Preparing for ‘new normal’ at Niagara Region headquarters

Regional government is looking to the day when life in Niagara returns to a “new normal,” with a plan for a phased reopening.

A report from staff said much like the provincial government, the local reopening will be in three phases. The final part will be lengthy and likely continue until a COVID-19 vaccine or other treatments are available and in widespread use.

“The primary consideration is the protection of individuals to exposure to COVID-19,” said Rino Mostacci, the Region’s commissioner of planning and development.

He and Val Kuhns, acting commissioner of economic development, oversee the plan, which is still under construction.

“Open Niagara has two components — an internal organizational plan and an external economic recovery plan led by the Economic Rapid Response Team,” Mostacci said.

The report cautions Niagara may well move through the phases at a different speed than the province, something that was borne out after a recent special council meeting when the province left Niagara out of its latest reopening directives. The priority in terms of the business of the Region is services or activities that support its legal or regulatory obligations. The plan will prioritize services, programs and activities that support the ongoing economic recovery and generate revenue for the Region.

“You will also notice there are no dates referenced for any of the phases,” Mostacci said.

Phase 1: The early stages (current stage)

Some Region facilities and offices will remain closed to the public;

Limited staff in the workplace delivering high-priority services;

Limited staff in the workplace, working alone or in small groups outdoors;

Many staff continue to work from home;

staff who redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts will continue in their temporary positions;

Active or self-screening at all Region facilities.

Phase 2: Gradual recovery

Some Region facilities and offices reopen to the public with measures to enable physical distancing and health screening upon entry;

Where required, staff will return to the workplace under enhanced health, safety and screening guidelines;

Many staff continue to work from home;

staff redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts will continue in their temporary positions.

Phase 3: Our new reality

Most Region facilities and offices reopen to the public with measures to enable physical distancing and health screening upon entry;

More staff may return to the workplace under enhanced health and safety guidelines;

Staff who redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts may continue in their temporary positions.

St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip said she is seeing examples of how the pandemic is impacting women disproportionally, especially mothers.

“Given we don’t know when schools and child-care facilities will be open, is there any way to ensure staff being asked to return to work won’t be penalized for being unable to find child care — particularly when we know there were long waiting lists for child care before the pandemic?”

Ron Tripp, Niagara’s acting CAO, said the municipality hasn’t encountered a situation for which somebody had to return to headquarters and is struggling to find daycare.

“We have people working from home, and are willing to accommodate that as long as we can,” Tripp said.

“We do, in fact, have daycare set up for essential workers, and I struggle to envision how we couldn’t accommodate someone. But I just can’t give an absolute guarantee.”