April 2 - Update

Dear Friend and Neighbours,

I’d like to remind everyone that yard waste pick-up is still suspended. Please store yard waste on your property for the time being and do not bring it to the curb. The City will resume yard waste collection from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 17. Thank you for your cooperation. For more details, please see below and for more information on affected City services please click here. 

I have received a lot of questions regarding whether refunds will be issued for cancelled City recreation programs. Please be advised that refunds or credits will be offered for all cancelled programs. City Staff have begun to process these and will be in touch with residents at a later date. Your patience as this is worked through is greatly appreciated. Residents may contact pfrcustomerservice@toronto.ca for further information. 

I’d like to remind everyone about the importance of practicing physical distancing. Today, Mayor John Tory signed an emergency order regulating physical distancing in City of Toronto public spaces and any two people who don't live together, who fail to keep two metres of distance between them, will be subject to prosecution and will be liable for a fine of up to $5,000.

I know that it is challenging to stay indoors, especially on beautiful sunny days like today, but we all have to do our part. The advice from Toronto’s public health officials has been clear and consistent: To stop the community spread of this deadly virus, we must reduce all contact with others as much as possible. I can’t say it enough, we are all in this together!

Although they are closed and their programming has been cancelled for the time being, UrbanArts have put out their newsletter and it’s full of useful information and creative links! I’d like to note that some of the links in my update yesterday didn’t work properly. My apologies, please click here to access yesterday’s update (with working links!) if you like.

As always, my office remains available by phone and email to assist you.

Sincerely,

Frances 

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Here's the key information you need to know today:

New emergency order allows for enforcement of physical distancing in parks and public squares

Any two people who don't live together and fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, will be subject to prosecution and liable for a fine of up to $5,000 if convicted. The Mayor took this emergency action – which is in effect for at least the next 30 days – as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to save lives, protect the healthcare system and ensure our economy and society can rebound faster from the COVID-19 pandemic. Info and updates: http://toronto.ca/covid19.

Yard waste collection resumes for two weeks

The City will resume yard waste collection from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 17. 

Information for residents:

• Place yard waste out before 7 a.m. on regularly scheduled garbage/yard waste collection day. 

• Please be patient as crews make their way across the city. 

• If yard waste is not picked up the scheduled day, please leave it out as it will be picked-up in the coming days. Please do not call 311 to report a missed collection. 

• To ensure health and safety, please only use yard waste bags, not open-top containers. 

The start of seasonal yard waste collection was suspended as part of the City’s COVID-19 response. After the two-week period of yard waste pickup, the City will assess if it can continue to maintain the service.  More information is available on the City’s website.

Ongoing:

On April 1, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued new directives under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. These include:

• All individuals with COVID-19 are ordered by the Medical Officer of Health to stay home, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for 14 days.

• All individuals who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are also ordered to stay home by the Medical Officer of Health for 14 days.

• People returning from international travel must stay home (already a federal order).

• Anyone who is not ill or has not travelled, is strongly directed to stay home except for the following reasons:

  • accessing healthcare or medication

  • shop for groceries once per week

  • walk their dogs

  • get daily exercise while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres

• Anyone over the age of 70, as the Province already announced, is strongly encouraged to stay home as much as possible.