Good signs
Ontario reported 270 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, its lowest total since Sept. 15.
The seven-day average is in a "steady decline" according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams — it's now 334, down from 503 a week ago.
"That's how abruptly it's coming down, and shows you how effective our vaccination program is and will be," he said.
Ontario's seven-day average of per cent positive tests is now 1.7, down from 2.3 per cent a week ago.
There are now 309 people in Ontario intensive care units — not including overflow patients from Manitoba — with 202 on ventilators.
There have been 29 deaths since Thursday, Williams said.
He also said hot spots where the Delta variant had grown were "settling down to some extent," including areas in Kitchener-Waterloo, the James Bay Coast and Porcupine, but that Ontarians "still need to be vigilant" while the population gets vaccinated.
Williams encouraged Ontarians to take the first mRNA vaccine available to them, again noting that Pfizer and Moderna work in the same way.
"As we've said before, the Delta variant has much direr consequences on unvaccinated people. Much more than the so-called U.K. B.1.1.7. one that we were dealing with mostly in wave three," he said.
Close to 3 million Ontarians have been double-vaccinated, Williams said, calling the figure "tremendous."
If someone refuses a Moderna vaccine because they want Pfizer instead, they may have to wait a bit due to the current balance of doses coming into the province, said Dr. Dirk Huyer, who leads Ontario's outbreak response strategy.
In response to news that the U.S. Centres for Disease Control is considering a booster shot in the fall, Williams said "it's a good question" about whether it will happen in Ontario, but that he doesn't have any guidance on the topic currently.
Doctor discipline
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is making changes to how its members are disciplined, with the goal of "modernizing" it and increasing its independence.
The college appointed five adjudicators and will change the name of the Discipline Committee to the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal, starting Sept. 1.
The changes are in part to confirm the disciplinary tribunal's independence from the CPSO, it said in a release.
It said the new adjudicators "all have a strong understanding of and experience with the legal process, administrative law, case management, conflict resolution and mediation."
“The changes being enacted will result in a more effective and efficient disciplinary process for physicians and the public, but it’s also important to note that they will also reiterate the independence of the tribunal and its decisions so that all Ontarians can have confidence in the discipline process,” CPSO CEO Nancy Whitmore said in a release.
The tribunal’s new name advances the perception of the independence of the tribunal from the College, and makes the purpose of the tribunal clear to the public and the profession.
The five newly-appointed adjudicators are:
<ul>
<li>Raj Anand, a lawyer at WeirFoulds LLP and a former adjudicator under the Human Rights Code and Police Services Act and as co-chair of the University of Toronto Tribunal.</li>
<li>Shayne Kert, a criminal lawyer in Toronto, and a member of the Law Society of Nunavut Discipline Committee and a member of the Law Society Tribunal.</li>
<li>Sherry Liang, assistant commissioner, tribunal services at the Information and Privacy Commissioner, formerly vice-chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Grievance Settlement Board and Ontario Labour Relations Board.</li>
<li>Sophie Martel, a workplace investigator and trainer at Rubin Thomlinson LLP who has served as a vice-chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal.</li>
<li>Jennifer Scott, a vice-chair at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, who was previously associate chair of the Child and Family Services Review Board, Custody Review Board and Ontario Special Education Tribunals and leader of the Child and Youth Division of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario.</li>
</ul>
Construction training
The provincial government will spend over $4 million through the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario on six projects to promote the trades, train future construction workers and support current workers.
“Construction workers make our dreams come to life — it’s on their backs that we have the homes our families live in, the schools where we learn, and the hospitals and health-care centres that have been crucial to us over the last 18 months,” Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said. “We need to take care of these talented workers by giving them what they need to build with confidence and vision — while training our future generation for these in-demand jobs.”
The six projects in this investment are:
<ul>
<li>A pre-apprenticeship program for 460 workers to learn about rodworking typically used in transit and light rail bridge construction.</li>
<li>The Tomorrow’s Trades project to introduce 96 under-represented youth to the skilled trades in Hamilton, London, Ottawa and Sudbury.</li>
<li>A new Building and Construction Tradeswomen project to attract more women to the trades through marketing and free training.</li>
<li>Support for Ironworkers Local 759 in Thunder Bay to purchase equipment used in training, testing and certifying 140 apprentices and journeypersons so they do not need to travel to upgrade or maintain their certifications.</li>
<li>The development of a one-stop online learning system for those interested in the construction trades to explore and build essential skills they can apply to apprenticeships in construction.</li>
<li>A research project at the De Novo Treatment Centre in Huntsville to study and provide support for addiction and suicide issues in the construction industry.</li>
</ul>
Patrick Dillon, the business manager for the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, applauded the announcement.
"This investment will encourage young people from diverse and underprivileged backgrounds to join the construction trades, support mental health for our construction workers, deliver cutting-edge skills training to thousands of workers across the province, and help attract and retain more women in construction," he said in a release.
Funding comes from the government’s $115 million Skills Development Fund.
Small business supports
Ontario small businesses will get nearly $9 million through a federal program in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Ontario Chamber Network, to encourage local shopping and help businesses reopen.
“Small businesses are cornerstones of our local economies and key to thriving communities—creating jobs, driving innovation, and generating wealth for Canadians. Local businesses have always been there for us and need our support now more than ever,” OCC President and CEO Rocco Rossi said in a release.
Chambers can use the funding to encourage local shopping, for example, through advertising campaigns, digital shopping and public health measure implementation.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford released a statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day, reflecting on the opportunity to celebrate First Nation, Inuit, and Métis cultures and contributions.
"This day also provides us with an important opportunity to remember the loss of generations who are no longer with us, and the continued loss experienced by residential school survivors and their families. As we reflect on the strength and resiliency of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, let us continue to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous partners and support healing and reconciliation by advancing initiatives that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Indigenous people and their communities," he said in a statement.
He also said Ontario must do its part to "preserve, respect and sustain Indigenous cultures, while enhancing our collective understanding of the outstanding contributions and achievements of Indigenous peoples."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also released a statement, noting that the day comes at an especially difficult time for many, after the discoveries of children buried at former residential school sites.
"For Ontarians and Canadians, we must recognize our responsibility to understand and respect Indigenous Peoples' histories, cultures, contributions and the impacts of colonialism on their communities," she said, calling for "concrete action" from governments.
"Reflection, celebration and education are not enough without it. The impacts of colonialism are present in the ongoing housing crisis including overcrowding, disrepair, and mould, lack of clean water, the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system, the lack of equitable access to education, health care and mental health and addiction supports, and unresolved land claims and disrespected treaty rights," she said.
Williams also reflected on his early-career years working at Sioux Lookout on a number of First Nations.
"We used to have a saying that when we went up, sometimes you knew the answers to all the problems in the first few weeks. If you stayed long enough, six months, you realized you only had answers to half the problems. And if you stayed up to a year, you realized you really didn't have answers to any of the problems, but you knew that working with the wonderful people and the various rich community members, that you learned a lot and could understand and could work alongside with them as they dealt with their problems and had that benefit, that opportunity," he said.

In brief: Good numbers, new discipline for docs, funding for construction training, and more

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