📣 Let MPPs know you want funding for Ontario’s wastewater monitoring program to continue
✉️ Send letters to MPPs to voice your support for wastewater monitoring. Use our online tool to send emails.
Why take action? Wastewater monitoring is an essential public health tool that provides insights into the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in Ontario’s communities. We need an early warning system to inform everyone about the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 subvariants, influenza, avian flu, RSV, mpox, and other viruses.
Effective July 31, the Ontario government has shut down the province’s extensive wastewater monitoring network. The network’s 58+ stations provided coverage for 34 public health units. In its place, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has four stations in one city (Toronto). The federal government did not take over Ontario’s program. PHAC does not provide daily wastewater data, and the scope of its monitoring is limited. People with disabilities, the immunocompromised, and other equity-denied groups rely on daily wastewater data to time risky activities such as medical appointments.
Please take a moment to voice your support for Ontario’s wastewater monitoring program!
- Make sure your email application is active (e.g. Outlook).
- Click a button in the contact list below. It will create a message using the message template.
- Customize your message. Don’t forget to add your name and email address, and modify the wording of the message if you like.
- Click the send button in your email software.
- Repeat — click the button for the next person in the list. It’s easy to go through the list, and send 18 emails to the Premier, ministers and party leaders (⏰ Time: about 1-2 minutes).
📣 More ways to take action
Action toolkit
Use our online tool to send emails to municipal councillors in Ottawa or Waterloo Region.
After you’ve sent the emails, you can call MPPs to make sure they get the message!
Text Premier Ford at 647-612-3673! The premier has given out his cell phone number, and he has encouraged people to write. Send brief, courteous messages. Just don’t bug him about subscribing to your YouTube channel. You may get a response!
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To:
List of contacts
Cc:
- Marit Stiles, Leader, Official Opposition, MStiles-QP@ndp.on.ca
- Bonnie Crombie, Leader, Ontario Liberal Party, info@ontarioliberal.ca
- Mike Schreiner, Leader, Green Party of Ontario, mschreiner@ola.org
- Joel Harden, MPP, Ottawa Centre, jharden-co@ndp.on.ca
- Chandra Pasma, MPP, Ottawa West–Nepean, CPasma-CO@ndp.on.ca
Subject: We need an early warning system for viruses!
Message template:
I am deeply concerned about the cancellation of funding for Ontario’s Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. We will lose important information about the prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the spread of new variants. Wastewater monitoring is an essential public health tool that provides insights into the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in Ontario’s communities.
Ending funding for Ontario’s wastewater surveillance network will have dangerous consequences. We will no longer have a reliable early warning system to inform everyone about the spread of emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariants, and new threats such as avian flu and mpox. Without advance warning, hospitals may be completely overwhelmed when new hyperinfectious subvariants emerge and spread exponentially.
Please act now to ensure that Ontario’s Wastewater Surveillance Initiative is supported with stable, enhanced funding. Ontario’s researchers have pioneered the development of a world-class wastewater surveillance system. We should support their efforts. Our health depends on access to timely, accurate information about the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Wastewater surveillance is an essential tool in the public health toolbox. Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, avian flu, RSV, mpox, and other viruses helps decision-makers and the general public make choices informed by science.
Cc:
Marit Stiles, Leader, Official Opposition; Bonnie Crombie, Leader, Ontario Liberal Party; Mike Schreiner, Leader, Green Party of Ontario; Joel Harden, MPP Ottawa Centre; Chandra Pasma, MPP, Ottawa West–Nepean.
Sincerely,
[Your name and email address]