When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination shots, it can be a bit confusing to understand the rollout order and who gets the vaccine first.

Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton is clearing that up for residents. He said the province of Ontario establishes the priority, and it’s handed down by them so that there is a consistent approach across all of Ontario.

“And their decision has been for phase one, and their anticipating 1.5 million people will be vaccinated in phase one, that includes all the most vulnerable, and in all the long-term care homes, the high-risk retirement homes, and then the workers at those homes, so, that’s going to be phase one,” Linton said.

Linton said they are hoping to have phase one completed by February.

He said that then when the province of Ontario moves on to phase two, they are hoping to have an additional 8.5 million people vaccinated.

“There’s a whole list of individuals in phase two, and then into phase three, that’s when the general population will be vaccinated,” the mayor said.

When COVID-19 first hit in March, there were many unknowns on how it would impact Centre Wellington’s 2020 budget.

Linton said the township’s revenues have definitely taken a hit, but expenses have gone down, especially on the recreation side because many things have had to be shut down.

“What has been positive though is the province of Ontario has come through in a big way and provided COVID-19 funding for us to cover off some of our losses in revenues,” Linton said.

Linton said the thing that has been difficult is the township has lost over $2 million in money that they typically get from the slots, through Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) from the racetrack in Elora, Ontario.

“That will be challenging next year because the money that we get from the slots it’s always spent the following year [2022] on capital projects, so we might have to push out a few capital projects,” Linton said.

Linton said that most municipalities that are going through COVID-19 don’t have the benefit having OLG in their community.

He said that the township has been rebuilding their financial reserve after years of neglect, over the last seven years, so they are in much better shape with or without OLG money.

Linton said even in something as bad as COVID-19, there is still a silver lining.

Linton said even though we are still dealing with COVID-19, people still need to find the positives, and some of the stories he’s hearing are people are getting outside.

“They’re enjoying their family, they’re spending way more time outside than they have ever spent before, and that’s really healthy to see,” Linton said. “I know I was driving around yesterday, and the number of people on the sidewalk, and the number of people on the trails has just gone up exponentially, so that’s really good, and that’s really healthy.”

Linton adds he hopes that stays after we’re out of this because it’s a feature of a real healthy community.

Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton: