Mary Ng
Hon. Mary Ng
Member of Parliament for Markham—Thornhill
COVID-19 SPECIAL MEASURES UPDATE #6
April 12, 2020

Dear Friends & Neighbours,

As we work through the global challenge of COVID-19, I understand that the people of Markham-Thornhill are worried. Workers and businesses need support now more than ever. The situation around this pandemic is constantly evolving, as is our government's response. These newsletters serve as a way to assure you that our government is doing everything in our power to help and protect Canadians in this difficult time.

This time of year holds significance for many faith groups and families across the country. But, as Canada's Chief Public Health Officer urges, we are at a crucial point that will determine the impact of COVID-19 and we must continue to stay home unless absolutely necessary. We know celebrations can continue while following the advice of Canada's health and science experts – we’re seeing many innovative ways of connecting virtually with our friends and loved ones. We hope to see more of this as we stay the course of our collective efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Our government continues to have your back in these unprecedented times as we roll out measures to ensure the health and safety of Canadians while also being about to put food on the table. We continue to assess the situation and the needs of businesses and families across the country and adapt our COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan where need be.

Please note that my Constituency Office is closed to the public at this time, but my team is still available to help members of Markham-Thornhill by email ([email protected]) or by phone (905)-479-8100.

I wish all of those celebrating, a very happy & healthy Passover, Easter, Tamil New Year, and Vaisakhi!

Sincerely,

Hon. Mary Ng

Member of Parliament

Markham- Thornhill

Whole-of-Government Response

Update Measures

The Canada Summer Jobs program provides opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills within the not-for-profit, small business, and public sectors, and supports the delivery of key community services.

After hearing the concerns of students, youth, and employers on the status of the 2020 program and given current circumstances, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program this year to help employers adapt to the realities of COVID-19, and support young Canadians as they begin to look for summer employment.

The temporary changes to the program for this year include:

For employers who applied in February, we are in the final stages of finalizing successful candidates and will be in touch by the coming weeks.

BUYING ESSENTIAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & PPE

Our government is investing $2 billion to purchase protective personal equipment, including things like more masks and face shields, gowns, ventilators, test kits and swabs, and hand sanitizer to help ease the pressure on health care facilities and protect those on the frontlines.

5000 Canadians businesses have answered our call to action to fight #COVID19 by offering their expertise and capacity to meet the country’s need for personal protective equipment and critical health supplies. Businesses that want to contribute can apply here: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/calling-all-suppliers-help-canada-combat-covid-19

Currently, we have:

FURTHER FLEXIBILITY FOR EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES 

This week, we provided further details on the eligibility criteria for businesses to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Our proposed plan helps address the realities faced by the not-for-profit sector, high growth companies and new businesses, the Government proposes the following additional flexibility:

Additionally, to the many small businesses who’ve told us they need help with cash flow & paying their operating costs – as of Thursday, they can go to their local bank/credit union to apply for an interest-free $40K thanks to the Canada Emergency Business Account.

Access to additional funding for other small and medium-sized businesses is also available at local banks and credit unions through;

Today in the House of Commons, after days of negotiations and talks with all parties, parliamentarians came together to bring Canadian businesses and their employees the urgent support they need. It was an honour to preside in the House of Commons today to speak to our wage subsidy legislation.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT

Monday marked the opening of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) portal to help Canadians who have lost income due to COVID-19. More than 4.5 million applications were processed and more than 3.87 million Canadians are already receiving payments.

One of the ways you can apply for benefits, like the CERB, is through the CRA MyAccount secure portal. Or you can begin the application process here as well as access additional details on the benefit.

We know there is more work to do to ensure that no one falls through the cracks. We’re working hard to make sure we get support to:

Our Government is working around the clock to get Canadians the help they need. Our message is clear: we will have your back.

GST/HST CREDIT TOP UP 

Starting on April 9, Canadians across the country began to receive an additional payment of the GST/HST credit (GSTC) to help financially through these difficult times. This special one-time top-up is one of the many measures being put in place to assist those who need it most - including low- and modest-income families.

The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.

Markham- Thornhill Response

Community to the Rescue!

In the midst of incredibly difficult times, a silver lining has been witnessing the incredible kindness of the people in Markham-Thornhill. From the countless donations of PPE to the Markham Stouffville Hospital, looking out for each other by picking up groceries for those in vulnerable situations through the Good Neighbour Project, to the Markham Cares Food Drive - we are overflowing with acts of compassion for our community members.

Resources

Personal Protective Equipment

As research evolves on the study of COVID-19, we get a better understanding of the best practices to combat it. The advice of our health experts and scientists have been updated to include utilizing non-medical masks to help reduce the spread of the virus in our communities. While a mask may provide an extra layer of protection, it is not a substitute for maintaining physical distance and hand-washing with soap.

Getting Involved

The Government of Canada is working with provincial and territorial governments to respond to COVID-19. We are seeking volunteers to help in the following areas:

1. Case tracking and contact tracing; 2. Health system surge capacity; 3. Case data collection and reporting.

We are building an inventory of volunteers from which provincial and territorial governments can draw upon as needed. We welcome ALL volunteers as we are looking for a wide variety of experiences and expertise. You can register here.

Download the Canada COVID-19 Support App

Download the new Canada COVID-19 Support App for free on your mobile devices to receive the latest updates, trusted resources, and self-assess your symptoms.

Local COVID-19 Assessment Sites

In Markham-Thornhill, local resources and assessment sites are still being finalized. Local public health agencies are asking that only those showing symptoms of COVID-19 and/or have reasonable grounds to believe that they have been in contact with the virus should pursue testing.

Below, you will find the details of the closest hospitals to my constituency, as well as details regarding their assessment sites and links to their web pages for locations and protocols of COVID-19 assessments. Please review these instructions or call ahead before visiting a facility. 

Mackenzie Health (Major MacKenzie Drive West between Yonge and Bathurst)

Markham Stouffville Hospital (Ninth Line just North of Hwy 7)

Once again, please check the protocols of health care facilities before visiting for assessments. 

Main office - Markham
16 Esna Park Drive Unit 107
Markham, Ontario
L3R 5X1

Telephone:
905-479-8100

Fax:
905-479-3440
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Office Hours
Mon: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m. — 1 p.m.
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Telephone:
613-996-3374

Fax:
613-992-3921
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