RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) — As we gather this morning I would like to acknowledge on behalf of Council and our community that we are meeting on traditional territory of the First Nations. We would like to thank the Algonquin people and express our respect and support for their rich history; we are extremely grateful for their many and continued displays of friendship. We also thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years.
Members of County Council: During the month of April, I attended 16 electronic meetings on County business. As the COVID-19 Pandemic has unfolded the County of Renfrew has led the way with our response to many of the issues emerging in our communities. The direction from the Province has evolved on a weekly and sometimes-daily basis, requiring our long-term care homes, paramedics and social services departments to implement new orders from the Province.
In our long-term care homes, we have been proactive in protecting our community’s most vulnerable. Our Paramedics continue to be on the front lines of the pandemic response. Finally, social services is continuing to respond to the needs of our communities most vulnerable. As you are aware, we are operating under a declared emergency. These provisions have given us flexibility and access to resources allowing us to respond quickly when needed.
So far, I have attended eight electronic meetings of the Emergency Operations Centre since the County declared a State of Emergency on March 30, 2020. These meetings have been very effective in keeping everyone informed while ensuring that all departments are working cohesively.
Our messaging to residents, our municipalities and the community at large has been a critical component of our response. The Crisis Communications Team; Jackie Stott, Information and Research Coordinator, Economic Development; Lainy Boldt-Johnson, Funding Coordinator, Long-Term Care Homes; Kerry Lynn McGrath, Paramedic; Roger Goldberg, IT Technician/Webmaster; all lead by Michael Barber, Media Relations/Grants Coordinator, has developed a Crisis Communications Plan that focuses on the front-line staff who deliver services during a Declared Emergency. The goal is to use effective channels of communication for the duration of this declared emergency.
Moving forward we are entering a crucial phase in our COVID-19 journey. While some may question the extent of the efforts to date, the numbers show we are having success. Without taking these measures, we would have faced unacceptable consequences. We are also planning for the future. The County of Renfrew established a Renfrew County Economic Recovery Task Force to reach out to sectoral leaders to share information and to create an action plan to allow us to be prepared to move forward from a position of strength following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effects of this pandemic will leave organizations and local businesses in great financial hardship. Economic Development staff have been contacting local businesses to hear how they are coping and to learn about the challenges they are facing. The first meeting of the task force held on April 23 was to discuss options with the intent of forming a practical work plan. You will hear more about this during Mr. Kelley’s presentation.
We are also considering how we move forward with the business of the County of Renfrew. Last week we awarded the tender for the Service Delivery Review. The scope of the review will now take on much of what we learned as an organization about how to operate in a new COVID–19 normal. These lessons will serve us well in the future. I would be remiss if I did not publicly acknowledge the excellent working relationship the County has had with RCDHU’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rob Cushman, who has strongly supported the County’s position with the province regarding our supplies of PPE, long-term care needs, and paramedic service operations.
We have also experienced and benefited from the commitment of our MPP John Yakabuski to the residents of Renfrew County. MPP Yakabuski has been influential in ensuring our voice is heard and has personally taken our issues to Ministers Elliott and Fullerton, to Premier Ford and to the Treasury Board. He has first-hand knowledge of the extraordinary work being done and the proactive planning undertaken by our long-term care Director Shelley Sheedy and our Chief of Paramedic Service Mike Nolan.
MPP Yakabuski’s influence has resulted in some significant gains for us. Just yesterday he successfully advocated, on our behalf, for the inclusion of paramedics in the recent announcement of a four dollars an hour wage hike for frontline workers. MPP Yakabuski’s efforts and the province’s willingness to review the list of eligible workers is much appreciated by this council and by our 124 paramedics who continue to tackle this pandemic every single day. We are all extremely proud of their efforts and the efforts of all frontline workers in the County of Renfrew and across the province of Ontario. I will remind those assembled here of the following: the County of Renfrew, Experience our History, Share our future.
This concludes my address for this session of County Council.
Debbie Robinson, Warden
