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COVID-19 crackdown could hit malls, stores, gyms and hair salons in Toronto and Peel

Aug 18, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Premier Doug Ford is considering shuttering gyms and personal care services like barbers and salons, and limiting the number of shoppers allowed in malls and stores for 28 days to fight runaway COVID-19 in Toronto and Peel Region, the Star has learned.

Those restrictions — as well as a ban on house cleaners travelling from home to home — were under serious consideration as Ford’s cabinet met into the night Thursday, with ministers to finalize the decisions Friday.

New powers to enforce restrictions with fines were also on the table to give authorities “a bit more teeth” to penalize scofflaws in violation of pandemic precautions, a senior government source said.

Most of the measures are expected to take effect Monday and last until a week before Christmas, in a bid to get high case numbers under control.

However, there are no plans for an overnight curfew or travel bans, as have been seen in some other jurisdictions.

“We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make,” Ford said Thursday as the province reported hospital intensive care units were handling 150 COVID-19 patients, the level at which non-emergency surgeries were expected to be curtailed.

“I’m asking the people of Ontario to listen, especially with the holidays quickly approaching.”

Curbside pickups at retail stores, which were the norm last spring, could make a return at stores facing capacity limits for shoppers. That measure could bring a return of lineups at grocery stores amid concerns that some have been overcrowded and could be fuelling the spread of the virus.

Two highly placed sources told the Star that a list of requests from Toronto’s chief medical officer was the blueprint for the restrictions being contemplated.

Dr. Eileen de Villa has pushed for a hard cap on the number of guests at weddings, limiting trips outside the home to essential activities, and time off for workers to get tested for the highly contagious virus among the measures that should apply to the entire Greater Toronto Area, not just to the hot zones of Toronto, Peel Region and York Region.

Those three areas are now in the red or “control” category of restrictions, which is one short of the lockdown stage, along with Halton Region and Hamilton.

York Region took to Twitter on Thursday night, saying it has sent a letter to Ford asking that it not be pushed into lockdown while it waits to see if existing red zone restrictions can reduce COVID-19 case numbers there.

Ford first said a week ago that Ontario was “staring down the barrel of another lockdown,” and warned Thursday that stringent restrictions can be expected.

“These measures, they will have to be tough in the hardest-hit areas,” he told a news conference.

“We’re seeing concerning trends. Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy, our long-term-care homes are at risk.”

The premier is facing familiar criticisms that he took too long to act once again after a string of record highs in new cases all last week, when computer modelling revealed a grim new forecast.

Provincial health officials warned daily new cases could hit 6,500 by mid-December and admissions to intensive-care units could top 350 patients, making non-emergency surgeries virtually impossible.

Ontario reported 1,210 new cases on Thursday, down from the all-time high of 1,581 on Saturday, but the seven-day average remains near the record and 10 more ICU patients were put on ventilators, an unusually large jump.

“They wait until there’s a crisis and then they react,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Thursday, echoing concerns from doctors and epidemiologists after a string of record high case levels and a sharp rise in deaths this month.

Hospitalizations are up 22 per cent in the last week, and the number of ICU patients is up 49 per cent.

“Clearly a major pivot is necessary to protect our health-care systems and save lives,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at the University Health Network.

Ford faced similar concerns before Thanksgiving when he said the rising COVID-19 curve was “flattening,” only to see it rise to a new high a few days later, prompting restrictions on Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said the current trend in case numbers that included 60 deaths in the last two days is “very concerning.”

“They’re increasing even though we started restrictions on Oct. 10,” Elliott told reporters.

The government is bringing more hospital beds into service, and working on regional solutions to surgeries facing cancellation so hospitals without as many COVID-19 patients can take them on, Elliott added.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter:

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OPP charge boater near Midland

Aug 16, 2021 , , , , by shlf

A 36-year-old boater is facing a handful of charges after getting stopped on Georgian Bay by the Southern Georgian Bay OPP marine unit on Oct. 3.

