Ontario Government Releases Plan For Province's Safe Reopening

The Ontario Government plans to lift all COVID-19 public health measures including mask mandates by the end of March announced at a press conference in Queen’s Park in Toronto on Friday.

Screenshot.

Due to Ontario’s cautious and careful approach with COVID-19, the province is poised to gradually lift all restrictions over the coming months according to Doug Ford, Ontario Premier.

Roughly 88 per cent of eligible Ontarians have at least one vaccine dose.

Beginning Monday, the Ontario Government will increase capacity limits and distancing requirements for restaurants, bars, gyms, casinos, indoor meeting and event spaces.

Other settings are permitted to lift capacity limits if they opt-in to require proof of vaccination such as barbershops; salons; indoor areas of amusement parks, galleries and museums.

Passports will not be required for places of medical care, grocery stores or basic medical supplies.

If COVID-19 levels no longer become a concern, vaccination passports could be lifted early next year.

To see the government's long-term plan click here.

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Peterborough-Kawartha Provincial Liberal Association Announces Candidate Nomination Vote

The Peterborough-Kawartha Provincial Liberal Association (PKPLA) announced on Wednesday that the nomination vote to select the Liberal candidate for the next Ontario election will take place on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

Photo courtesy of Dane Bland and Greg Dempsey.

Vying for the nomination are Dane Bland and Greg Dempsey.

Bland is a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and holds a BBA from Trent, he also completed the Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He has spent the last decade working in sectors like Arts, Culture, Education, Human Rights, Healthcare, and Long-Term Care.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Dempsey holds a BA and BSc from Bishop’s University, a law degree from the University of Victoria, a cum laude LLM in International Human Rights Law from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and a certificate in International Indigenous Studies from Columbia University in New York. He has served with distinction in the Canadian Foreign Service since 2008, representing Canada at the UN in New York, the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The vote will take place online, on November 6, between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. To be eligible to vote residents need to be a member of the Ontario Liberal Party by Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

Those wishing to become a member of the Ontario Liberal party can do so online at https://ontarioliberal.ca/become-a-member. Membership in the Ontario Liberal Party is open to residents of Ontario who are 14 years of age or older.

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Peterborough-Kawartha Green Party is Looking for a Local Candidate for MPP

The Peterborough-Kawartha Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association announced Wednesday that they are looking for contestants for nomination as the local Green Party Candidate for MPP.

Photo courtesy of The Green party of Canada

“We heard loud and clear during the Federal election that people in our riding are concerned about the affordability of housing. The Green Party of Ontario has a stellar housing strategy. It is time for the needs and the solutions to meet,” said Pati Beaudoin, President, Peterborough-Kawartha Green Party.

This emphasis on Housing and Environment fits the priorities outlined by Mike Schreiner, MPP, and leader of the Green Party of Ontario, who tabled at motion on this topic in the legislature last week.

“Transportation is the biggest source of climate pollution in Ontario,” Schreiner said. “And a big portion of that comes from cars commuting back and forth pumping carbon into the air. That’s why I tabled a motion to tackle the housing affordability issues that are leading to more sprawl. This way we can greatly reduce pollution and tackle the housing and climate crises at the same time.”

The Green Party’s 9-point housing strategy focuses on building “15-minute communities” by lifting red-tape that prevents building duplexes, triplexes, laneway houses, tiny homes, etc., within urban boundaries. The policy includes provisions for “housing by Indigenous People and for Indigenous People” in urban areas. Housing First and Housing is a Human Right are fundamental principles. The policy provides for 60,000 units of permanent supportive housing along with other models such as shelters.

For more information on running as contestant for the Green Party contact info@ptbogreens.org

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Conservative Candidate Michelle Ferreri Wins Riding In Her First Election

First time is the charm for Conservative candidate Michelle Ferreri as she became the MP for the Peterborough-Kawartha riding on Monday.

