Dear residents,
As many of you know, the provincial government has declared a second provincial emergency due to high rates of COVID-19 transmission. It is now mandatory that each of us remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes.
Based on this statement, you will find new regulations that will come into force on January 13, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:

For more details on the declaration, see this link.
I know you were expecting good news after spending the holidays at home, but right now we need to stay vigilant and think about the safety and health of everyone.
I encourage you to continue sharing your ideas, concerns and questions about federal programs and services, and my team and I are available to serve you.
Let me share with you my message on the COVID-19 update.

OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE

As our community continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, I’d like to share a little segment from Dr. Vera Etches’s message, which she shared this week, and advise you to follow her guidelines.
Current trends indicate that levels of COVID-19 in our community are among the highest yet since the beginning of the pandemic. More people are testing positive, the positivity rate and hospitalizations are increasing at a rapid pace, we are seeing more outbreaks and there are more close contacts per individual testing positive. The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal continues to trend upward over the past few weeks.
All of our monitoring indicators for COVID-19 mean Ottawa is once again in crisis territory.
People of Ottawa, I need you to commit to what you are going to do next to improve the situation.
Some may have gathered with a few family members over the holidays. Some might have been in crowded stores or on crowded rinks. Children may still be playing with their best friends to blow off steam after online school classes. Others might still be meeting with friends or extended family without distance.
It’s too late to change today’s numbers. It’s not about what we did last week, or yesterday. It’s what we do next that will make a difference.
For the full message, please refer to this link.

CANADA’S PLAN TO PLANT TWO BILLION TREES

With an investment of $3.16 billion, our government plan to plant two billion trees over 10 years.

Planting trees is a natural climate solution that reduces emissions while providing other benefits such as improved air and water quality, particularly in urban settings; decreased risk of wildland fire to rural communities and support for biodiversity. It also provides spaces for recreational opportunities that improve quality of life and form part of our Canadian identity.
Canada’s plan to plant two billion trees over the next ten years is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 megatonnes by 2050. It will create up to 4,300 good jobs.
While planting a tree may sound simple, ensuring that it can be done on a large scale and in a sustainable, inclusive manner requires careful planning. The tree planting process takes several years and begins with ordering the seeds of the desired tree species. From there, we must expand nursery capacity; grow seedlings until they’re big enough to plant in the ground; identify and prepare available land in both cities and rural settings for adequate access and soil conditions; and monitor the health and survival of the planted seedlings.

NEW POLICY: POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT 
International students are an important part of our communities and they bring remarkable economic, cultural and social benefits to Canada. They have been instrumental on the front lines during the pandemic to keep Canadians safe and healthy and are an essential part of Canada’s economic recovery.

But, like many Canadians, they have not been immune from the impacts of the pandemic. For many holders of a PGWP, the pandemic’s disruption and uncertainty has jeopardized their chances of obtaining the work experience they need to apply for permanent residence.  

That’s why I am happy to announce that former international students in Canada affected by the pandemic, with an expired or expiring post-graduation work permit, will now be able to apply for another open work permit that will be valid for 18 months.

This new policy means that young people who study here can stay longer and not miss out on opportunities, while ensuring that Canada continues to benefit from international students’ many contributions. Our message to international students and graduates is simple: we don’t just want you to study here, we want you to stay here.
 
Applications will be open from January 27 to July 27, 2021. For more information please consult this website.

SENATE APPOINTMENTS
You want to be a member of the Senate of Canada? Apply now.
 Canadians may apply for appointment to the Senate at any time through an open application process based on transparent, merit-based criteria. They may also nominate or encourage another Canadian to apply.  If a Canadian has applied within the past two years, they do not need to reapply but can update your application at any time by replacing documents as required in the Senate Appointments Self-Serve system.
I therefore encourage anyone interested to submit their application before January 27, 2021.
For more information, please see this link.

Dear Ottawa-Vanier residents, Happy New Year!
We hope you enjoyed the holiday season with your families despite the health guidelines. Though we had to keep within our bubbles this Christmas, we hope it let you reconnect back with the people closest to you and made you thankful for going through this last year with them by your side. Together, we’re going to get through this.

To break the isolation, members of the Youth Council helped write greeting cards for our seniors in some of our residences.  We worked tirelessly during the holidays to plan the activities of the Youth Council. We’re happy to announce we’ll be organizing online events and other activities soon for the community and having discussions on a wide variety of topics.

Fighting inequality, poverty, and economic anxiety through grassroots community efforts and helping our local NGOs and small businesses makes us a closer, more diverse, more tolerant, and better community.

That’s not just our new year resolution – it’s our goal for 2021.

Wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, download the COVID-Alert App on your phone, and stay safe!

Your Ottawa-Vanier Youth Council.