The Town of Cobourg would like to provide citizens with a list of available support and resources while we all continue to navigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with Northumberland County this list of resources will be updated regularly.
| Child Care |
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Northumberland County is working with local child care providers to offer eligible health care and other frontline workers with free targeted Emergency Child Care Services for school-aged children starting April 19, 2021. On April 12, the Government of Ontario announced all elementary and secondary schools in the province are to move to teacher-led remote learning by April 19 to limit the spread of COVID-19. Timelines for returning to in-person learning will be determined based on ongoing data assessments and consultation with health officials. During the remote learning period, licensed child care centres and homes serving younger (below school-age) children may remain open, however care for school-aged children, including before and after school programs, will be closed. The Province has established a list essential health care and frontline professions who will be eligible for no-cost emergency child care for school-aged children as of April 19. “Northumberland County is pleased to be coordinating with local child care centres to provide eligible essential workers with access to emergency child care services to support these families as they continue to perform critical roles in the fight against COVID-19,” states Director of Community and Social Services Lisa Horne. “To facilitate health and safety measures, limited spaces for emergency child care will be available, and care may need to be prioritized based on the occupation and type of care required, in alignment with provincial criteria.” A list of approved professions for emergency child care is available on the Province’s website at www.news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/61162/ontario-provides-emergency-child-care-for-critical-frontline-workers. To apply for Emergency School-Age Child Care starting April 19, 2021, residents are invited to complete an application at Northumberland.ca/EmergencyChildCare/. |
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Community Agencies at Large |
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| Domestic Violence Support |
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Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
Learn more about Cornerstone services. Thrive Northumberland Coalition to End Violence |
| Financial Aid |
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Emergency Assistance may be available via Ontario Works Complete an application online or call Northumberland County Community & Social Services to learn more: 1-800-354-7051 ext. 2468 Financial aid, payment deferrals and other supports For an up-to-date listing of provincial and federal government supports and other assistance for which you may be eligible, including supports for seniors, families, students, businesses, and vulnerable community members, please visit covidsupports.ca |
| Food Assistance |
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Meals on Wheels is available through Community Care Northumberland. This program is currently delivering frozen meals only: 1-866-514-5774. Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank, Cobourg 700 D'Arcy Street, Building #19, Cobourg Salvation Army Community Drop-in and Food Cupboard Salvation Army Emergency Food Assistance Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Emergency food Community Outreach |
| Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| Health Concerns
If you have fever and/or cough, have traveled outside of Canada in the past 14 days, or have had close or confirmed contact with a probable case of COVID-19, self-isolate at home and contact the HKPR District Health Unit (1-866-888-4577 ext. 5020) or Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) for additional direction.
If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. Provincial ResourcesYou can find information about COVID-19 in multiple languages from the Ontario government website.
Access to a physicianVirtual doctor appointments for those with and without a family physician: Northumberland Care - a new website - has launched in Northumberland County to ensure our community knows the best way to get in touch with their family doctor, and for those without a family doctor to get the care they need. Mental health and addiction supports
Other Wellness SupportsContact Community Care Northumberland (1-866-514-5774) for more about the following services:
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| Prescription Medication |
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In light of the social distancing measures during COVID-19, ConnexHealth Inc. has partnered with Pharmalinx Medical Centre to provide an online service that allows our clients to request and confirm medical prescriptions online. The prescriptions will be filled by the team of professional pharmacists at Pharmalinx delivered by dedicated team of drivers for free to your doorstep. Place your order at www.connexmatch.ca/medication-delivery or call 1-833-545-7211 for assistance. In order to access the pharmacy services, you will be routed to the pharmacy website. Once the intake form has been completed, it will be processed by the pharmacy team and delivered. Note, that all orders must be placed before 1pm for the same day delivery. In case of emergencies, pharmacy may allow exceptions. This information will need to be discussed directly with the pharmacy team member. Medications will be delivered from Monday to Saturday, note pharmacy is closed on Sundays. Services are currently being provided within the Greater Toronto Area, Bowmanville, Cobourg, Peel, Halton and Niagara Regions. Learn more: Read the press release |
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Support Local Businesses |
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In partnership with Downtown Cobourg, the Town of Cobourg's Economic Development Department has compiled at list of local businesses operating through the provincewide Shutdown and Stay-at-Home Order. |
Support and Resources from the Province of Ontario
Local MPP David Piccini has compiled a user-friendly website for individuals and businesses to help navigate all the provincial and federal supports available during these unprecedented times. Visit covidsupports.ca for more details.
