Top stories
- Calls to suspend rent in Toronto get louder
- Toronto is in a state of emergency. Here’s what that means
- Coronavirus sends TTC ridership into a free-fall
- Are hospitals ready for the surge?
- Joe Cressy: Coronavirus takes the measure of Toronto
Follow the latest Toronto news on coronavirus
6:27 pm Big Brother Canada shuts down production
The eighth season of Global TV’s reality series Big Brother Canada has shut down production in the wake of Ontario premier Doug Ford’s mandatory order that all non-essential businesses must close.
In a statement, the network and Insight Productions said the move came “in light of developments in Ontario on the fight against COVID-19.” Production will not resume and the final two episodes will air on March 25 and April 1.
The season was originally due to end on May 21. Last week, producers said they would continue filming with increased sanitation measures on set and without a live studio audience. Earlier this week, The Logic reported that crew members were resigning over safety fears.
5:49 pm There are 280 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Toronto
Toronto Public Health officials have confirmed there are 280 cases of COVID-19 in the city and more are expected now that the virus is spreading locally. Ontario’s total number of cases stands at 588.
Meanwhile the city’s Municipal Licensing & Standards is working with public health and the police to ensure non-essential businesses comply with Ontario’s orders to close. Compliance audits began today at 8 am and will continue seven days a week, from 8 am to 9 pm.
Fines for those that violate provincial orders are up to $100,000 and one year imprisonment for individuals up to $500,000 and one year imprisonment for a director or officer of a corporation and up to $10 million for a corporation.
4:20 pm WestJet announces layoffs of 6,900 staff members
Canadian airline WestJet has announced the temporary and permanent departures of 6,900 workers, or roughly half of the airline’s total workforce.
The terminations are a mix of voluntary departures, early retirements, and involuntary and voluntary layoffs, according to a company release.
“This is devastating news for all WestJetters. The fact that we avoided a potentially worse outcome is testament to the spirit and selfless attitude demonstrated by our people, who have enabled WestJet to continue operating with a collective remaining workforce of 7,100,” said president and CEO Ed Sims.
The release adds that the airline’s exec team took a 50 per cent pay cut, while vice-presidents and directors have taken a 25 per cent pay cut.
The airline has cancelled all cross-border flights until April 22.
1:30 pm Province announces new protocols to redeploy staff at long-term care homes
The province has passed an emergency order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in longterm care facilities.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams announced the new measures in a statement this afternoon. They will restrict residents from leaving a home for visits with family and friends. Residents, however, will be able to visit with friends and families outside on the home’s property as long as they maintain a safe distance.
The province has also moved to give long term care facilities the powers granted hospitals last week to redeploy staff as needed to deal with the coronavirus. The powers include the ability for long term care facilities to change the scheduling of work or shift assignments and defer or cancel vacations absences and other leaves.
Long-term care homes continue to restrict non-essential visits and screen residents.
1:25 pm Ontario discounts hydro rates for 45 days
The province is suspending time-of-use electricity rates for 45 days. Starting today, hydro will be billed at the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents-per-kilowatt-hour 24 hours per day, seven days a week to all time-of-use customers.
At a press conference on Wednesday, premier Doug Ford said the move will result in reductions of more than 50 per cent compared with on-peak rates.
“By adopting a fixed, 24/7 off-peak rate, we are making things a little easier during these difficult times and putting more money in people’s pockets for other important priorities and necessities,” Ford said.
The discount will be applied to electricity bills automatically – there is no application process required.
12:45 pm Ontario reports 85 new COVID-19 cases, one more death
Public health officials have confirmed 85 new cases of COVID-10 in the province, including one more death. The number of active cases in the province now stands at 588. Eight of those cases have been resolved.
A man in his 90s from Durham is Ontario’s seventh COVID-19-related death.
A man in his 60s in Waterloo and and a man in his 80s in Wellington Dufferin Guelph have been hospitalized. All other cases are listed as self-isolating or “pending.”
There are 10,074 cases under investigation and 21,795 have tested negative. In all, Ontario has tested 32, 457 people for the virus.
11:51 am Mayor urges landlords to protect vulnerable tenants
The city is taking measures to help Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) tenants who’ve lost jobs or income due to COVID-19 and urging private landlords to help vulnerable tenants get through the crisis.
On Tuesday, the city announced measures for market rent-paying and rent-geared-to-income TCHC tenants whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic.
According to a news release, rent-geared-to-income households – or about 90 per cent of TCHC tenants – will have their rent recalculating and adjusted or deferred based on employment income changes due to COVID-19-related job loss or layoff.
For market rent-paying TCHC tenants, case-specific options will be considered, which may include arranging for payment deferment plans over the next few months.
Meanwhile, the city also issued “broad direction” to over 200 social and affordable housing providers responsible for over 33,000 units to “be flexible, exercise discretion and to work with households whose employment-related income is affected due to the current emergency.”
Amid calls for a rent freeze, mayor John Tory met with private landlords on Monday. While many landlords pledged to help tenants get through the crisis, there has been a lack of communication between landlords and tenants.
“Far too many have not communicated anything to reassure anxious tenants who in the ordinary course have rent payments due on April 1,” the city said in a statement, which also noted that Toronto has no power to direct private landlords.
“The Mayor also made it clear yesterday that he expects landlords to proactively communicate with their tenants with respect to policies they have in place which are available to tenants financially displaced by COVID-19.”
“I urge all landlords across the city to do what they can to help tenants who suddenly find themselves in very different circumstances due to this pandemic,” Tory added in a statement.
11:06 am TTC extends deadline to cancel monthly passes
If you’re a TTC monthly pass holder and you don’t need your April pass, you have until March 27 at 11:59 pm to cancel. No fees will be charged. Instructions on how to cancel are in the tweet below.
8:30 am Ontario release the list of essential workplaces
The province will for non-essential workplaces to close at midnight to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Ahead of the closure, the Ontario government has released the list of 74 essential workplaces that will be allowed to remain open.
Restaurants with takeout services, drug stores, supermarkets, the LCBO, gas stations and hardware stores are on the list. It also includes taxis, hotels, safety supply stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, funeral homes, post offices and couriers, car rentals, shelters and social services, dentists, optometrist, physiotherapists, manufacturers of health care and pharmaceutical products, telecom providers, newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, utilities, road construction and waste collection.
Read the full list here.
@nowtoronto
