Physical Distancing, Provincial Group Restrictions, and Cleaning Practices Must Continue

It is essential that residents and businesses understand that suppression activities, in particular maintaining safe distances, must be maintained.

If not maintained, transmission will rapidly rebound, potentially producing an epidemic comparable in scale to what would have been seen had no interventions been adopted.

The Town, and Province, need your help to continue to restrict your activities in the interest of community health. Distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing is absolutely crucial.

Residents, businesses, and visitors choosing to remain non-compliant on physical distancing or gathering parameters can, and should, anticipate provincial fines being levied directly moving forward.

Events or Gatherings of 200 or more in an outdoor space and 50 or more indoors can, and will, be ticketed under provincial restrictions.

To view current Provincial Restrictions, please visit the Government of Alberta's COVID web site, available here.

Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

The Hinton Emergency Operations Centre has concluded it's SOLE. As result, we now operate entirely under the restrictions of the province. As such, this section will now be used to share changes in provincial statuses relevant to the community. This is provided for ease of access - please refer to the Provincial website for up to the minute information.

Alberta has no immediate plans for scale back
Alberta has no plans to implement further restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 because most cases are occurring in large events and gatherings, the province’s chief medical officer of health said Wednesday. Dr Hinshaw detailed that “Rather it seems the majority of our new cases are coming from close contact, potentially household transmission, social gatherings, or other type events that aren’t necessarily easily controlled by formal public health restrictions and measures."

View the entire address from yesterday on Youtube here.

School Outbreaks Reported in Alberta
Alberta has reported its first COVID-19 outbreaks at schools — at two public high schools in Calgary and Lethbridge, Alberta Health Services confirmed in letters to parents on Wednesday evening. AHS said an outbreak is defined as two or more confirmed cases at the same school within 14 days. 

The province announced the launch of an online map to help parents track COVID-19 outbreaks in schools across the province. However, as of Thursday morning time of writing, the map had not been updated to include the Calgary or Lethbridge outbreaks.

Find the map here.

Continuing Care and Hospice Requirements Changing

Find more information here. 

Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is Low. There are currently no active wildfires. 

We ask that you use caution when you recreate or work in the outdoors and keep watch over your surroundings.  Ensure you fully extinguish your campfire and never leave it unattended.  If you suspect a wildfire, call 310-FIRE.

Be advised that Agriculture and Forestry will be conducting FireSmart maintenance along highway 40 South, north of the Hinton landfill and near the community of Peers.  This work may involve burning piles which will produce smoke.

Read the rest of the update on the Government of Alberta Website.

Federal Government Announces Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Extension, Changes to Employment Insurance Program, and New Income Support Benefits (repeated)

To help Canadians through the next phase of recovery, on August 20, 2020, Canada’s federal government announced that it would transition those receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to a more flexible and generous Employment Insurance (EI) program, provided they qualify.  In connection with this decision, the federal government announced additional changes to its programs.

CERB
In preparation for transitioning Canadians to the EI program, the CERB will be extended for four weeks to a 28-week maximum, ending on September 26, 2020.

Changes to the EI Program
Effective September 27, 2020, those receiving EI will be eligible for a taxable benefit rate of $400 per week, or $240 per week for extended parental benefits.  Regular benefits will be accessible for a minimum duration of 26 weeks.  EI insurance premium rates will be frozen for two years.    
To help Canadians qualify for EI benefits, under the new EI program:

• Those claiming regular and work-sharing benefits who have 120 hours of insurable work or more, will be provided a temporary, one-time credit of 300 insurable hours, and

• Those claiming EI special benefits, including maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits, will be provided a temporary, one-time credit of 480 insurable hours.

Effective August 9, 2020, the government established a minimum unemployment rate for the EI program of 13.1% across Canada.

Three New Income Support Benefits
The government will introduce new legislation to support the implementation of the following benefits, which will be in effect for one year following the end of CERB payments. Individuals can apply for these benefits through the Canada Revenue Agency.

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
The CRB will provide $400 per week for up to 26 weeks to:

• Self-employed workers, or

• Workers who are not eligible for EI, still require income support, and are available and looking for work.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
The CRSB will provide $500 per week for up to two weeks, to workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
The CRCB will provide $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for:

• A child under age 12 due to the closures of schools or daycares because of COVID-19.

• A family member with a disability or a dependent because their day program or care facility is closed due to COVID-19.

• A child, a family member with a disability, or a dependent who is not attending school, daycare, or other care facilities under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high-risk if they contract COVID-19.

For more information, click here.

Hinton Town Council 

Early in the Town Response to COVID-19, Town Council meetings were moved to remote environments, closed to the public, and streamed online to allow for easy access by residents. However, one aspect of our Council meetings that was lost in this necessary response was Minute with Council. 

Traditionally, Residents have been welcomed to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each Council Meeting, the chair of the meeting opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers. 

As we determine the "new normal" in this pandemic response, the Town of Hinton has established a procedure to take part in Minute with Council remotely, temporarily, as we prepare for further steps in our reopening plans.

This process is being established to avoid risks of public meeting teleconferencing, such as inappropriate or abusive interjections by anonymous or false identities.

We appreciate your understanding should this cause any inconvenience for you.

Please use this form to receive an invite code to join our proceedings remotely.
Should you encounter difficulty using the form, please call 780-865-6072.

Read more here.

Administration

Facility Opening Plans

For residents convenience, the Town of Hinton has prepared, and updated, the above image representing open statuses and plans for many core facilities. 

For further reference on Community Services' statuses and updates, please view the most recent edition of ComServ (more information below)

Reopened

• Peoples Centre
  • Restrictions in place, consult ComServ
• Arenas
  • For further information, consult ComServ
• Athabasca Riverfront Park
• Spray Park/Change Rooms
• All Outhouses
• Protective Services Building (RCMP)
• Infrastructure Services Building
• Government Centre
• Courts/Other Indoor Facilities
  • Bouldering Wall will remain closed until precautionary measures are in place.
• West Fraser Guild
• Emergency Services Building
• Hinton Municipal Library
  • Phase 3 Now in Effect, consult tomorrows ComServ

• Kinsmen Park Public Washroom Facilities
• Pool
  • Pool opening scheduled: September 14, 2020, consult ComServ

ComServ 8 Available 

Learn More

The next scheduled COVID-19 related update is Thursday, September 17, 2020. 

Town of Hinton Previous Update (September 03, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 27, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 20, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 13, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 6, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 23, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 16, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 09, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 02, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 25, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 18, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 11, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 04, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 28, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 25, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 14, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 07, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 01, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 30, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 23, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 16, 2020)

Questions

Residents with questions are asked to contact info@hinton.ca. Responses may be delayed due to EOC needs.

Members of local media with questions are asked to use the Public Information Officer contact information by clicking here or call 780-865-6001 and leave a message. Messages regarding PIO response will be returned within one business day.