MESSAGE FROM MARC G. SERRÉ YOUR NICKEL BELT MP

 Happy New Year Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury! 2020 has come and gone. It was a year marked with challenges for businesses and individuals. In these trying times we saw our communities work together to protect the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable. Our local organizations went above and beyond to ensure supports were accessible. Thank you to all frontline workers and to everyone who continue to follow public health recommendations. We have much to be thankful for with a vaccine around the corner! Hoping each of you had a Merry Christmas and a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Here is a glimpse of just some of the activities, outreach and work that took place in December.  

 MP SERRÉ IS WORKING HARD FOR NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY:

• Coordination with constituency office staff to remain updated on the local concerns of Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury residents
• MP Serré returns to a Hybrid House of Commons schedule between the riding and in Ottawa
• MP Serré is spearheading a collaborative initiative with his MP colleagues to address the pressing needs of the local and national not-for-profit sector
• MP Serré had calls and meetings with various stakeholders, organizations, businesses and constituents from across Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury
• MP Serré participated in the All-Party caucus on Juvenile Diabetes to discuss advancement for prevention, treatment and research
• MP Serré stood in the House of Commons to recognize the sacrifices made by individuals and businesses and Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury through the pandemic and to also recognize the thoughtful initiative spearheaded by grade 7 students at St-John’s Elementary School in Garson for people experiencing homelessness in our region
• MP Serré hosted a meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and local business owner Chris Vitiello of Cousin Vinny’s restaurant in Hanmer for a discussion about the Fall Economic Statement and support for businesses in Northern Ontario
• MP Serré in collaboration with Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor of Huntington University launched the Peruvian Canadian Institute which supports enhanced relationships between both nations through its activities which may include a Fellowship program, scholarships, as well as events in both Peru and Canada.
• MP Serré stood in the House of Commons to recognize the important of the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair for Northern Ontario producers and highlight Seguin Sugarbush’s (Lavigne, ON) win for the amber-grade syrup.
• MP Serré held his annual waving campaign to thank his constituents for their ongoing support and show his commitment to Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. He waved in McCrea Heights, at the intersection of Falconbridge/Maley, in the South End, in Azilda and in Sturgeon Falls.
• MP Serré toured the new plasma donation clinic in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury and encourages all residents to give generously as needs for plasma are significant
• MP Serré participated in a meeting with Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue and the Honourable Minister Bill Blair regarding combatting antisemitism and ensuring our communities are welcoming to all
• MP Serré met with Workforce Planning for Sudbury and Manitoulin to discuss local impacts that COVID-19 is having in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury in relation to labour market information on industry and workforce trends and how we can collaborate on post pandemic economic recovery.
• MP Serré participated in Friday For Future Sudbury’s lantern walk awareness event to promote further collaboration on policy and action that puts our planet first
• MP Serré dropped off a senior’s resource guidebook to residents at the Elizabeth Centre long-term care center to ensure they have the information they need to access supports
• MP Serré dropped off Christmas cards to residents at Au Chateau, Elizabeth Centre and Villa St-Gabriel, long-term care homes in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury to share some holiday cheer.
• MP Serré met with municipal representatives from West Nipissing and the French River region to discuss infrastructure and flood mitigation.

Funding opportunities announced that benefit our communities:

• MP Serré shares Government of Canada funding which supports Nickel Belt - Greater Sudbury manufacturers modernize their operations, scale up and create 25 local jobs. Full details here. 
• MP Serré shares $800,000 in Government of Canada investment to support local businesses and up to 675 jobs throughout Nickel Belt - Greater Sudbury. Full details on this announcement can be found here. 

Other important news:

• MP Serré shares the launch of the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) Program to make Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury a place where everyone can belong. More details here. 
• MP Serré gives thanks to Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury health units for their leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic. Full comments here. 
• MP Serré shared the Canada Summer Jobs 2021: Employer application period kicks off. Details can be found here. 

Timely and accurate information on COVID-19 can be found at:  

marcserre.ca
https://mserre.liberal.ca

Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/…/d…/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Government of Ontario
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/index.html

World Health Organization (WHO)
https://www.who.int/emergen…/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Public Health Sudbury & District
https://www.phsd.ca/health-…/diseases-infections/coronavirus

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
https://www.myhealthunit.ca/en/health-topics/coronavirus.asp

TIPS ON STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

Physical distancing

Things you can do to keep practising physical distancing are:

• avoiding crowded places
• reducing non-essential travel and trips out of your home
• keeping 2 metres away from others when outside of your home
• commuting outside of the busiest hours if you use public transit
• avoiding greetings that include physical contact, such as handshakes
• following your local public health guidance on the number of people that can gather in one place at one time

Continue to practise good hygiene

COVID-19 is a contagious disease. Proper hygiene practices will help lower your chance of getting it or spreading it to others. You should continue to do the following:

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• cough and sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm
• avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• dispose of used tissues in a lined waste container and then wash your hands
  
  

Stay home and away from others if you’re feeling ill

You should continue to stay home and away from others if you have symptoms. If you start to develop symptoms of COVID-19, isolate yourself from others and contact your health care provider or local public health authority. Adjust your behaviours and routines based on their advice.

Wear a medical mask if you’re ill and will be in close contact with others or need to go out to access medical care. If a medical mask isn’t available, wear a non-medical mask or cloth face covering.

 Use of non-medical cloth masks or face coverings in community settings

http://www.phn-rsp.ca/sac-covid-ccs/wearing-masks-community-eng.php