Members of the OPP were patrolling the waters of Georgian Bay over the weekend. At about 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, officers went to check on a pontoon vessel, which appeared to be having difficulty near the shoreline of Snake Island. 

After assisting the boater, officers entered into a drinking and driving investigation. 

According to police, the 36-year-old operator failed a test on the roadside screening device and was transported back to the detachment for further investigation.

A Toronto man is now facing five charges including: operation while impaired, operating a boat with an open container of liquor, operating a boat without a copy of a boating licence on board, failure to have proof of competency, and fishing without a licence.

The man was issued a 90-day drivers’ licence suspension. He is slated to appear in court in Midland on Dec. 10.

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What we know about the organization behind demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions

Aug 12, 2021 , , , , by shlf

For months in Toronto, The Line Canada has been organizing crowded demonstrations opposing the lockdown and public health directives aimed at curbing the spread of .

Most recently, on Tuesday, supporters of this organization were among those , where owner Adam Skelly was offering dine-in service, defying recent provincial rules that only allowed takeout and delivery.

The Line Canada created its website on April 30, 2020 to be a hub for multiple organizations across Canada that have been opposing the lockdown and restrictions that have been implemented to combat COVID-19.

The group calls itself a “civil liberties group” and says it is not an anti-mask organization. Footage and photos of the rallies however show the majority of the supporters not wearing masks and some wearing shirts or carrying signs that deride mask use, despite public health recommendations. The Star reached out to The Line Canada for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

National director of The Line Canada, Lamont Daigle, also listed “no mandatory vaccinations” as a goal in a July video interview.

In Toronto, the group has been arranging self-described freedom demonstrations, which have been mostly held in Yonge-Dundas Square every Saturday, as well as at Queen’s Park. Many carry white flags with the group’s logo, a black circle with a red line through the middle.

The protests have been attended by hundreds, despite the province’s cap on outdoor gathering sizes (which has ranged from 10 to 100 at various times) to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

In mid-October, a demonstration and was met with several replies on Twitter wondering if bylaw enforcement would be issuing fines for the size of the gathering and lack of physical distancing.

Elsewhere in Canada, The Line held protests in Sarnia, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton.

Protests have also been brought to small towns around Ontario on a weekly basis, including for example in St. Thomas, Ont. where 200 people arrived, at a time where there was only one active case of COVID-19, causing worry from the mayor that the gathering may lead to spread, Global News reported. In Aylmer, Ont., about 2,000 people from across the province flocked to the town of 7,500 for a demonstration.

The organization claims to have been banned from Facebook, but maintains Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Angelyn Francis is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering equity and inequality. Her reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email:

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Motorcyclists allegedly speed by Tay Township at 200 km/h

Aug 10, 2021 , , , , by shlf

A pack of four motorcyclists were seen travelling at speeds estimated at over 200 km/h on Highway 400 near Waubaushene on Sept. 26.

The Southern Georgina Bay are seeking the public’s help in trying to identify the drivers.

According to police, a group of motorcyclists were observed speeding northbound up Highway 400 at around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 26, before turning around and speeding southbound. Witnesses say the bikes were weaving in and out of traffic at extremely high speeds.

Although there was no crash, numerous drivers were impacted by these actions, police noted.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the OPP at or .

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Barrie Burger’s Priest, Orillia Harvey’s help community with burger deals

Aug 9, 2021 , , , , by shlf

With #GivingTuesday here, Harvey’s Orillia has announced it is partnering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters Orillia to offer 10 per cent of its sales to the charity today (Dec. 1).

Orders also count if made through or .

And is kicking off a 10-day contest today, to celebrate the chain’s 10th anniversary. In Barrie, the restaurant is at .

Wanting to give back to customers, they are giving away $10,000 cash as a prize. But the winner can’t keep the money themselves, they must give away to a deserving recipient.

The winner of the ‘give-away give-away’ will also be awarded free Burger’s Priest burgers for a year.

