Oakville North-Burlington News and Events- February, 25,2022

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Cutting costs and making life more convenient for millions of vehicle owners in Ontario Oakville North-Burlington Update – February 25th, 2022

“As cost of living increases in Ontario, our government is putting money back in the pockets of families and workers. Eliminating licence plate renewal fees and stickers will help lower driving costs and support people across Ontario and in Oakville North-Burlington. I’m glad that the government is removing this unnecessary tax and making life more affordable”– Effie Triantafilopoulos MPP
 
Eliminating Licence Plate Renewal Fees and Stickers

Ontario is making life more affordable and convenient for nearly eight million vehicle owners by eliminating licence plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13, 2022.
The government has also introduced red tape legislation that enables the province to refund eligible individual owners of vehicles for any licence plate renewal fees paid since March 2020. Vehicle owners will receive a cheque in the mail starting at the end of March and throughout the month of April. Thank you Oak Medical Education Foundation for the significant contributions you make in our Oakville community. It was a pleasure to meet with your senior leadership team and to recognize young leaders of the future during Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week! Last weekend I was pleased to join members of the Vaishnodevi Temple for the inaugural Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week to celebrate the invaluable contributions of volunteers of all generations at the Oakville Hindu temple and present them with certificates on behalf of Premier Ford for their dedicated service to our community. We celebrated Family Day in our beautiful Oakville North-Burlington community on Monday. I hope you enjoyed the day with your family and were able to have some time to appreciate your loved ones. It was a pleasure to meet with Dennis Scott, Chair of the Halton Black History Awareness Society to discuss the importance of Black history in Halton and Ontario. HBHAS is a committee of volunteers that develops awareness about Black History, highlighting musical festivals and art exhibits in our community. It is also dedicated to educating the public about equality, inclusivity and equity. Thank you for all you do to bring greater awareness in our community. Black history is Ontario history! February is Black History Month, and in honour of this important occasion, I am recognizing those who have driven social change and inspired us.
Ontario is proud to have strong Black communities that have been vital in our provinces social, political, and economic success. Let us take this month to learn about how we can continue supporting Black Ontarians.
This week we recognized the important contributions of the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander and Harriet Tubman. Let me know who inspires you!
  Providing Support for the People of Ukraine The Ontario Government stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and condemns the assault on freedom, democracy and the rule of law. We are assisting the people of Ukraine by providing $300,000 in humanitarian aid. Ontario’s monetary support will be donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and will be used to support humanitarian purposes, including providing medical aid, emergency shelter and food security in Ukraine. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation will ensure the donation will be used to provide assistance quickly and efficiently to people and families in need. $25,000 in Municipal Energy Plan Funding for City of Burlington
  Burlington has successfully applied for funding under the Ministry of Energy’s Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) program and is receiving $25,000. The MEP Program helps municipalities assess energy use, reduce costs, and boost conservation.

The proposed MEP project will allow Burlington to create a strategy for increased adoption of electric vehicles. An Electric Mobility Strategy was identified by the City as a priority to achieve its 2050 net carbon neutral target with the potential opportunity to reduce 5,590 ktCO2e of emissions by 2050.
  Easing Temporary Visiting Restrictions at Long-Term Care Homes

Effective February 21, general visitors five years and older who have had at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to resume visits to long-term care residents. The number of visitors at a time, per resident will also increase from two to three, including caregivers. In addition, all residents, regardless of vaccination status, will be able to resume social day trips, and residents who have had at least three vaccine doses will be able to enjoy overnight social absences.

The return of general visitors to homes will mean adult day programs can resume along with the return of entertainers and external personal care services in the homes. Social group activities should remain small, with up to 10 individuals
  One Million Children to Benefit from 40,000 more HEPA Filters to Schools and Child Care Centres Ontario has announced the deployment of additional standalone HEPA filter units to schools and child care centres to further protect against COVID-19. On top of the HEPA filter units already in place, the province will deploy an additional 40,000 HEPA filter units to school boards to support schools, and up to 9,000 units to child care centres. This massive investment will ensure roughly one million more children in schools and child care settings will benefit from HEPA filtration units. This will help ensure maximum protection for these learning spaces as we keep students in classrooms that have been made as safe as possible. Removing Barriers for Out-of-Province Skilled Workers
 
The Ontario government will introduce changes that would help workers in over 30 in-demand professions move here with their families while continuing their careers. The changes, if passed, would tackle Ontario’s historic labour shortage – the largest in a generation – by ensuring out-of-province workers can register in their regulated profession or trade within 30 days. In addition, the government is proposing to recognize three fuel-related professions under the province’s skilled trades legislation, meaning Ontario will take steps to officially recognize all 55 Red Seal Trades. 6 Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles Launching ONroute Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
  Ontario is delivering on its commitment to bring electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers to the province’s busiest highways with the launch of the first six ONroute charging stations in Cambridge South, Cambridge North, West Lorne, Dutton, Odessa and Napanee.

The six rapid charging stations are part of a historic EV charger roll-out announced in December by the Ontario government, along with Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation’s joint Ivy Charging Network that will see a total of 69 fast chargers built at all 23 ONroute locations.
  Investing in the Future of EV Batteries
  The Ontario government is investing $250,000 to support the development of two new battery production lines at the Electra Battery Materials Corporation’s future Battery Materials Park near Cobalt. The new production lines would be the first of their kind in Ontario and play a key part in supplying the demand for critical minerals that support the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in North America. The proposed Battery Materials Park facility could supply more than 1.5 million EVs and employ up to 250 people, becoming a key pillar of the EV battery supply chain for battery-grade nickel sulfate and precursor cathode active materials. Upcoming Events in our Community

Join Zonta Oakville to Celebrate International Women’s Day
 
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and the Zonta Club of Oakville is celebrating! Visit the “Zonta Celebrates International Women’s Day Instagrammable Display” in Oakville Towne Square (94 George St.) from March 2 to 13, 2022. Take a selfie or a photo with friends and family and using the hashtag, #ZontaCelebratesIWD share on social media a message, photo or video about the special women in your life.

Donations to support International Women’s Day can be made through the Zonta Oakville donation website: Canada Helps. Halton Black History Awareness Society – Essay Contest   In Partnership with the HDSB and numerous Halton community partners, the Halton Black History Awareness Society is accepting researched narratives on Black History in Halton. 1st, 2nd, 3rd place contributors to be awarded a cash prize, community and cultural award recognition, and media promotion. The contest begins on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 and essays are due by Friday April 15, 2022, at 5 p.m. For more information: https://www.hbhas.ca/contest.php More Important News Stories This week Improving French-language services designation process Ontario Requiring Employers to Disclose Electronic Monitoring Supporting Clean, Renewable and Affordable Energy Supporting the Success of Black Students Oakville North-Burlington Spirit Awards

In recent months, I have been proud to honour a number of volunteers who have contributed to our community during the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you for your community spirit. If you would like to nominate a member of our community who has gone above and beyond to contribute to the community during the pandemic, please contact my office and let me know.