Effective Thursday, January 14 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario moves to a provincewide stay-at-home order to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. For more information, click here.
The health and welfare of our staff, residents and visitors is a top priority for the City of Port Colborne as we continue to navigate the changing impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation and we are working closely with Niagara Region Public Health and the Government of Ontario to provide timely updates to the community.
Changes to City Services during stay-at-home order |
City Hall Municipal Offices
Vale Health & Wellness Centre
The Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum
The Port Colborne Public Library
Engineering and Operations
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State of Emergency |
On January 12, 2021 the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). What is a declaration of emergency?Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act the Mayor, or their designate, has the authority to declare an emergency in response to a situation, or impending situation, that presents a major danger that could result in serious harm to residents or substantial damage to property. Why are we declaring an emergency?We want to highlight how serious the COVID-19 situation is, and the importance of efforts to slow the spread of the virus. The actions the City, and residents, take over the coming weeks will be critical if a rapid increase in cases is to be prevented. Rapid local transmission could overwhelm the health care system and have dramatic impacts on the health of residents and City staff, possibly impacting the delivery of services. The declaration underscores the continued importance of efforts to flatten the transmission curve, reminding residents that even as faith-based holidays approach and the weather improves they must continue to do their part by following the advice of public health officials, and orders put in place by the Province, to:
Declaring an emergency allows us to not only draw attention to how important public cooperation is and how serious the COVID-19 situation could become, but also allows the City to act more quickly in its decision making in response to the virus. |
City Hall Services by Appointment |
We are scheduling appointments at the City’s municipal offices Mondays - Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents requiring access to City services. Departments accepting appointments at City Hall include: • Corporate Services (for example, marriage licenses and commissioning). Residents and businesses will not be able to make appointments to pay property taxes or water/wastewater bills.
• Planning Division
• By-law Enforcement Division
• Building Division
• Mayor’s Office
• Community Services (Parks and Recreation)
• Economic Development
• Chief Administrative Officer
Although the physical doors to City Hall and City facilities are closed, or are offering limited services, staff are continuing to offer customer service support for residents, businesses, and visitors by phone, email, website, and social media channels.
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Mandatory Masks By-Law |
Effective Friday, July 31, wearing a mask or face covering is required by the Niagara Region Face Covering By-law in enclosed public spaces in Niagara, such as grocery and retail stores, malls, restaurants, on Regional and Municipal transit, in Municipal buildings, and more. Let’s all be kind while we adapt to these changes in an effort to stay healthy and safe while we PORTicipate. For more information about the new Face Covering By-Laws, and frequently asked questions, visit Niagara Region's website. |
How can you limit the spread? |
There are simple measures every resident can take to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community, including:
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Self Isolation |
Individuals asked or ordered to self isolate due to recent travel or possible exposure should:
Individuals in self-isolation who need to go out for any reason, call the Public Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Info Line at 905-688-8248 ext. 7019 or 1-888-505-6074, and a nurse will provide you with detailed instructions to follow. |
Additional Resources and Information |
Please visit the following links for further information related to COVID-19, including testing, case tracking and affected areas: |
As this is an evolving situation, we continue to remind everyone the importance of using credible sources to stay informed. We encourage all Niagara residents and visitors to visit the Niagara Region’s Public Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage.
For information regarding travel, please visit the Government of Canada website.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.