Council Special

That Council Agenda CL 21-2020, BE ADOPTED.

That Correspondence Item CL-C 110-2020, being a memorandum from R. Tripp, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, and A.-M. Norio, Regional Clerk, dated November 18, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Status Updates, BE RECEIVED for information.

That staff BE DIRECTED to proceed with scheduling regular COVID-19 Status Update workshops.

That Item CAO 21-2020, being a memorandum from R. Tripp, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, and Dr. M.M. Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health, dated November 18, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Response and Business Continuity in Public Health & Emergency Services (November 2020), BE RECEIVED for information.

That the notice requirements under Section 18.1 of the Procedural By-law, BE WAIVED to permit Council to consider motions respecting Support for Niagara's local businesses through the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and Section 22 Order and COVID-19 Enforcement. Two-thirds majority having been achieved, the Regional Chair declared the vote,

WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a real and imminent threat the health of the residents of the Niagara region; WHEREAS public health authorities at the provincial and local level have implemented reasonable measures to protect the health of the residents of Niagara and Ontario; WHEREAS these measures may have the unintended effect of disadvantaging certain businesses in the Niagara region, namely those in the tourism, hospitality and food services sectors; WHEREAS Regional Council formally recognizes the important part that Niagara’s more than 1,200 restaurants play in our economy, employing thousands of residents through the entire year; WHEREAS Regional Council also recognizes that Niagara’s tourism, hospitality and food service sector are connected to a supply chain of numerous sectors that rely on these businesses operating to continue to provide gainful employment to thousands of residents; WHEREAS the Niagara region has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to many other areas of the province; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to advocate to the provincial and federal government for financial support for Niagara’s struggling hospitality, tourism and food service sectors as they cope with the impacts of public health protection orders on their operations; 2. That staff BE DIRECTED to undertake a proactive “buy local” marketing initiative to help support Niagara’s local businesses, taking ad

1. That Regional Council RECOMMEND that the Acting Medical Officer of Health amend the directive under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act with respect to who can be seated at a table at a restaurant and to remove the requirement limited to household members only; 2. That Section 22 BE REVIEWED every two weeks, with notification of proposed changes to be made to the Board of Public Health of Niagara Region, before being released publicly and that compliance with the Provincial framework be made a priority; 3. That the Acting Medical Officer of Health IMMEDIATELY enact a plan with the area Chief Administrative Officers and the Niagara Regional Police regarding strict enforcement of COVID-19 related by-laws and public health regulations to flatten the curve; Special Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 21-2020 November 18, 2020 Page 8 4. That Public Health WORK with area Chief Administrative Officers to immediately target those demographics that are causing the increase of COVID-19 with an aggressive communication campaign; and 5. That any fines issued related to COVID-19 related by-laws and public health regulations by the Niagara Regional Police, Public Health and municipal by-law officials BE PUBLISHED publicly.

That Bill 2020-86 being a by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of Regional Council at its special meeting held on November 18, 2020, BE NOW READ and DO PASS.