Ferreri still in disbelief about her win shortly after giving her victory speech. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Ferreri beat out the former incumbent and runner-up Maryam Monsef of the Liberal Party who served as Peterborough’s MP since 2015. The winner was declared a few hours after the polls had closed around 9:30 p.m. The two parties were separated by more than 3,000 votes.

The Douro native had a small group of supporters congratulating her at The Venue when she had arrived shortly after 11:00 p.m. Ferreri said it was surreal when she found out she won her riding.

“I still don’t actually believe it,” said Ferreri. “I didn’t think we were going to have results until Wednesday so I still haven’t fully processed this right now.”

She attributed her victory to the amount of support she had, citing that she did not win but that “we” won. Ferreri added that it was not the campaign that necessarily got her the seat but it was her legacy she built that earned her the victory.

“I don’t think I did anything in 36 days, I think I did it in the last 42 years,” reflected Ferreri.

Ferreri celebrates with her partner Ryan Moore. Ferreri is a graduate of Trent University (Biology/Anthropology) and Loyalist College (Biotechnology). Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Monsef arrived outside the Venue doors to congratulate Ferreri in a brief conversation shortly after the Conservative candidate was declared the winner. The former incumbent was happy to see several women on the ballot this election.

Ferreri won 39 per cent of the votes after 287 of 289 reported polls. Monsef earned 34 per cent while NDP candidate Joy Lachica received 19 per cent.

“There’s just a lot of work to do… …but we can do it, we’re going to do it together,” said Ferreri.

The Liberals successfully held a minority government as party leader Justin Trudeau will remain Prime Minister of Canada.

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Trudeau Rallies With Supporters During Campaign Tour in Peterborough

The Peterborough Naval Club was covered in red as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a visit urging supporters to vote Liberal while showing support for federal candidate Maryam Monsef on Saturday.

Peterborough-Kawartha Liberal candidate Maryam Monsef being supported by Prime Minister Trudeau after both candidates made speeches before a supporting crowd. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Both Monsef and Trudeau spoke before a crowd of roughly 100 supporters during an invite-only event. They were joined by fellow Liberal candidates, Judi Forbes (Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes Brock) and Alison Lester (Northumberland-Peterborough South).

Monsef introduced the Prime Minister roughly around 7:00 p.m. after a brief speech despite the event being scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

Topics such as race/gender-based violence, child care, gun control, the housing crisis, climate change and other topics were addressed in the rally.

“We asked all the women’s organizations and asked them what should we do and they all said the same thing, ‘race and gender-based violence were going to go up,’” said Monsef. “So make sure that the last door that women and children knock on is a door that is safe, that is welcoming and caring professionals will help piece back what is broken.”

In a roughly 25-minute speech, Trudeau began endorsing Monsef, praising her insight, work ethic and determination while working alongside her on the cabinet.

He stressed the hardships Canadians have gone through during the pandemic and have persevered including frontline workers. He mentions the subsidies and financial support the government gave citizens during the lockdowns.

Trudeau plans to “finish the pandemic for good” through vaccinations. He urged his supporters that if any friends or family they know are not vaccinated that there are “two doses waiting for them.”

“We now have among the highest rates of double vaccination in the world,” he said. “Close to 80 per cent of eligible Canadians have now done their part.”

The current Prime Minster criticized the Conservative party and leader Erin O’Toole for not demanding his candidates to get the shot and disclose their vaccination status. Trudeau also referenced Conservative candidate Michelle Ferreri for not being double-vaccinated despite campaigning at senior citizen homes.

Former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair spoke before Monsef and is running for the election for Scarborough Southwest. He was elected to the same riding back in October of 2015.

He stressed the importance of gun control and outlawing any weapons that were “able to kill efficiently” citing his police experience as a reference.

Blair said O’Toole was pandering to gun lobbyists after showing inconsistency on the issue. He would respect the ban but changed his mind after pressure from the gun enthusiasts.

After Trudeau‘s speech, he had photos taken with supporters with brief conversations before exiting onto his campaign bus.

From start to finish of the event, protesters were yelling profanities and waving anti-Trudeau signs while garnering support from passing vehicles.