| Agri-Food Sector |
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JOB PORTAL Minister Hardeman announced on Saturday, April 4th that the Government of Ontario has launched a new website aimed at connecting people with good quality jobs in the agri-food sector. Ontario.ca/agfoodjobs is a new, one stop site featuring a number of useful online resources and employment openings in the agri-food sector for job seekers. This online portal provides access to information on exciting job opportunities right across Ontario’s food supply chain – from grocery retailers, to bakeries and cheese factories, to opportunities on farms and in transportation, and many more. Learn more at ontario.ca/agfoodjobs OPEN FOR E-BUSINESS Minister Ernie Hardeman announced the Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will help food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations increase online sales and provide Ontario families with greater access to a wide variety of foods and agriculture products. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), the federal and provincial governments are investing up to $2.5 million to help businesses and organizations quickly expand their marketing channels and grow e-business opportunities. This targeted application intake features two funding streams:
OMAFRA will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations to develop new online presences or to expand and enhance their current one. Learn more at omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/ebusiness.htm |
| Cannabis Retail |
| The Ontario government has passed an Emergency Order allowing authorized cannabis retail stores to provide curbside pick-up and delivery services. This allows cannabis retailers to have the same opportunities as other non-essential businesses that are permitted to operate remotely if they can provide goods for pickup and delivery.
Ensuring that cannabis stores can continue to provide people with safe, convenient access to legal cannabis is the best way to help Ontario continue its fight against the illegal market. Retailers will continue to be required to have measures in place to protect the health and safety of Ontarians, including youth, and delivery and curbside pick-up must be done by cannabis store licence holders and/or staff who have taken the CannSell training program. |
| Electricity Disconnection Ban Extended |
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Ontario Energy Board Update: Electricity disconnection ban extended, residential & small business On March 19, 2020, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) extended the winter ban on electricity disconnections for non-payment for residential customers to July 31, 2020. Low-volume, small business customers (those who pay time-of-use or tiered electricity prices) will now also be protected by the ban during this period. There is currently a great deal of uncertainty as to the severity and duration of the current COVID-19 pandemic. There has already been a significant amount of disruption in the lives and livelihoods of residential and small business electricity customers in Ontario, and the OEB believes that the risk of loss of electricity service on account of arrears should not be an added source of uncertainty at this time. A number of electricity distributors have taken additional steps to support their customers by waiving certain charges and making special payment arrangements during this difficult time. Contact or visit your distributors website for more information about programs it may have put in place. Visit oeb.ca for the latest updates from the Ontario Energy Board on measures it’s taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Emergency Orders |
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The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This extension will be in effect until June 15, 2020. The following emergency orders have been extended until June 15, 2020:
The following orders have also been extended:
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| Health Workforce Matching Portal |
| The Ontario government is taking further action to stop the spread of COVID-19 by actively recruiting health care workers to increase the frontline capacity of hospitals, clinics, and assessment centres. We launched a new online tool that will help match skilled frontline workers with employers. The new Health Workforce Matching Portal will enable health care providers with a range of experience to join the province’s response to COVID-19.
Those providers include retired or non-active health care professionals, internationally educated health care professionals, students, and volunteers with health care experience. Whether you’re retired or in training, we can’t afford to have people with professional health care skills who want to help sitting on the sidelines during this crisis.The portal will efficiently match the availability and skillsets of frontline health care workers to the employers in need of assistance to perform a variety of public health functions, such as case and contact management. Employers and interested health care professionals can visit the portal and create a profile. Once registered, professionals can add their availability and employers can enter their request for support. Registrants will receive an email notification if matched. Visit the new Health Workforce Matching Portal or read the press release for more information. |
| Ontario Parks |
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In response to the extension of the provincewide stay-at-home order, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is extending the temporary closure of campground and backcountry campsites and roofed accommodations, like cabins, yurts and cottages in Ontario Parks up to and including May 20th, in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and support Ontario’s current restrictions. Please continue to check OntarioParks.com regularly for the most up-to-date information. |
| Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave |
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On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, will introduce legislation that would, if passed, require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the CRSB will expire. By providing time-limited access to three paid leave days, the province is ensuring employees can pay their bills as they help stop the spread of the virus, including by getting tested, waiting for their results in isolation or going to get their vaccine. The province will partner with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to deliver the program and reimburse employers up to $200 per day for each employee. The province has also offered to provide funding to the federal government to double CRSB payments to Ontario residents, adding an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals for a total of $1,000 per week. Combined with the province’s proposed three days of paid COVID-19 leave, doubling the CRSB would provide Ontario workers with access to the most generous pandemic paid leave in the country. If an eligible worker learns that they must isolate for longer than 50 per cent of the time they would have otherwise worked for the week, whether because of a positive COVID-19 test or risk of exposure, they may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if they haven’t taken a paid leave day under this proposal. This latest measure builds on other existing provincial supports like job protected leave and access to isolation facilities, making Ontario’s approach the most comprehensive COVID-19 sick leave in the country. Employers and their workers can call a dedicated COVID-19 Sick Days Information Centre hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about the proposed Ontario COVID-19 paid leave days. |
| Support for Businesses - Enhanced Worker Safety Guidelines |
