UPDATE: March 29, 3:06:54 PM
Message from Executive Secretary Treasurer, James Barry:
Below is the most recent updates on the federal and provincial governments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal:
- The Federal Government announced Sunday increased funding to help both children and seniors cope with the social distancing and isolation imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- At his daily news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $7.5 Million in aid for the Children’s Help Line, a telephone number young people can call twenty-four hours a day and discuss concerns, fears and other sources of stress with counsellors. The government will also support the training of one hundred new counsellors a week, for each of the next six weeks.
- The Federal Government will also provide an additional $9 Million to the United Way across Canada to underwrite additional support for Canadian seniors. The money will be directed to the New Horizons programs which support the most vulnerable.
- The Chief Medical Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam also requested Religious leaders to cooperate in cancelling or dramatically changing services for Easter. This year Easter falls on April 12, two weeks from today. She also said plans for the Muslim religious observance Ramadan should also be curtailed.
Provincial:
- Labour Minister, Monte McNaughton, announced an updated guidance that outlines employers responsibilities and what is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on construction sites.
- The update, which may be found here, follows a previous guidance and focuses on:
- On-site sanitation, including a focus on high-touch areas like site trailers, door handles and hoists.
- Communicating roles, responsibilities, and health & safety policies, by, for example posting site sanitization schedules and work schedules.
- Enabling greater distances between workers by staggering shifts, restricting site numbers and elevator usage.
- Protecting public health, by tracking and monitoring workers.
- The Premier, Minister Elliott and Minister Phillips toured one of the warehouses storing PPE today. They used the tour to reiterate the government’s commitment to providing the appropriate PPE to all front line health workers.
James Barry
Executive Secretary Treasurer
IBEW Construction Council of Ontario