Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Centennial!
I want to wish the entire Centennial community a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season. I hope you spend it with family and friends while following all COVID-19 guidelines.
Please note that the information included here might have changed since the time of writing. Feel free to reach me by email at vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org or by phone at 416-283-8448 for the most up-to-date information.
In-Person Remembrance Day
This year I was Incredibly honoured to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies in person at the Toronto Zoo and at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 in Scarborough-Rouge Park.
Great to meet veterans and their family members to remember the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and honour the brave men and women who served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces.
Long-Term Care Investment
One pillar of our government’s plan to fix long-term care is increasing staff so they can provide more high-quality care to residents. This will make Ontario a leader in direct care.
That is why I am proud to announce that we are investing more than $1.6 million for long-term care homes in Scarborough-Rouge Park. This includes Altamont Care Community, Ehatare Nursing Home, Extendicare Rouge Valley, and the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care.
This is part of the province’s commitment to ensure long-term care residents receive on average four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25
Booster Shots
The provincial government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has expanded eligibility for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to additional groups of high-risk individuals, providing them with an extra layer of protection against the Delta variant.
The province is offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the following vulnerable populations if at least six months have passed since their last dose:
- Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier)
- Health-care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers)
- Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine)
- First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.
To book your appointment please visit: Ontario.ca/bookvaccine
Mental Health and Addictions Supports
Ontario’s frontline health-care workers have been unwavering in their dedication to protect the health and safety of Ontarians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as they are there for us, we need to be there for them.
I have heard from many frontline workers in Scarborough-Rouge Park about how much of a toll it has been on them and their families during the pandemic.That is why we are investing $12.4 million over two years to provide existing and expanded mental health and addictions supports for frontline health-care workers across the province. The province is partnering with five hospitals, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, and the Ontario Psychological Association to offer these mental health and addictions supports.
If you have any questions or concerns, my office is always here to help. Please reach out by email at vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org or by phone at 416-283-8448.