For Immediate Release
December 21, 2020
STATEMENT: Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s Response to Provincewide Shutdown
“I support Premier Ford and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s decision to move Ontario into a Provincewide Shutdown, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2020, for a 28-day period in Southern Ontario and 14-days in Northern Ontario. This was an extremely difficult decision to make and I firmly believe this is the right course of action at this critical moment.
The reality is that the situation at our hospitals remains dire. Our COVID-19 daily numbers may be plateauing, but our hospitals are overburdened with COVID patients. Trillium Health Partners has started cancelling elective surgeries, and they continue to transfer patients to neighbouring regions to make room for a COVID-19 surge. Now is the time to take action.
By enforcing a Provincewide shutdown, we will avoid additional COVID-19 hospitalizations, further spread in our long-term care homes and preventable deaths not only in Mississauga but also throughout all of Ontario.
While most of the new restrictions announced today have already been in place for Mississauga, we have learned that the provincial government has made additional changes that will impact our residents. This includes the closure of drive-in movie theatres and drive-in or drive-thru community events; hardware and pet stores will now have to switch to curbside pick up or delivery as well as changes made to in-person and remote learning for elementary and secondary school students. For all changes, please visit the Government of Ontario’s website here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59790/ontario-announces-provincewide-shutdown-to-stop-spread-of-covid-19-and-save-lives
The Province is also taking action on the unfairness of big-box stores continuing to operate while our small businesses are forced to shut their doors. Big box retailers selling groceries will now be limited to a 25% capacity for in-store shopping, while supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies, will continue to operate at a 50% capacity.
Small businesses are hurting right now, that is why I would like to thank the Premier for announcing the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners. This is promising news for our small business community who have sacrificed and lost so much during this pandemic. I’m hopeful that this new support grant will help businesses recover and rebuild, as we look towards reopening’s in the New Year.
While this is an important step forward, our small businesses still need your help. If you can, please shop local and support Mississauga Made businesses by purchasing gift cards or ordering pickup during the province wide shutdown. For more information, please visit MississaugaMade.ca.
We must continue listening to the advice our health experts. Stay home as much as possible, only leave for the essentials and limit your close in-person contact to just your immediate household.
Mississauga residents have sacrificed so much throughout this pandemic. I ask that you continue to be patient. I am confident that if we follow the advice of our health experts, we will begin reopening our economy and community in the New Year.
Be safe and be well, Mississauga.”
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