The Windsor City Council meeting originally scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2020 has been cancelled.

The generosity of the Windsor-Essex community has been significant as businesses have been donating medical supplies to help support those workers on the frontline. Boxes of supplies have been donated by closed dentist offices, hair salons and even the manufacturing sector where things like medical gloves and masks are used. The need for more continues, so emergency officials are still asking for any business to assess their inventory of supplies and consider donating them.

Required supplies include:

·         Respirators, Honeywell 5500 Series and NIOSG P100 filter cartridges

·         N95 masks (model number: 3M18710, 3M9210 or 3MVFlex). If you have another available model of N95, please let us know so that we may assess if it is something that can be utilized. 

·         Nitrile gloves

·         Battery-operated infrared medical thermometers

·         Disposable impermeable gowns

·         General surgical masks

·         Hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant

·         Sanitizer wipes

·         Safety goggles

These items would be put to immediate use in hospitals and by paramedics, fire, police and correctional services, as well as long-term care homes. 

If you have any of the above and can drop them off, please do so at the WFCU Centre 8787 McHugh Street this Saturday between 10:30am and 2:30pm. Please pull up to the Community Rink doors off the main parking lot where staff will direct you after a short screening process.

If you require the items to be picked up, please call 311 between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday to schedule a pickup time.

Effective immediately, the public is advised that all play structures in the City of Windsor’s parks are closed until further notice.

Parks, trails and open spaces remain open and, following the best advice of public health officials, their continued use is strongly encouraged. However, play structures, swings and children’s activity sets are being closed to reduce opportunities for gatherings and close contact, thereby lowering the potential risks associated with COVID-19 within the City of Windsor.

Pursuant to authority granted under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and recognizing that a serious public health risk remains, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is extending the temporary suspension of Transit Windsor operations until at least May 1, 2020.

As the original Order was set to expire on Sunday, April 12, 2020, Transit Windsor was asked to evaluate the prospect of a return to service in the near term and prepared a memo to inform the Mayor’s decision. When considering the local circumstances, observations from other transit operators across the province and the significant public health risks to both riders and drivers, Transit Windsor leadership recommended this continued suspension.

To support regular transit users, Windsor City Council has already approved a one-time payment for individuals who purchased a pass between February 19, 2020 and March 19, 2020 or held a monthly pass valid for the period between February 19, 2020 and March 19, 2020. Subject to verification, the one-time payment will be processed across three broad categories:

·         The City of Windsor provides over 2,500 passes to low-income and vulnerable individuals who receive a bus pass as part of their social assistance program. These individuals will not need to apply and will receive a $75 payment.

·         Regular pass holders (Adult, Student and Senior) will need to apply for a payment on-line to be eligible for a $50 amount.

·         University of Windsor students who currently hold an eligible Transit UPass will need to apply on-line to receive a $25 amount.

Full details on how to apply and more can be found at www.transitwindsor.ca.

This is an evolving situation, and we will continue to update residents as new information becomes available.

Burlington Transit Modifies Schedule
With social distancing measures in place, Burlington Transit will reduce its service and operate on a modified schedule beginning Sunday, March 29. The new schedule will provide transit service for essential travel only.

With the modified schedule, Burlington Transit will operate Monday to Saturday, from 5:50 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and on Sundays from 6:14 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. A complete schedule is available at www.burlingtontransit.ca/schedules and Burlington Transit customer service can be reached at contactbt@burlington.ca, 905-639-0550 or on Twitter @BurlONTransit. 

A reminder that:

• Bus fares are not currently being collected
• Customers are required to board and exit buses from the rear doors

• To provide space for social distancing, customers should use alternate rows and choose seats away from other customers. 
   
• Burlington Transit’s downtown Terminal is closed.

The Municipality of Leamington continues to review services and implement measures to further assist Leamington residents and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The following financial relief measures have been put in place to further assist the community:

• Waiving all penalties and interest on any overdue balances through to and including June 30, 2020.
• Waiving all returned cheque or electronic payment fees through to and including June 30, 2020.

“The Municipality continues to look at ways we can ease the financial burden placed on Leamington residents and businesses during this challenging time,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. “Council has decided to take further action and provide additional relief and assistance to the community. It’s important that the community knows we’re in this together and we’ll get through this together,” added Mayor MacDonald.

Property Tax Relief Summary:

• All 10-month plan pre-authorized payments (PAP) will be withdrawn on the scheduled date unless property owners contact the Municipality of Leamington Property Tax Department by email at taxes@leamington.ca or by phone at 519- 326-5761 and make alternate payment arrangements, 5 business days prior to the withdrawal.
• All instalment due date pre-authorized payments (PAP) will be withdrawn on the scheduled date of May 15, 2020, unless property owners contact the Municipality of Leamington Property Tax Department by email at taxes@leamington.ca or phone at 519-326-5761 by May 8, 2020.
• Property owners who have their property taxes included in their mortgage need to contact their respective financial institutions to discuss options.
• Interest and penalties on all overdue account balances are deferred until June 30, 2020. 

These relief measures are examples of the Municipality of Leamington taking action in response to COVID-19. For more information on COVID-19 planning and preparations by the Municipality, please visit: leamington.ca/COVID19.