Message from the Desk of Your MPP
Dear Neighbours,
I wish you and your families a bright and happy New Year. As we ring in 2021 and commit ourselves to goals old and new, it's necessary to reflect on the experiences of 2020. In the words of philosopher Paul Freire, "Looking at the past must be a means of understanding more clearly what and who we are so that we can more wisely build the future."
It is difficult to consider 2020 without mentioning COVID-19 and how it has impacted our lives. The pandemic changed interactions between our loved ones, co-workers, and communities. It altered the way we mark milestones, how students engage in learning, and how businesses interact with customers. Many businesses had to slow down or close to stop the spread, leading to enormous economic impacts on our province. For many, physical distancing and self-isolation increased mental health and addiction challenges. Despite the effects, we will recover.
COVID-19 will reshape society as we move ahead. What will remain is the courage and resilience displayed by all Ontarians. Frontline heroes have risked their lives for the broader public. We’ve found innovative ways to stayed connected through technology. Small businesses, charities, and places of worship donated meals and supplies to those in need. Scientists worked across borders to develop vaccines against COVID-19 in record-breaking time. We must all share the praise.
The past year has revealed that when we come together we can meet any challenges. Moving ahead, I look forward to collaborating with you to make Mississauga-Malton a place for everyone to live and grow safely.
Let's have a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Sincerely,

|
|
 |
Investing in Ontario
|
 |
- The government is allocating an additional $695 million across the province to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry operating deficits into 2021. City of Mississauga will receive an additional $20,968,000 and the Region of Peel will get $20,568,000 in funding.
- Ontario is investing up to $1.9 billion annually within the next four years to hire 27,000 personal support workers, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, & other health care staff to protect our vulnerable and seniors. The government is also working with residents and families to develop a quality framework that will improve oversight, guidance and medical outcomes in long-term care homes.
- Peel Region will receive an additional $5,669,000 in social services relief funding. The discretionary funding can be used to improve the delivery of critical services, protect homeless shelter staff and residents, renovate and purchase shelter facilities, add to rent banks, create longer-term housing solutions and support plans to prepare for potential future outbreaks and emergencies.
- The Ontario government is investing over $47 million to provide supportive housing for individuals with severe mental health and addictions challenges who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This funding will go towards a Back to Home program that will provide supportive housing for patients in hospitals with mental health and addictions challenges who do not need hospital-level acute care. It will also help patients and individuals in the justice system transition to supportive housing with access to essential services, such as counselling, therapy, and peer support.
- The government is investing over $147 million to immediately expand access to the provincial mental health and addictions system for people of all ages and address capacity issues in response to COVID-19. This funding will help provide community-based services, interprofessional primary health care teams, support for Indigenous communities, children and youth, services for specific vulnerable populations, and virtual tools.
- Ontario is providing nearly $41 million to help 486 non-profit organizations across the province to rebuild and recover from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These grants, of up to $150,000 to eligible non-profit organizations, are the first round of funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s new $83-million Resilient Communities Fund.
- 9 organizations in Mississauga-Malton have a received a combined $698,300 through this fund: The Malton Women Council, Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre, MBDA, Sawitri Theatre Group, Peel Children’s Aid Foundation, Our Place Peel, Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario, FIRST Robotics Canada, Carassauga Festival Inc.
- Ontario is investing $46 million in the Anti-Human Trafficking Community Supports and Indigenous-led Initiatives funds. They provide critical supports to children and youth who have experienced sexual exploitation, as well as survivor-led programming and Indigenous-specific services. The funding will be provided to 27 community-based projects and is part of the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, which aims to raise awareness of the issue, protect victims and intervene early, support survivors and hold offenders accountable.
- The province is investing $50 million so Ontarians have access to high-quality, market-responsive, and globally competitive virtual learning opportunities. Through this funding, students can re-enter the workforce with the skills they need to build a rewarding career.
- The Ontario government is investing $4.8 million through the Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) grant program to help police services keep impaired drivers off the streets and highways. 171 police services across Ontario will receive funding to carry out important year-round road safety initiatives such as education campaigns and roadside spot checks.
|
|