Ontario reports 313 new COVID-19 cases, 33 new cases recorded in Mississauga

Published September 14, 2020 at 4:29 pm

TORONTO — Ontario is reporting 313 new cases of COVID-19 today, and one new death from the virus.

There were also 133 cases newly marked as resolved over the past 24 hours.

TORONTO — Ontario is reporting 313 new cases of COVID-19 today, and one new death from the virus.

There were also 133 cases newly marked as resolved over the past 24 hours.

The total number of cases in Ontario now stands at 44,817, which includes 2,816 deaths and 39,974 cases classified as resolved.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says that nearly 80 per cent of Ontario’s cases are from three regions.

She says Toronto is reporting 112 cases, 71 in Peel and 60 in Ottawa.

Elliott says that almost 70 per cent of today’s cases are in people under the age of 40.

According to Peel Public Health’s website, 59 new cases were reported on Sept. 12, with 33 recorded in Brampton, 23 in Mississauga and three in Caledon. 

The province says today one student and one staff member have also tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 15 school-related cases.

Meanwhile, Ontario’s legislature returns to Queen’s Park for its fall session today, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting daily life, the Progressive Conservative government’s house leader says it will not be business as usual.

Paul Calandra says the legislature will continue to respect public health rules while returning to its regular four-day-a-week schedule for proceedings.

He says the government will be focused in the coming weeks on the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, school reopenings, and the health-care system.

Calandra says Ontario’s 2020-2021 budget — which was delayed by the pandemic — will be delivered on Nov. 15.

The government is also expected to table a formal report on the state of emergency declared by the province earlier this year in response to the pandemic.

Calandra says the government is also leaving itself leeway in the legislative schedule in case it needs to introduce additional legislation to address COVID-19 this fall.

“We’re seeing the (COVID-19 case) numbers are creeping up so if we get into a second wave, we want to be able to react quickly,” Calandra said in an interview. “Should time be needed on the legislative schedule to pass bills, we’re building that in.”

In March, the Progressive Conservative government said its deficit would reach $20.5 billion by the end of 2020-2021. But in August, Finance Minister Rod Phillips said that due to billions more in spending required by the ongoing pandemic, the number is set to reach $38.5 billion.

Calandra said the government will ensure the health-care system gets needed funding and that small and medium-sized businesses also receive support this fall.

“Even for hard-core fiscal conservatives like me, we know that this is a time when you make investments for people … but at the same time, you fix those areas that you can fix and improve your response,” he said. “So, I think you’ll start to see a lot more of that.”

NDP legislator Marit Stiles said the official Opposition will focus on pressing the government for smaller class sizes, overhauling long-term care, and job creation.

“Returning to normal is just not going to be good enough,” Stiles said. “This pandemic has shown where we have these giant gaps, whether it’s in long-term care or education or those folks who have low wages, unstable jobs.” 

While politicians will return to the legislature Monday until the house rises again in December, the building remains closed to the public. Visitors will not be permitted in the spectator galleries of the house because of the pandemic. 

The Canadian Press

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising