Ont. government announces COVID-19 support and measures

• The Ontario government announces measures to support individuals, families, communities and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

March 2020 

• Ontario enacts declaration of emergency. Read more
• First phase of Learn at Home launched, a new online portal that will provide resources for students and families. Read more
• The Ontario government waives three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage and will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage. Read more
• $200 million in social services relief funding to support municipalities, food banks, homeless shelters and individuals. Read more 
• Implementation of enhanced measures to protect the safety of residents in long-term care homes. Read more
• $3.3 billion to support front-line health care workers and increase health care capacity. Read more
• $243 million fund will create additional surge capacity in long-term care homes, while supporting 24/7 screening, more staffing, supplies and equipment. Read more
• $10 million to help community organizations with the coordination of subsidized deliveries of meals, medicines and other necessities to seniors. Read more
• Temporary deferment of payments for Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loans. Read more

April 2020

• New $50 million Ontario Together Fund will support the development of essential equipment and supplies. Read more
• $4 million to support victims of crime and protect front-line justice staff. Read more
• Emergency funding of up to $12 million to immediately expand online and virtual mental health supports and $2.6 million to hire new psychologists and other mental health workers. Read more
• New measures to protect seniors in retirement homes. Read more
• Launch of new web portal to connect workers with employers looking to fill positions in the agri-food sector. Read more
• Up to $40 million to support organizations that provide residential services for children and youth, people with developmental disabilities and emergency shelters for women and families fleeing domestic violence. Read more
• New Support for Families initiative offers direct financial support to parents while Ontario schools and child care centres remain closed. Read more
• Deferment of $15 million in property taxes for people and businesses in parts of Northern Ontario. Read more
• Over $37 million to support outbreak planning, prevention and mitigation efforts to ensure the health and well-being of Indigenous people and communities. Read more
• Launch of a new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee to plan for post-pandemic growth. Read more
• Ontario government partners with volunteer hub to help seniors and the most vulnerable stay connected and healthy as they self isolate. Read more
• Expanded and enhanced COVID-19 testing strategy. Read more
• Temporary prevention of child care centres from collecting payments from parents. Read more
• Emergency orders extended. Read more
• Action plan and new emergency order to protect those in long-term care homes. Read more
• New temporary emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Read more
• $1 million in new funding to support efforts that match employers with job-seekers in the agri-food sector. Read more
• $2.5 million to grow agri-food e-business during COVID-19. Read more
• Release of A Framework for Reopening Our Province. Read more
• Expansion of the list of essential workers eligible to receive free emergency child care. Read more

May 2020

• Declaration of emergency extended. Read more
• $1 million to help front-line agencies adapt to remote service delivery to support those experiencing gender-based violence. Read more
• $2.25 million to help farmers better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy food products. Read more
• Expansion of virtual mental health services during COVID-19. Read more
• The federal and Ontario governments take additional steps to protect agri-food workers.
• Voluntary redeployment of education workers to fill staffing shortages. Read more
• Ontario announces launch of an independent commission into the province’s long-term care system. Read more
• Reduced financial barriers for full-time students attending postsecondary education. Read more
• Amendments to the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 to better protect seniors. Read more 

June 2020

• Resumption of family visits in long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other residential care settings. Read more
• $15 million to support agri-food workers. Read more
• $1 million to improve access to healthy meals and snacks for school-age children and youth. Read more
• Up to $10 million to Indigenous-owned small and medium-sized businesses. Read more

July 2020

• $150 million to develop housing solutions for municipalities and urban Indigenous community partners. Read more
• $110,000 to deliver online tools and resources that will support Indigenous businesses. Read more
• Launch of independent long-term care COVID-19 commission. Read more 
• Support for small business tenants and landlords extended. Read more

August 2020

• Ontario outlines investments and resources to support the return to school. Read more
• Grants available to support non-profit organizations that provide vital services. Read more
• Up to $1.6 billion for municipalities in the first round of emergency funding. Read more
• Additional steps to better protect students and staff. Read more
• Over $230 million to support reopening of child care and early years programs. Read more

September 2020

• Update to long-term care homes visitor policies to accommodate caregivers. Read more
• Additional $14.75 million to increase access to mental health and addictions services across the province. Read more
• Extension of the Ontario Community Support Program until March 2021, which ensures that low-income seniors and people with disabilities can continue to get meals and other essential supplies delivered to their homes. Read more
• New short-term Northern Ontario Recovery Program (NORP) to help businesses adapt to public health guidelines and protect employees and customers. Read more
• Investment of $52.5 million to recruit, retain and support over 3,700 more frontline health care workers and caregivers. Read more
• Development of a $2.8 billion COVID-19 fall preparedness plan. Read more
• Close to $540 million to protect residents, caregivers, and staff in long-term care homes. Read more

October 2020  

• $26.6 million in federal and provincial funding to further protect Ontario agri-food workers. Read more  
• Federal government increases support in Ontario for child and youth victims of abuse and violence. Read more 
• Allocation of $35 million to enhance public health measures and protection strategies in schools. Read more 
• As of October 7, 2020, general visitors will not be allowed in long-term care homes in certain communities. Only essential visitors, including up to one caregiver per resident, will be allowed to visit. Read more  
• $461 million to temporarily enhance wages for personal support workers. Read more
• $241 million to help more than 110,000 Ontarians affected by COVID-19, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Read more  

November 2020

• Release of Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover – the next phase of the action plan to respond to COVID-19 impacts. Read more
• $380 million in financial relief for families facing new education-related expenses. Read more
• Launch of the Ontario Workforce Reserve for Senior Support, a new program focused on recruiting, training and deploying individuals as Resident Support Aides to work at long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

December 2020 

• More than $115 million to help patients across the province remain in their homes. Read more
• Short-term support to an additional 20 long-term care and retirement homes. Read more
• Nearly $41 million to help 486 non-profit organizations across the province to rebuild and recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Read more
• $77 million in funding through the redesigned Second Career grant program. Read more