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What if I can't pay my rent?: Newmarket-Aurora MPP answers your questions

Local MPP, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott answers your questions about how the government is helping you cope with the COVID-19 pandemic

Newmarket-Aurora MPP, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliot sends you a message and answers your questions:

I hope this finds you well under these challenging circumstances. We are facing an unprecedented time in our province’s history, and the health and well-being of every Ontarian is our number 1 priority.

Since March 17 when Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, outlined a series of recommendations aimed at slowing the further spread of COVID-19 resulting in our government declaring a state of emergency, my constituency office has been at full alert working to support the hundreds of phone calls and thousands of emails coming into my office. 

We closed for in-person meetings March 17; however, my team continues to receive your phone calls and emails. Given my role as Minister of Health, my team has been working hard to support you, the great people of Newmarket-Aurora, in addition to Ontarians from across the province. 

My office is always available to ensure you have the most up-to-date information related to the province’s response to COVID-19  as information is changing daily or even hourly. 

Here are the top 11 questions that you have posed to my team, along with the responses our government has provided:

I recently returned from a trip abroad. What should I do?

You are at high risk of spreading COVID-19. As a result, by law, you are required to self-isolate for 14 days. In fact, everyone should stay home as much as they can. If you need to leave, please stay two meters (or six feet) away from others. To contain COVID-19, we all need to help. Please do your part by staying apart.

My loved one is coming home from abroad.  Will the government waive the three-month OHIP wait period?

On March 20, Ontario announced an expansion of coverage for care. To ensure that anyone in need of care can receive it, Ontario waived the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Additionally, the province will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage. Together, these measures will ensure no one will be discouraged from seeking screening or treatment for COVID-19 for financial reasons.

I am a small business. I am concerned that I will not be able to pay my rent next month. What will happen to my business? 

On March 25, the Minister of Finance issued Ontario’s Action Plan:  Responding to COVID-19. This plan is making $17 billion of resources available to combat the pandemic. Specifically by providing:

  • $3.3 billion to support the health-care system.
  • $3.7 billion in direct support for people and jobs.
  • $10 billion available to ensure that businesses have cash flow during this difficult time.

To support businesses during this crisis, the government is proposing to double the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption in 2020. Through this change, about 57,000 private-sector employers would pay less EHT in 2020, including about 30,000 more who would not pay EHT this year. This amounts to a tax cut of $355 million.

We are providing flexibility to businesses in Ontario that find it challenging to meet their tax obligations during this crisis. The period between April 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2020, will be interest and penalty-free for businesses unable to file and make payments on time for select provincially administered taxes. We expect this action to free up as much as $6 billion in cash flow for about 100,000 businesses.

In addition, we are freeing up over $1.8 billion by deferring the upcoming June 30 quarterly municipal remittance of education property tax to school boards by 90 days, which will provide municipalities the flexibility to, in turn, provide property tax deferrals to residents and businesses, while ensuring school boards continue to receive their funding.

In addition, we anticipate that property owners will work with their tenants during this extraordinary circumstance to make rent payment arrangements.

Why are the DriveTest centres open? DriveTest examiners are in a precarious position, as they are unable to practise physical distancing.

On March 22, all full-time DriveTest Centres and part-time Travel Point locations closed. The closures took effect March 23, 2020 until further notice. The decision to close was the result of a mutual agreement between the government and services provider.

You can rest assured they will not lose your current driver’s licence due to this decision and no driver’s licence applicants will lose test fees because of the closures.

Why are ServiceOntario centres open?

To help ensure the safety of ServiceOntario staff and customers, we have urged Ontarians not to visit a ServiceOntario centre unless completely necessary. We will be introducing measures that will enable ServiceOntario offices to enhance their cleaning routines, ensure screening of clients, and allow for social distancing, without disrupting the delivery of essential services.

The government has extended the validity period of driver, vehicle, carrier products and services, as well as health cards. These changes reduce the need for in-person visits to ServiceOntario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We also want to reiterate that Ontarians who have expired health cards and are sick should not be coming into a Service Ontario for a renewal. They should instead follow the advice outlined on this website.

With more than 40 services already available online, we encourage people to complete transactions online or use the extended validation period. 

Can businesses assist to help manufacture and supply the emergency medical protective equipment that is so urgently required?

To ensure our government has access to the supplies and services necessary to combat COVID-19, the province is launching a new portal, Ontario Together, which will allow Ontario companies to submit their proposals for the government to procure in-demand goods and services in an accelerated timeline.

This access will help ensure our health-care system and frontline workers such as police officers, correctional officers, social workers and others are equipped to protect the health and well-being of the people of Ontario. Ontario is home to some of the most innovative industries across Canada and around the globe. Through Ontario Together, we can hear directly from our business community on how we can solve some of the complex challenges posed by COVID-19 quickly and efficiently.

We are looking for innovative ideas that provide the greatest benefit to the people of Ontario, your input will help us address the rapidly evolving challenges we face in communities across the province. For assistance, please call:  1-888-777-0554

Is my business an ‘essential’ business? Why is that business ‘essential’?