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As we work towards reopening the economy, the health and safety of Ontario's workers continues to be our government's top priority. The Hon. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, released new safety guidelines to protect workers, customers and the general public from COVID-19 as we prepare for a gradual reopening of the provincial economy. These measures will provide direction to those working in numerous sectors, including manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service and agriculture. They build on the 60+ guidelines developed by Ontario’s Health and Safety Associations in response to COVID-19 for various sectors such as retail, health care, construction, transportation, police services, firefighters, and transit employees. These guidelines offer practical advice to help businesses operate safely in our new environment. By providing clear guidelines on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and adding new inspectors, we are preparing for a responsible reopening of the province that balances health and safety of the people of Ontario. You can find these documents at: www.ontario.ca/page/resources-prevent-covid-19-workplace More information on Support for Businesses can be found here: www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-businesses. |
| Support for Essential Workers |
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Premier Ford and Minister Bethlenfalvy announced Pandemic Pay in the Broader Public Sector. This is a payment increase that would provide four dollars per hour worked on top of existing hourly wages, regardless of the qualified employees’ hourly wage. In addition, employees working over 100 hours per month would receive lump sum payments of $250 per month. Both of these payments would be in effect for 16 weeks. Those eligible to receive the payment would be frontline staff working in long-term care homes, retirement homes, social services congregate care settings, corrections institutions and youth justice facilities, those providing home and community care and some staff in hospitals. This temporary pandemic premium pay will provide additional support and relief, encouraging staff to continue working and attracting prospective employees to help maintain safe staffing levels and the operation of critical frontline services. These workers are delivering critical services that support all Ontarians, including the most vulnerable members of our communities. This will ensure essential workers on the frontlines are being compensated adequately, while safeguarding the sustainability and viability of the health and social services sectors. |
| Support for Families |
| On April 6, 2020, Premier Ford, Minister Lecce, Minister Elliott and Minister Phillips announced further details about the government’s plan, Support for Families, which will offer direct financial support for parents while Ontario schools and child care centres remain closed as a result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Now in effect, families can complete a simple online application to receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child aged 0 to 12, or $250 for children 21 years old or younger with special needs. Through this program the government is providing over $300 million in relief to parents in Ontario. This initiative is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID‑19 to support parents by directly to offering immediate relief during this difficult time. More information and the application can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-families. |
| Support for Small Businesses |
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Small businesses are experiencing real financial pressures during the COVID-19 outbreak and are struggling to pay rent as a result. The Ontario government is acting to ease the financial pressures faced by small business and property owners during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Province of Ontario is committing $241 million to partner with the federal government and deliver more than $900 million in urgent relief to small businesses and their landlords through a new program, the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (OCECRA). This investment is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, a $17 billion response package to provide support to people and businesses. The OCECRA will provide forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners experiencing potential rent shortfalls because their small business tenants have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The OCECRA would be administered by the federal government, under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which will provide more details on application process. To receive the loan, property owners will be required to reduce the rental costs of small business tenants from April to June 2020 by 75 per cent and commit to a moratorium on evictions for three months. The support program would be retroactive to April 1, covering actions from April, May and June 2020. For more information, view the Small Business Rent Relief Q&A or visit news.ontario.ca. |
| Support for Property Owners/Landlords |
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Ontario commercial landlords can apply for urgent rent assistance through Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses All commercial landlords in Ontario can now apply for rental assistance to help their small business tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative will keep more small businesses in operation and more people employed as the province gradually and safely restarts the economy. The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, has launched the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. The province is committing $241 million to the program, which will provide more than $900 million in support for small businesses across Ontario during this difficult time. To find out how much rent support you may be eligible for, visit Ontario.ca/rentassistance. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Province recognizes that many residents and businesses are facing challenges in making their scheduled property tax payments. To support unincorporated area residents and businesses, the government is extending the amount of time that taxpayers have to pay their property taxes without interest or penalties. Each of the four property tax installments due in 2020 will be deferred 90 days for those taxpayers that need more time. For example, taxpayers who would be required to pay the April 7 property tax installment now have until July 6 to pay this installment without interest or penalties. This deferral of unincorporated area property tax payments applies to all of the levies that are collected through the consolidated Provincial Land Tax (PLT) bill. This includes PLT, education property tax, and any Local Road Board and Local Service Board levies that are paid through the PLT bill. |
| Support for Seniors and People with Disabilities |
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The Ontario government is delivering much-needed support to Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens, including seniors and persons with disabilities, during the outbreak of COVID-19. The province is investing $11 million to help deliver meals, medicines and other essentials to those in need. The province is working with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) to launch a new Ontario Community Support Program to expand existing Meals on Wheels services to reach low-income seniors and people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions across Ontario. The program will also develop the capacity of community organizations and others to help deliver medication and other essentials. To identify a Meals on Wheels provider in your local community and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca. Those without Internet access or who require service in a language other than English or French, can dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available by calling 1-888-340-1001. Also, volunteer organizations can now visit www.sparkontario.ca to post volunteer opportunities available in their communities. Ontarians interested in volunteering are also encouraged to check the website for opportunities to make a difference where they live. |
