Mississauga mayor declares state of emergency to combat coronavirus spread

Yorkregion.com
March 24, 2020
Graeme Frisque

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has announced the city has declared a state of emergency as it tries to stem the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve declared and Emergency in #Mississauga in consultation with our emergency team & Council. This gives us more powers to respond to changes quickly and keep people safe. We’re in the midst of a public health emergency. Stay home!” tweeted Crombie at 6:50 p.m. on Monday (March 23).

“The health and well-being of our residents and employees is our priority. We are looking at the long-term impacts of this pandemic. Declaring an emergency along with the Region of Peel and the Province of Ontario will give us the flexibility we need as a municipality to manage the situation,” she added in a release.

Neighbouring Toronto declared a state of emergency earlier in the day.

According to the Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, declaring a state of emergency gives government bodies additional power including but not limited to: closing down public spaces and private businesses, restrict the travel and movement of residents, establish emergency shelters and hospitals and take several other measures if deemed necessary to protect the public.

“An ‘Emergency’ is a situation or an impending situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property and that is caused by the forces of nature, a disease or other health risk, an accident or an act whether intentional or otherwise,” added the city’s release.

Peel Region Public Health had confirmed 19 cases of COVID-19 in Mississauga and 38 across the region as of 10 a.m. on March 23.

Visit www.mississauga.ca for more information and measures already adopted by the city to address the global COVID-19 pandemic.