Message from City of Mayor & Council to Residents

We all find ourselves in an unprecedented situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to stress that we are all in this together and we will overcome. The safety of our residents and our community is our biggest priority. This newsletter provides all the information you need to keep you safe and connected and the resources available to you. As things are evolving and changing very quickly each day, we suggest that you stay in touch with us for the latest information through our social media channels and our dedicated website for all COVID-19 related information – www.brampton.ca/covid19

Please stay safe. Maintain the two metre physical distance, wash hands often and Patrick Brown Mayor stay home. Go out only if you absolutely need to.

[email protected] Thank you 905.874.2600 Mayor Patrick Brown & Members of Brampton City Council

Paul Vicente Michael Palleschi Martin Medeiros Pat Fortini Gurpreet Dhillon Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Wards 1 & 5 Wards 2 & 6 Wards 3 & 4 Wards 7 & 8 Wards 9 & 10 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 905.874.2601 905.874.2661 905.874.2634 905.874.2611 905.874.2609

Rowena Santos Doug Whillans Jeff Bowman Charmaine Williams Harkirat Singh Regional Councillor City Councillor City Councillor City Councillor City Councillor Wards 1 & 5 Wards 2 & 6 Wards 3 & 4 Wards 7 & 8 Wards 9 & 10 [email protected] [email protected] je [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 905.874.2605 905.874.2606 905.874.2603 905.874.2671 905.874.2610

Message from City of Brampton Chief Administrative Officer

We are in the midst of a global pandemic that requires patience, strength and resilience from each and every Brampton resident. Your safety and well-being is our top priority and we have put in measures that demonstrates our commitment to flattening the curve of COVID-19. We are working hard and collaboratively with all our partners to keep you and your loved ones safe, provide solutions to the difficulties you are facing and maintaining business continuity. You have been fantastic adjusting to the new norms and we need you to keep up with the physical distancing for a while longer. This COVID-19 Resident Update highlights the measures we have put in place and resources available to you. We continue to work on finding ways to help you. However, it is only if we work together that we can overcome our current situation and come out stronger than ever before. Please continue to maintain physical distance, wash your hands, and go out only if David Barrick Chief Administrative O cer absolutely necessary.

[email protected] Thank you for your patience and understanding.

David Barrick

Chief Administrative Officer

COVID-19 Emergency Measures By-law Enforcement

To protect the health and safety of residents, the City has enacted a new by-law to enforce physical distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19. Individuals not adhering to physical distancing regulation can be fined a minimum of $500 and maximum of up to $100,000 for each offence. Municipal regulations under the by-law include:

1. Prohibiting people from maintaining less than a 2.0 metre distance from one another on public property.

2. Prohibiting businesses to permit people to be seated or to be standing less than 2.0 metres apart.

3. Prohibiting people from using any of the following City property: playgrounds and other structures in parks; leash-free dog parks; picnic shelters; outdoor sports facilities and outdoor fitness equipment, including sports fields, basketball and tennis courts; recreation centres and surrounding lands; and parking lots.

All City Facilities Closed Until Further Notice

Taking the advice of Peel Public Health, all City facilities including City Hall, Recreation and Community Centres, and branches are CLOSED until further notice. Critical frontline services (Fire, Transit, Enforcement, etc) continue to operate while other services are provided through phone and online channels to support our community.

Parks Closed

All 500+ parks in Brampton are closed to the public, until further notice, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes playgrounds, leash-free dog parks, all outdoor sports facilities and outdoor fitness equipment and picnic shelters. While trails remain open at this time, people must remain two meters away from others (who don't live in your home) at all times.

Transit Changes

There are a number of service and schedule changes for . Customer are not required to pay a fare and will only be able to board through the rear doors until further notice.

For updated schedules and routes, please click here.

