I receive a number of inquiries from residents regarding reopening of City services. As Chair of Community Services, I know libraries, public washrooms, pools, and recreation centres are all needed and beloved.
I know everyone is eager to reopen services, but we need to ensure that we are doing so safely and as outlined in the public health orders of the province. We must never rush to reopen. It simply is not worth the risk of putting the health and safety of our residents or city staff at risk.
The provincial governments slight loosening of code red restrictions last week still means code-red restrictions. With new variants, I'm supportive of code red restrictions remaining.
What has been communicated by the Province in press conferences always needs greater scrutiny which comes later, in the days that follow the actual press conference, in written health orders. Our city staff require time to go through the health orders, determine what aspects of city services are impacted by these orders, and then make plans for how we can safely reopen services for our residents.
Unfortunately, the news and news releases are poor substitutes for the clarity, and care, the city takes in reading and analyzing the public health orders. Oftentimes these are not actually submitted to us for days. Moreover it isn’t always exactly the same as the information contained within the actual health orders.
I am happy to discuss amenities, and your love for them anytime. I love, and miss being in them too!