And for the 10th anniversary, the chain has reimagined the burger with a new invention, the First Ten burger, which is the ultimate COVID comfort food: a burger served between two full soft-baked doughnuts grilled with butter and topped with a dusting of icing sugar.

As part of their 10th anniversary plan, The Burger’s Priest will also be releasing a limited-edition series of “Have Faith” Canada logo branded hats, T-shirts and hoodies in-store and online.

“2020 has been an incredibly difficult, personally challenging and frustrating year for all of us, including the Burger’s Priest family and staff,” president and CEO of Crave It Restaurants Alex Rechichi said. “We are very fortunate to be in a position where we can pay it forward to our struggling peers and help support the Canadian restaurant industry that we love so much.”

Enter the contest by sharing or following #Firsten between Dec. 1 — Dec. 10 and sharing who they would give the $10k prize to, and why, in 140 words or a 15-second video.

The winner of the $10k cash award will be named on Dec. 14. Additional prizes include nine giveaways of free burgers for a year. Random giveaways will be awarded to customers that order the #Firsten burger in-store and online. Full details are available on .


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Ban indoor dining, leave home only for essential trips, says Toronto’s top doctor as COVID-19 cases soar

Aug 4, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Toronto’s top doctor is asking the province to temporarily restore a ban on dining indoors at restaurants and bars and on indoor team sports and fitness classes in an effort to stem the exponential growth of in the city.

Toronto had 311 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, Dr. Eileen de Villa told a press conference at city hall, where she outlined her case for a month-long return to more restrictive measures.

Nearly half of 45 recent community outbreaks in the city originated in bars and restaurants, according to data from Toronto Public Health. De Villa said businesses could continue to serve patrons outdoors and through takeout and delivery, avoiding the complete closure that wreaked financial havoc on the local economy in the spring.

“Total lockdown is not what we’re advocating here,” she said.

She also urged residents to stay home as much as possible, going out only for essential trips including work, school, exercise, health-care appointments and to buy food.

De Villa said returning to more restrictive practices was always part of the plan in the event of a resurgence, adding that as the virus moves rapidly, so should policy.

“Days actually make a world of difference and from a professional perspective; it’s my responsibility to make sure that we adjust and change our approach premised on this information that we see. Even when that information changes at wartime speed,” she said.

The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases in Toronto was 40 on Sept. 1. It more than doubled, to 84, by Sept. 17. On Sept. 29, it had increased nearly sixfold, to 236.

There are currently 169 active outbreaks in Toronto, including those in the community, in congregate settings, schools, child-care centres, workplaces and long-term-care homes. In the last three weeks, outbreaks in long-term-care homes have increased to nine from two.

A recent incident at Yonge Street Warehouse, a downtown pub, created 1,700 exposures and one at Regulars Bar created 600 exposures.

Mayor John Tory said the rapidly rising infection numbers are cause for alarm.

“The virus is approaching a tipping point, where it will rage through our population and put seniors in our long-term-care homes and kids in school at risk,” he said.

“We have always known a resurgence could come and that further public health measures could be needed in order to combat the virus.”

A spokesperson for Ontario restaurant and bar operators said they are disappointed by the idea of renewed restrictions and fear a return to total lockdown.

“We as an industry still feel a room that is managed with good protocols has better control and safety than people at private parties,” said Tony Elenis, president of the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association.

To allow for safe reopening of schools, it is recommended that communities keep new case counts to no more than one case per 100,000 population per day, according to de Villa. Currently in Toronto, the number is at eight cases per 100,000 population per day, according to the text of the letter she sent to Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.

De Villa said TPH has been monitoring trends and effective public health measures in other comparable jurisdictions. She pointed to Melbourne, Australia, with a metropolitan-area population similar to Toronto, where strict public health measures were implemented when daily case counts were lower than the counts in Toronto today.

