gun and acquiesce to the demands to reopen businesses, to drop the restrictions, to restart the economy, then we risk a second wave of the virus.
As I recall, the second wave of the SARS outbreak in 2003 was worse than the first wave. On May 14, 2003, under great political pressure the World Health Organization removed Toronto from the SARS travel restrictions list because there had been 20 days free of any new cases. Under similar political pressures to open Ontario for business, the Premier announced that the SARS Outbreak was over. At the time, this was considered a safe decision as the SARS virus incubation period was only 10 days.
As a result, restrictions were relaxed. The earlier provincial orders about enhanced infection control practices including the prohibition on hospital visitors were rescinded. Governments placed advertisements designed to assure the public that Toronto was safe and open for business. The Ontario Cabinet even had lunch at a Toronto restaurant in Chinatown to reassure the public and to encourage some misguided people to stop their xenophobic and racist reactions to our Chinese residents.
On May 20, just six days later, five patients at a rehabilitation hospital were reported as probable SARS cases. On May 23, the hospital was closed to admissions and visitors. The second wave of SARS was about to hit Toronto. The province issued new orders requiring infection control precautions in the GTA hospitals including 10 day quarantines for health care workers from these effected hospitals.
This SARS crisis finally ended in late June, early July. While SARS only infected 400 Canadians, its relatively high mortality rate of 10-17% resulted in 44 deaths with 85% being Toronto residents, many of them healthcare workers.
Recent emails, phone calls and talk shows are prompting this deja vu moment for me. Some people sincerely believe that all levels of government have over reacted. They sincerely believe that we should collectively relax these restrictions. Allow people to gather in public places. Allow people to return to work. Open restaurants. Open theatres. In essence, let’s get back to normal. Let’s get back to work. Candidly, the president of our southern neighbour is likely enticing some of these reactions.
Unfortunately, relaxing restrictions too quickly without the proper safeguards can unintentionally create a boomerang effect or a second wave with devastatingly new and even longer restrictions. I continue to fully support the Prime Minister, the Premier, the Mayor and our local Emergency Operations Centre. They are doing their best to guide us through this public health emergency, to minimize the loss of life, to abate further transmissions and to minimize the length of business shut-downs. Easing restrictions too early truly does risk a second wave which will only serve to increase the loss of life and delay our economic recovery. If my advice was sought out, I would strongly encourage our leaders to stay the course, follow the advice of our expert Medical Officers of Health and resist the urge to jump the gun.
As for the rest of us, let’s stay united. Let’s respect any orders to self-isolate because of exposure or infection. Let’s stay at home except for essential trips. Let’s maintain physical distancing to protect ourselves and our families. Lastly, let’s remember our exhausted frontline health care workers, who are risking their lives every day to save other lives. Surely, we can do our part and stand united against COVID-19.
Brad Clark Report 
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