After a short period of illness, self-isolation and, ultimately, testing negative for coronavirus, Mayor John Taylor is back in full form and is turning his attention to ways in which the Town of Newmarket can help residents and businesses struggling to get through a near-shutdown in the community to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is, without question, a difficult and stressful time for so many people and it’s going to be difficult and more stressful as people face the challenge of being isolated for longer periods of time and face economic hardship,” Taylor said. “I want to recognize that that exists. It doesn’t serve us well to tell people not to worry about it because the stress and the suffering is real.”
Taylor has called an emergency meeting of council for today, March 18, at 3 p.m. at its municipal office. The building is now closed to the public and many staff are working from home, but essential and core services continue to be carried out, such as water testing and garbage pickup.
Several measures are on the table to help residents who are in tough situations due to the social and economic ramifications of COVID-19, including property tax payment deferral and interim financial support to local groups such as the Newmarket Food Pantry.
As well, council will consider setting up a town-run food bank to help those who are vulnerable and those who may become vulnerable as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Several area community meal programs run by churches and other groups that serve homeless and at-risk individuals have temporarily stopped because its volunteers are elderly and at a higher risk for illness.
“We’re moving fast,” Taylor said. “Newmarket has proven itself time and time again to be an incredibly strong, resilient, caring, and compassionate community and there’s no doubt in my mind that we will come through this, we’ll come through it strong.”
“To the degree and the ways we can, we will support our neighbours and friends, and the vulnerable in our community,” said Taylor. “We’ll take one day and one week at a time and we’ll make adjustments throughout. I’m confident that the government at all levels will find every tool at their disposal to try to ease people’s stress and suffering and burdens.”
“The difficulty, the stress and the suffering is real, but stay as strong as you can, and know that your neighbours and friends, and your government is concerned and worried and doing everything we can to respond and support those who need it,” he added.
“Together, we’re going to get through this, and we’re going to look back in a year or two and we’ll remember it, maybe not fondly, but we’ll be proud of what we achieved in terms of getting from here to there,” Taylor said.
If approved by council, Newmarket taxpayers’ March and April tax bills will be put off until June and July. Commercial and business tax payments will also be deferred. The town will be the first municipality to offer such a relief measure.
Taylor said he has also spoken to the Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott, Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen, and Newmarket-Tay hydro about bringing in relief measures such as additional funding for the region’s rental supplement program, a break on peak hydro rates, boosted funding for public health and municipalities as they work to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of the support will come from the provincial and federal governments, and some of it will come in the form of financial transfers to municipalities,” Taylor said. “With the rent supplement program, I think there’s going to be a lot of people who are going to have challenges paying the rent in the next 20, 30, or 60 days.”
In addition, council will discuss best practices for continuing to provide essential services to residents during the state-of-emergency enacted March 17 by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“I want to be responsible and plan for our residents, particularly those who are vulnerable or are perhaps going to become vulnerable in the next month or two,” Taylor said. “I believe that between the town, the community, and the business community, we’ll be able to rally the support that’s needed.”
The Town of Newmarket’s emergency council meeting will be held March 18 at 3 p.m. You can livestream the meeting here.
Residents who wish to submit comments, which will form part of the public record, may write to the Town Clerk at clerks@newmarket.
