Mona Fortier
Hon. Mona Fortier
Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier
Newsletter,February 12th
COVID-19 UPDATE
Dear residents,

I hope that you are enjoying the pleasures of winter and that you will be able to enjoy virtual activities of Winterlude this weekend and/or Family Day next Monday.  You can find original ideas to do activities together while staying safe.

Although the stay-at-home order will no longer be in effect in certain areas, it is still in Ottawa.  You are strongly advised to still follow all public health advice. This means you should:
 
I am delighted to see people working together from a distance to keep our social and dynamic community together despite physical distancing.

Rest assured that my constituency office is always there to support you with all aspects of federal services. Give us a call at 613-998-1860 or email us at [email protected].
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is known as Black History Month, therefore it is a time to celebrate the immense contributions, along with the recognition of the resilience and strength of Black communities in Ottawa-Vanier and across the country. For too many Canadians, systemic racism is a lived reality. We know that racism did not take a pause during the pandemic. On the contrary, COVID-19 has hit racialized Canadians especially hard. The Government pledged to address anti-Black and systemic racism and committed to do so in a way that is informed by the lived experiences of Black communities. Although we may celebrate differently this year, we can still connect virtually to honour the incredible achievements of Black communities in Canada that have done so much to make it the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous country it is today. 
So, I encourage you to take time to support your black friends and acquaintances around you, to make our community a better place, and to participate in events planned to celebrate Black History in Ottawa.
Visit this website to learn more about planned programs.
FUNDING SHELTERS FOR INUIT WOMEN

Statistics show that the population of Inuit Nunangat experiences the highest rate of violence in the country, yet more than 70% of the 51 Inuit communities do not have access to an emergency shelter. In response to that, our government committed to fund the construction and operations of shelters for Inuit women and children across Inuit Nunangat as well as in urban centres. Funding for the new shelters will be part of the $724.1 million for a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy as announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.
 
Shelters provide protection, services and resources, which enable women who have experienced abuse, and their children, to recover from violence and take steps to regain an independent and self-determined life.
 
As part of their 2020 Annual General Meeting, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (“Pauktuutit”) called for the construction of five new emergency shelters – one in each of the four regions of Inuit Nunangat and one in Ottawa, which has the largest population of urban Inuit outside of Inuit Nunangat. The Government of Canada has listened to Inuit partners and are reaffirming our commitment to address the critical safety needs of vulnerable Inuit women and children with today’s important announcement. ISC and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will continue to work with Pauktuutit and other Inuit partners to determine the locations and define the details of the projects to best meet the needs of women and families seeking shelter.

WATERIDGE VILLAGE COMMEMORATION PROGRAM
Canada Lands Company is developing a commemoration program in partnership with the Algonquins of Ontario for Wateridge Village/Village des Riverains. They are committed to commemorate the area’s history and to explore how the new development recognizes local Algonquin, military, francophonie, and other histories of the site. They also launched an online platform to collect and share stories of the Wateridge Village/Village des Riverains site and welcome all stories related to experience on the site and the surrounding area, including stories of the landscape, community, struggle, service, fun, family, newcomers, and beyond.
For more details, visit their website.

OPENING OF THE INTAKE PERIOD FOR THE CANADA HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE

The Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to transform public spaces in response to COVID-19.

Public spaces are the glue to our communities. They enable a feeling of belonging, of social cohesion and encourage our sense of collective identity. COVID-19 has seriously constrained our access and use of these spaces in communities across Canada. Impacts of the virus have also been extraordinarily uneven, underscoring inequalities across communities and disproportionately impacting those who are already experiencing vulnerability as a result of systemic inequalities. 

The Healthy Communities Initiative will provide funding to a broad range of organizations, including local governments, charities, Indigenous communities and nonprofits, for projects, programming and services that help communities : 
•    create safe and vibrant public spaces, 
•    improve mobility options and 
•    provide innovative digital solutions to connect people and improve health.
 
Organizations can apply to the Healthy Communities Initiative starting February 9, 2021, through March 9, 2021, at 5:00 PM PST. 
 
For general program information and eligibility, please visit:  https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/faq-eng.html
VALENTINES FOR VETERANS
 Every year, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) encourages Canadian schools, individuals and organizations to show their appreciation for Canadian Veterans by making Valentines for Vets.
 
In 1989, columnist Ann Landers encouraged her readers to give valentines to Veterans. Since 1996 VAC has been building on this idea, distributing hand-made valentines to Veterans in long-term care facilities across the country.
 
This year, you can encourage Canadians to send a valentine to a Veteran by joining the conversation on social media.
It’s simple—
  1. Encourage Canadians to create Valentines for Vets with a video, pictures or words;
  2. Post on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and tag VAC using #CanadaRemembers;
  3. Encourage your friends, family and followers to do the same; and
  4. Share others’ remembrance posts that resonate with you.

The cards made will be sent to participating long-term care facilities across the country.
 
This year, more than ever, let’s put a smile on our Veterans’ faces and let them know how much Canadians appreciate all that they have done for us.

WINTERLUDE
Let’s enjoy this beautiful winter season by celebrating the joys of Canadian winter in winterlude style! This year, the 43rd edition of Winterlude will be broadcast virtually between February 5 and 21.
For more details, visit this website.

Main office - Ottawa-Vanier
233 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1L 6C7

Telephone:
613-998-1860

Fax:
613-947-7963
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Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Telephone:
613-992-4766

Fax:
613-992-6448
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