The decision to close non-essential businesses was a tough but necessary decision. The businesses reflected on the essential services list are necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of all Ontarians, while supporting Ontario’s strong economy in a way that is safe and appropriate for today’s reality.

We are calling on all businesses to join us in our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. If you are a business that can work from home, we encourage you to continue your operations. Any business that can work remotely over the phone, online or via post should continue to operate.

For businesses who are essential to ensuring the health and well-being of all Ontarians, we need to work with you to ensure, your employees are working in a safe environment. These businesses should be working quickly to develop a plan that will ensure physical distancing and regular handwashing hygiene.

Any employee who does not feel safe at their place of work should leave.

As the situation evolves, our government is prepared to take further action. The Premier has been clear that every option is on the table.

The province has launched a toll-free line to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province’s recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Businesses who have questions about closures of at-risk workplaces or how emergency measures affects their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. 

A complete list of essential services is available on the Government of Ontario’s website.

I am concerned about my health and safety at my place of work.  What can I do?

Employees can refuse work if they believe their health and safety is at risk. If that is the case, the worker should raise their concerns with their supervisor, employer and health and safety rep if they have one.

If their concerns persist, call Ontario’s health and safety hotline at 1-877-202-0008.

I cannot afford to pay my rent next month. I am no longer working.

On March 27, Minister of Municipal Affairs stated we would ensure renters could stay in their homes during this challenging time. Tenants who can pay their rent must do so, to the best of their abilities. The Government of Ontario has been clear; you cannot be forced to leave your home if you cannot pay your rent on April 1.

The Minister called on landlords to be as flexible as possible when it comes to collecting rent, starting with April, at a time when many people are struggling. The same goes for any planned rent increases landlords are contemplating, whether already approved by the Landlord and Tenant Board or not.

Of course, some landlords are also facing challenges, especially small landlords. While mortgage deferrals are available, some of you are waiting for news from your bank. Everyone needs to do their part right now.

To the tenants out there who are having challenges paying rent, please speak to your landlord about whether it can be postponed or if other payment arrangements can be agreed to. In addition, landlords, please be as flexible as you can. We need to come together as Ontarians and support each other.

Why can’t I visit my loved one who is in a nursing home? Why self-isolate and conduct physical distancing?

All actions we have taken to date have been based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. That includes encouraging social distancing by requiring the closure of schools and daycares, requiring restaurants and bars to maintain delivery or drive-through services only and closing non-essential businesses.

We have passed legislation to provide job-protected leave for workers and families and have ensured families can buy the essentials they need by enabling businesses to receive deliveries 24/7 to keep their shelves stocked.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health issued a memo on March 13 strongly recommending that long-term care homes to limit access to only essential visitors. Essential visitors are those who have a resident who is dying or very ill. No other visitors will be permitted to enter the premises and will be asked to keep in touch with loved ones by phone or other technologies, as available.

We have instructed long-term care homes to begin active screening of staff, essential visitors, residents moving into a long-term care home and residents returning to a long-term care home. These same instructions have been given to retirement homes.

If I have to stay at home, why can’t we be paying off-peak hydro rates so I can do my laundry when I want?

On March 24, the Government of Ontario provided electricity rate relief for families, small businesses and farms paying time-of-use (TOU) rates.

For a 45-day period, the government is suspending time-of-use electricity rates, holding electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents-per kilowatt-hour.  This reduced price will be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week to all time-of-use customers, who make up the majority of electricity consumers in the province. By switching to a fixed off-peak rate, time-of-use customers will see rate reductions of over 50 per cent compared to on-peak rates.

This discount applies automatically to electricity bills without the need for customers to fill out an application form.

How do I get my groceries? I am a senior and I do not want to be out with everyone else as I am at higher risk with this coronavirus.

Thank you to our local Newmarket-Aurora Grocers for being flexible with your store hours for seniors. If you are a senior and you do not have anyone to assist you with your groceries, please note the following grocers who have special shopping hours for seniors ONLY:

Superstore Aurora
15900 Bayview Ave
905-726-9533
Monday to Sunday 7 to 8 a.m.
Tuesday and Thursday employees can shop with seniors from 7 to 8 a.m.

No Frills Newmarket and Aurora
17255 Leslie St.,and 50 Davis Dr.*
14800 Yonge St., Aurora
866-987-6453
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 7 to 8 a.m. (*Tuesdays and Fridays only at 50 Davis)

Metro Newmarket and Aurora
16640 Yonge St., 905-853-5100

111 Davis Dr., 905-853-5355

1 Henderson Dr., 905-727-0185
Open for seniors from 7 to 8 a.m.

Longos Aurora
650 Wellington St. East, 905-726-7928
Open for seniors from 8 to 9 a.m.

Our government will continue to heed the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and keep Ontarians informed with updates as they develop. Please, reach out to my constituency office by telephone or email, we are here to support you as information is changing daily, even hourly. Call 905-853-9889 or email, [email protected].