{"id":5943,"date":"2024-06-04T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/?p=5943"},"modified":"2024-12-13T13:35:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T18:35:28","slug":"ontario-wastewater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/take-action\/ontario-wastewater\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario: Protect our health — save Ontario\u2019s wastewater monitoring!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ud83d\udce3 Let MPPs<\/abbr> know you want funding for Ontario\u2019s wastewater monitoring program to continue<\/h2>\n

\u2709\ufe0f<\/span> Send letters to MPPs<\/abbr><\/a> to voice your support for wastewater monitoring. Use our online tool to send emails.<\/p>\n

Why take action?<\/span> Wastewater monitoring is an essential public health tool that provides insights into the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in Ontario\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Effective July 31, the Ontario government has shut down the province\u2019s extensive wastewater monitoring network. The network\u2019s 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)<\/a>. The federal government did not take over Ontario\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n

Please take a moment to voice your support for Ontario\u2019s wastewater monitoring program!<\/h2>\n
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  1. Make sure your email application is active (e.g. Outlook).<\/li>\n
  2. Click a button in the contact list<\/a> below. It will create a message using the message template.<\/li>\n
  3. Customize your message. Don\u2019t forget to add your name and email address, and modify the wording of the message if you like.<\/li>\n
  4. Click the send button in your email software.<\/li>\n
  5. Repeat — click the button for the next person in the list. It\u2019s easy to go through the list, and send 18 emails to the Premier, ministers and party leaders (\u23f0 Time: about 1-2 minutes).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \ud83d\udce3 More ways to take action<\/h2>\n\n\n
    Action toolkit<\/summary>\n\n

    \u2709\ufe0f<\/span> Use our online tool to send emails to municipal councillors in London or Waterloo Region<\/a>.<\/p> \n

    <\/i> After you\u2019ve sent the emails, you can call MPPs<\/abbr> to make sure they get the message!<\/a><\/p>\n\n

    <\/i> 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\u2019t bug him about subscribing to your YouTube channel. You may get a response!<\/p>\n\n

    <\/i> Sign the petitions:\n