De Villa said she sought legal advice and the conclusion was that she does not have the authority to enact the restrictions she is recommending, which is why she is calling on Williams to use his legislative powers.

Her other recommendations include tighter management of large venues. She would like to require large venues to submit plans to TPH, demonstrating how they will ensure physical distancing and collection of contact information.

“Without quick action from the Province to implement further public health measures, there is a serious risk that the city will not be able to prevent the health and economic impact resulting from this surge, particularly with the imminent change in season,” she wrote to Williams. “Based on the experiences of other jurisdictions, smaller scale policy changes will not be enough to stop virus transmission and large-scale action is needed.”

Responding to reporters on Friday, Williams said he spoke with de Villa about her letter but noted they aren’t seeing the same trends throughout the province — which makes enacting province-wide legislation difficult.

Hot zones generally account for 70-80 per cent of new cases, with Toronto alone accounting for as many as half, Williams noted.

He said the province has asked for more data, but did not commit to acting on de Villa’s letter.

With files from Jennifer Pagliaro and David Rider

Francine Kopun is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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How hackers, fraudsters and other criminals are prospering in the pandemic

Jul 28, 2021 , , , , by shlf

While crime rates around the world fell during the beginning of the pandemic, authorities have warned criminals look to take advantage of these uncertain times.

From small cyber attacks like phishing and fraud to large scale hacks and alleged embezzlement, it is evident the underworld has been at work. Interpol warned organized crime would target the vaccine, and just this past Wednesday, it was reported hackers to documents related to the Pfizer and Biontech vaccine in a cyber attack on the European Medicines Agency.

Closer to home, Ontario investigators are looking into allegations $11 million from a pandemic relief fund aim at helping families with children with special needs.

To talk about this investigation and authorities warnings about how organized crime is targeting, “This Matters” features the Star’s , the Queen’s Park Bureau Chief and , a reporter on the Crimes, Court and Justice team.

Listen to this episode and more at “” or subscribe at , , or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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Toronto steps up support of hundreds of local food businesses by offering two weeks of free delivery

Jul 28, 2021 , , , , by shlf

With indoor dining banned and patio service dwindling as temperatures drop, Toronto is stepping up to help hundreds of restaurants bring in some extra money.

In May, the city announced the where businesses — not limited to food — could sign up for free to use Ritual’s mobile ordering tool for pickup, Ritual ONE. As an extension of the program, participating restaurants can now access delivery service through DoorDash Drive, where businesses are charged a flat rate rather than a percentage for each order.

As a special offer, starting Monday and running until Nov. 8, delivery will be free for the restaurants and customers.

The aim is to encourage customers to order directly from local businesses and for those businesses to increase their commission-free online sales.

A spokesperson for Ritual says both Ritual and DoorDash are covering the fees that are being waived.

The partnership is welcome relief for the struggling food-service industry, as third-party delivery apps charge hefty commission fees of up to 30 per cent per order. In response, some restaurant owners COVID-19 shutdowns took a swing at profits. In the U.S., cities such as New York, Denver, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Los Angeles have enforced a 10- to 15- per-cent cap on delivery fees from third-party apps such as Uber Eats during the pandemic.

In B.C., it has also become an election issue as both the NDP and Liberal parties if elected.

Skip the Dishes that it is offering a 25 per cent rebate on commissions for restaurants.

Later this week for the city to call on the province to implement a similar limit on commission fees. Toronto doesn’t have the authority to make these calls.

MPP Amanda Simard (Glengarry-Prescott-Russel) has for the province to cap fees at 15 per cent.

“Our restaurants need our support and they need it now … not photo ops of MPPs ordering takeout or the premier asking delivery companies to please, please, please reduce their fees,” Simard said at Queen’s Park last week.

The full list of participating restaurants is available through .

Karon Liu is a Toronto-based food reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

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Funding for $2.4 million principal pandemic pay will come from savings on supply teachers, professional development, TDSB says

Jul 26, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The Toronto school board will fund the $2.4 million in extra pay being given to principals and vice-principals for their pandemic planning work by using savings from budgets for supply teachers and professional development.

