Hello Snow Tiger Martial Arts
You are receiving this newsletter as a member of the Ontario Union of Martial Artists.
In this edition of the OUMA newsletter (COVID-19)
* COVID-19 Re-Opening Update
* Ontario Government Response to Letter Writing Campaign
* Call-to-Action – Send COVID-19 Impact Statements to The Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee
* OUMA Facilitates a Task Force for COVID-19: Phase 2 Competition Guidelines
* Government Financial Relief Programs
COVID-19 Re Opening Update
We have seen a number of re-opening initiatives posted on social media. Clubs have been outlining their re-opening approaches and sanitation policies to ensure safe practice. These policies often include social distancing and other measures to promote non-contact training. As of June 2nd, 2020 however, the province of Ontario has not permitted Martial Arts clubs to re-open to the public.
Premier Doug Ford has extended the Ontario State of Emergency until June 30th. During an interview this morning (06/02/2020) he was asked whether the state of emergency will extend the closures or halt of the economic recovery plan. He stated that this would not halt re-opening plans and the province intends to expand re-opening in order to avoid economic calamity. You can get the latest information on re-opening plans from the Ontario.ca website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-after-covid-19
Ontario Government Response to Letter Writing Campaign (COVID-19 Re-Opening)
We have been very busy over the past few weeks trying to engage the Ministry of Heritage, Culture and Sport, and other MPPs to provide guidance to our Martial Arts communities in Ontario regarding safe practice and re-opening guidelines. We have reached out to our political leaders via phone calls, emails and a letter writing campaign.
On May 20th we sent formal requests, via standard mail, to every single MPP in Ontario.
We have received responses from various MPPs, and a significant response from MPP, Mr. John Yakabuski, a member of the Premier’s Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee:
Mr. Randy Horton
Executive Director
Ontario Union of Martial Arts
info@ontario-uma.ca
Dear Mr. Horton:
Thank you for your letter requesting support for the re-opening of Martial Arts organizations in Ontario. I appreciate hearing about your concerns and would like to provide you with the following information.
Ontario is moving forward with the first stage of reopening the province, with key public health measures in place. A Framework for Reopening our Province, A Plan to Restart Ontario: Stage 1<https://www.ontario.ca/page/framework-reopening-our-province-stage-1> provides a roadmap for how Ontario will ease restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee has a key role in applying this framework to get our economy moving again with a focus on job creation, opportunities for growth, and protecting our province from future threats. I was pleased to be named to this committee by Premier Ford.
I encourage you to tell the committee about the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on your business at www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-after-covid-19. Your input will be used to help make decisions about reopening our province and recovering following COVID-19. The consultation closes on June 12, 2020.
By starting this work early, acting decisively, and working with our partners in other levels of government, civil society and the private sector, our province will recover. We were confident in Ontario’s future before COVID-19, and we remain confident today.
Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
John Yakabuski
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
CALL-TO-ACTION!
SEND COVID-19 IMPACT STATEMENTS TO ONTARIO JOB AND RECOVERY COMMITTEE
Martial Artists, Club Owners, Students, Friends and Families – NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!!!
The only way our community will be included in Ontario’s recovery plans (both economic and cultural) is if we communicate the impact COVID-19 has had on our Martial Arts Culture, Way-of-Life, and the reduction of Martial Arts Practices that contribute to the Health and Longevity of community members.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR IMPACT STATEMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO HERE:
https://www.ontario.ca/form/survey-economic-impacts-covid-19
SHARE THIS LINK WITH ALL OF YOUR MARTIAL ARTS FRIENDS AND HELP US CREATE A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR INCLUSION.
Examples of some impact statements include:
- Community members have not been able to attend martial arts clubs and the local economy, along with the cultural community has suffered. There is less money spent within the community and there are concerns that our local martial arts organization may not be able to re-open if they are not able to accept students.
- Martial Arts organizations seem to have been left out of Ontario’s economic recovery plan. Moreover, they seem to have been grouped together with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and other ‘high-impact’ combat sports. The truth is that most Martial Arts Organizations in Ontario are not MMA and can be practices in a safe, socially distanced and non-contact way that is appropriate for Phase 1 of Ontario’s economic recovery plan.
- Many Martial Arts organizations have embraced elevated safety protocols according to Ontario Public Health guidelines in preparation to re-open. Sanitation, social distancing, traffic and air circulation considerations along with employee training and establishing Joint Health and Safety Committees are all included in considerations. The Ontario Union of Martial Artists has provided some guidelines and has actively been asking for input and recommendations from the Ontario government for input on best practices.
- I would like to include Martial Arts organizations and the practice of martial arts permitted in locations that allow for social distancing and/or in outdoor locations like parks. The Ontario government should include Martial Arts as part of its economic recovery plan as these types of organizations support families through summer camps (where children can safely participate), stress relief through physical exercise and mental health through its cultural practice.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR IMPACT STATEMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO HERE:
https://www.ontario.ca/form/survey-economic-impacts-covid-19
SHARE THIS LINK WITH ALL OF YOUR MARTIAL ARTS FRIENDS AND HELP US CREATE A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR INCLUSION.
OUMA Facilitates a Task Force for COVID-19: Phase 2 Competition Guidelines:
It may seem a long ways away before we are able to safely hold in-person martial arts competitions that include point sparring, grappling, and other events that don’t seem to support social distancing. But having the conversations today on what conditions would allow certain types of competition, and what are the safety considerations for those competitions is an important consider today so we can plan for the future.
The OUMA has reached out to other Martial Arts Organizations and Leaders to invite them to participate in these discussions and evolve a proposal to share with the Ontario government. We will continue to provide updates as we engage with the leaders in our Martial Arts Community and define the causes and conditions that will enable safe competition as a part of a Phase 2 recovery plan.
Government Financial Relief Programs:
If you are a club owner that has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, there may be financial assistance and other resources available to you.
The Canadian government has a number of plans that can provide assistance to Martial Arts Owners, Club Employees and related businesses. The main link for these resources is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#businesses
The link to the Ministry of Heritage, Culture and Sport Emergency Fund is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/information-covid-19/emergency-support-fund.html
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