Property Tax Deferral until August 19

The City of Brampton is waiving the interest and late fees on tax payments for a five-month period from March 18 to August 19. Should you choose to defer your taxes, be sure to contact the City by April 15, to cancel any postdated cheques (by calling 311) or withdraw from preauthorized payment plan (by filling the online form). Four Support Task Forces Announced

The City has launched four support task forces to help residents get through this pandemic:-Economic Support, Social Support, Seniors Support, Youth-Support. These task forces will help provide all available resources that will help residents and businesses.

To Contact a Task Force for assistance, please email:

Business Support Task Force [email protected] Youth Support Task Force [email protected] Social Support Task Force [email protected] Seniors Support Task Force [email protected]

Rent Relief for Small Business & Non-Profit City Tenants

The City will defer rent payments for its not-for-profit and small for-profit tenants in City facilities for a period of three months, and will waive payments for its non-profit tenants who are unable to access new Federal programs, for a period of 3 months. This relief will support more than half of the City’s 81 tenants.

Building Permits

No applications for permits or registrations will be accepted until further notice. In an effort to balance ongoing construction with health and safety of residents and employees inspections will be conducted of unoccupied buildings only. Inspection requests must submitted no later than 2 pm for the following working day via e-mail: [email protected] or fax 905.874.3763.

Two-Unit Inspections

Given this unprecedented situation with COVID-19, we are operating with minimal staff due to social distancing requirements to protect residents’ and employees’ health and safety. For this reason, we are currently not accepting inspection requests for second unit (basement apartment) registration until further notice.

Online Submission Available for Development Applications

A temporary solution for submitting digital applications has been implemented to accommodate business needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated closure of Brampton facilities.

Online submissions can be found here.

Performing Arts

All performing arts facilities are closed and the remaining 2019-2020 season has been suspended, including guest presentations and rental performances. However, some artists have been finding ways to share their work online via social media, and arts organizations are opening up archives for free viewings. Every morning on The Rose Facebook page, we'll be posting arts adventures you can choose to go on from the comfort of your home!

Recreation Programming

All registered and drop-in programming scheduled after March 16 is cancelled. Residents will be provided an automatic, pro-rated credit on their account for classes that are cancelled as a result of the extended closure. Residents who would like a refund for program registrations, facility bookings, or memberships are asked to email [email protected].

Thank you to Hospital Workers with Peel Regional Police, Brampton Fire & Emergency Services, and Peel Regional Paramedic Service

How to Protect Yourself

Practice physical distancing of 2 metres. Wash your ands often with soap and water or use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose as often as possible. Avoid contact with people who are ill and their items. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands. Wash hands after coughing and sneezing. If you need to self-isolate or have been asked to self-monitor, follow the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Instructions. Learn more about protecting yourself and others here.

COVID-19 Assessment Centres

There are 4 COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Peel. Complete the online self-assessment or speak to your health care provider before visiting an Assessment Centre. Learn more here.

Video (via World Health Organization):

7 steps to prevent the spread of the virus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_UJwLq8PI&feature=emb_title

Register for the next COVID-19 Tele Town Hall

The City is hosting Tele Town Halls to provide regular updates to residents and answer questions from the Community.

Learn more about the measures being taken to protect the health and well-being of our community and speaking with Mayor Brown, City of Brampton Staff, Brampton Fire & Emergency Services, Peel Public Health, William Osler Health System, Peel Regional Police, and Peel Regional Paramedics. Register here.

Keeping you Informed

Read the latest media releases about COVID-19 here.

Updates are also available in French, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil, Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, Italian, Vietnamese, and more.

Council requests Province enable Internationally Trained Physicians to support ’s COVID19 Response

On April 8 Brampton City Council approved direction to help increase local healthcare capacity by supporting qualified, foreign-trained doctors in their request to work on the front lines during the COVID-19 Emergency. City Council endorsed letters written by Mayor Patrick Brown and Councillor Charmaine Williams to the Province. The City will also share Council’s motion to municipalities and townships across Ontario with a request for support through action of their own letters to the Ontario Minister of Health and the Premier of Ontario.