In a fact sheet provided to the Star by TDSB Chair Alexander Brown, the board said it decided in late July to open schools earlier and needed administrators there to implement COVID-19 health and safety plans, as well as respond to parent “requests for information, which was immense at this time.”

It says principals, vice-principals and office staff in high schools returned a week early — on Aug. 17 — and elementary administrators were recalled Aug. 24, and notes that both office and caretaking staff “were paid for this scheduled time.”

“As principals and vice-principals are 10-month employees, an operational decision is made by senior management to pay them for returning earlier and on a designated date consistent for all schools in the elementary and secondary panel in order to safely reopen their schools given the additional demands related to health and safety, training of staff, re-staffing of schools,” the fact sheet says.

“While they are expected to work in order to properly close and open their schools, this unique summer saw their attendance required at a much earlier time (e.g. 5 to 10 days) and it is determined to recognize that by paying them for 3.75 days.”

The estimated cost of $2.2 million to $2.4 million “is considered a cost associated with the 2019/2020 school year as it occurred in August, (and) will be paid for using funds recovered as a result of significant savings attained during that school year for items such as (but not limited to) supply teachers, professional development and utilities.”

Brown, who said trustees were not aware of the additional payout as well as lieu days, has said more details will be shared at a Tuesday finance committee meeting.

A handful of boards across the province are believed to be giving the pandemic bonus to principals, including the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

The Toronto Catholic board is not providing its administrators with any additional pay.

Vice-principals make about $110,000 a year and principals $130,000, and they work a week or two past the end of the school year and usually have the remainder of the summer off. They do not claim for any overtime worked during the school year.

The Toronto board is to all principals and vice-principals, regardless of whether they returned early or worked every day, although the head of the Toronto School Administrators’ Association said while attendance was not taken, he was not aware of any absences.

Asked about the issue Monday, Premier Doug Ford said “everyone went above and beyond. I’ll have to dig into it with the minister of education and get the full details.”

However, he said, “if there is one thing that’s working throughout the whole system — I think a lot of things are working — but it’s the schools. They’re working and I have to give credit where credit’s due. As for the bonus, I’ll have to look into that.”

Brown has said the money is to recognize that “the task of reopening our schools this year was overwhelming, often frustrating and difficult. Many people ended up putting in more hours than one can imagine.”

Leslie Wolfe, who is president of the local unit of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, plans to address the controversy at Tuesday’s meeting. She has called the extra pay an outrage, and that it comes as “the board says it has no money for additional teachers.”

About 24 teachers could be hired with $2.4 million.

Wolfe has said her members “are feeling very demoralized by the board’s recognition of principals and vice-principals and not the front-line education workers and teachers.”

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Simcoe County decides on new size of garbage carts, approves 2021 budget

Jul 23, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Simcoe County residents are going to be able to pack more garbage into the new style of garbage cart being

At the Nov. 24 meeting, council members agreed to a — which is a 50 per cent increase over the current size. The organics/compost size is 120 litres and the recycling cart is 360 litres

The plastic wheeled carts will all have black bases with varying-coloured lids to indicate the contents.

Once the new cart program starts next fall, residents can recycle their old bins, or keep them for storage.

Garbage collection will .

County council also approved its 2021 budget Nov. 24, spending $572 million.

That means no tax increases next year.

“We have been responsible over the last number of years with our finances and our budgeting,” Warden George Cornell said.

Reserves have been used to buffer the budget, but that won’t be sustainable past 2021, he said.

“County council recognizes the impact COVID-19 has had on our residents and businesses and as a result, directed staff to come back with a zero per cent tax increase.”

2021 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

• Long-term-care homes and seniors services $78 million

• Paramedic services $56 million

• Children services $49 million

• Social housing $69 million

• Ontario Works $79 million

• Transportation and engineering $48 million

• Solid waste management $94 million