Friends,
Here are today’s new developments:
- After a contentious order by Trump to halt exports of N95 respirators to Canada, Minnesota-based medical mask manufacturer 3M struck an agreement with the White House to allow its continued export of N95s and other PPEs to Canada -- Trudeau said 500,000 masks from 3M should arrive tomorrow.
- Still, Doug Ford warned Ontarians that the province is low on PPEs for health care workers, saying the province can't rely on the global supply chain--Ontario companies that can do so have been encouraged to retool their supply chains to help meet this need.
- The province also launched an online portal to match skilled health care workers currently not employed in the system with employers.
Here are some concerns the official opposition is working on, and solutions we’re pushing for:
- Andrea Horwath held a press conference today, asking the government to make major changes and investments in long-term care and home-care to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 amongst our most vulnerable seniors--to date, there have been at least 36 outbreaks in Ontario's long-term care homes.
- Andrea Horwath launched our Save Main Street proposal Sunday, a plan to keep small and medium-sized businesses afloat, with greater supports for companies, charities and community-based non-profits.
Here are some things we’re hearing from our community members:
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Families with relatives in long-term care may be grappling with the difficult decision to remove their loved one from care.
- With Ontario limiting prescription refills to 30-day supplies during the pandemic, some Ontarians--seniors especially--are worried about being able to afford the more frequent dispensing fees. The NDP is calling on the Ford government to cancel and cover the prescription drug co-payments required of seniors during the pandemic.
Email me to let me know how you’re doing, what you’re concerned about: [email protected]