Polls for the election open on Monday.

Monsef is seeking a third term with Peterborough but is challenged by candidates Michelle Ferreri (Conservatives), Joy Lachica (NDP), Chanté White (Green Party), Paul Lawton (People’s Party) and Robert Bowers (Independent).

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Voting on Monday? Here is What You Need To Know...

Voting for the 2021 Canadian Federal Election of the Peterborough-Kawartha is on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

To register and vote in a federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen be at least 18 years old on election day and prove your identity and address with valid forms of identification. If you want to see if you are confirmed to vote, click here.

If you have received your voter information card, it contains the time, date and location of your respective polling station. If you want to view your location online, click here.

There are three options for voting for the upcoming election.

Option One: Show one of these pieces of ID

• driver's licence

• any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address

Option Two: Show two pieces of ID

Both must have your name and at least one must have your current address. The following is a list of items of accepted ID for identity and address.

From a government or government agency 

• band membership card

• birth certificate

• Canadian citizenship card or certificate

• Canadian Forces identity card

• Canadian passport (accepted only as proof of identity)

• card issued by an Inuit local authority

• firearms licence

• government cheque or cheque stub

• government statement of benefits

• health card

• income tax assessment

• Indian status card or temporary confirmation of registration

• library card

• licence or card issued for fishing, trapping or hunting

• liquor identity card

• Métis card

• old age security card

• parolee card

• property tax assessment or evaluation

• public transportation card

• social insurance number card

• vehicle ownership

• Veterans Affairs health care identification card

From Elections Canada

• targeted revision form to residents of long-term care facilities

• voter information card

From an educational institution

• correspondence issued by a school, college or university

• student identity card

From a health care facility or organization

• blood donor card

• CNIB card

• hospital card

• label on a prescription container

• identity bracelet issued by a hospital or long-term care facility

• medical clinic card

From a financial institution

• bank statement

• credit card

• credit card statement

• credit union statement

• debit card

• insurance certificate, policy or statement

• mortgage contract or statement

• pension plan statement

• personal cheque

From a private organization

• employee card

• residential lease or sub-lease

• utility bill (e.g.: electricity; water; telecommunications services, including telephone, cable or satellite)

Letters of confirmation

• letter from a public curator, public guardian or public trustee

• letter of confirmation of residence from a First Nations band or reserve or an Inuit local authority

• letter of confirmation of residence, letter of stay, admission form, or statement of benefits from one of the following designated establishments:

  • student residence

  • seniors’ residence

  • long-term care facility

  • shelter

  • soup kitchen

  • a community-based residential facility

Other pieces of ID may be added. Elections Canada accepts e-statements and e-invoices by printing them or showing them on a mobile device.

Option Three: If you don't have ID

• You can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you.

• The voucher must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person (except in long-term care facilities).

Photo Courtesy of Elections Canada.

The following are the confirmed candidates in the Peterborough-Kawartha electoral district as of Sept. 1:

• Maryam Monsef, Liberal Party of Canada

• Michelle Ferreri, Conservatie Party of Canada

• Joy Lachica, New Democratic Party

• Chanté White, Green Party of Canada

• Paul Lawton, People’s Party of Canada

• Robert Bowers, Independent

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Federal Candidate Interview: Conservative Candidate Michelle Ferreri

Angela O’Grady speaks with the Conservative federal candidate Michelle Ferreri for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding her stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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Federal Candidate Interview: Green Party Candidate Chanté White

Angela O’Grady speaks with the Green Party federal candidate Chanté White for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding her stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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Federal Candidate Interview: PPC Candidate Paul Lawton

Angela O’Grady speaks with the People's Party of Canada federal candidate Paul Lawton for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding his stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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Federal Candidate Interview: Liberal Candidate Maryam Monsef

Angela O’Grady speaks with Liberal federal candidate Maryam Monsef for the upcoming election. We answer community-submitted questions surrounding her stance on climate change, vaccine passports, the housing crisis and small businesses.

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