中英对照：联邦和省府都忙着帮我们，万锦市政府呢？

自从新冠疫情在加拿大爆发，整个国家进入“封城”以来，三级政府启动了许多计划和补贴，以帮助我们度过这个非常困难的时期。媒体有许多文章详细介绍了联邦政府和省政府采取的措施，所有这些措施都将有助于减轻普通加拿大人遇到的困难。

Since the start of the corona-virus pandemic and Canada went into “Lockdown” mode, many programs and subsidies are initiated by the three levels of governments to help us through this very difficult time. There are many newspaper articles detailing the measures introduced by the Federal and Provincial governments, all of which will help to alleviate difficulties experienced by the average Canadian.

今天你也许关心的话题：

中英对照：不提供截屏，安省省议员柯文斌难平“宝贝“风波
月是故乡明
美国和加拿大的COVID-19日死亡率开始趋同

想要阅读与本文有关的话题？请点击本文末的链接！

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那么，那些市政府为居民做了什么呢？市政府抗疫的措施是什么？他们如何应对疫情？为此，我们来看一下万锦市，看看他们做了什么。

So, did the municipal governments do anything for their residents? What are the responses from the municipal governments? How have they been coping with the pandemic? Let us look at the City of Markham and see what they have done.

3月13日，万锦市关闭了市内所有娱乐中心和图书馆。万锦市议会，总务委员会，发展服务委员会，公开听证会，调整委员会和所有咨询委员会的会议也被取消。

On March 13, the City of Markham closed all its recreation centres and libraries. Markham Council Meetings, General Committee, Development Services Committee, Public Hearings, Committee of Adjustment and all Advisory Committee meetings are also cancelled.

3月19日，安大略省政府允许市政当局通过视频电话会议召开市议会。根据2001年的市政法，安省禁止使用网上平台召开市议会和市府的各个委员会会议，此法律要求“开会到场人数”必须达到法定人数。万锦市议会于2020年3月27日周五举行了第一次网上会议。

On March 19, the Ontario Provincial Government allowed municipalities to hold council meetings through teleconferencing. Electronic council and committee meetings was prohibited under the Municipal Act, 2001 which requires the “physical presence” of members to achieve quorum. Markham Council is set to hold its first council meeting through videoconferencing on Friday, March 27, 2020.



在当天的视频会议上，万锦市议会投票决定从2020年4月1日至2020年12月31日取消不按时付物业税的罚款。会议还投票决定，取消今年每个家庭50元的雨水费以及公司和企业拥有的物业的雨水费。会议投票决定，如果约克区政府批准，万锦将推迟2020年水价上涨（7.8％）。2020年4月1日至2020年12月31日暂停收酒店税。作为万锦市疫情以后经济复苏计划的一部分，万锦市议会将设立一个“万锦市特别委员会”，重点向市民宣传“购买万锦本地的产品和服务”。

On March 27, Markham Council voted to eliminate late payment charges on unpaid property taxes from April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020. Markham Council also voted to eliminate the $50 stormwater charge per household, as well as the stormwater charge for industrial and commercial properties for this year. Council voted to defer the 2020 water rate increase of 7.8%, subject to approval by York Region. The Municipal Accommodation Tax will be suspended from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. As part of Markham’s economic recovery plan, Markham Council will assign the “Destination Markham Board” to lead a marketing strategy focused on promoting a “buy local, shop local and stay local” campaign.

4月13日，万锦市宣布在万锦市建立一个新的公众捐赠中心。该中心接受个人和公司捐赠的个人防护设备（PPE）和与疫情相关的用品。

April 13, Markham announced the launch of a new donation centre in Markham for the public. The Markham Cares Donation Centre will serve as a central receiving depot for personal and corporate donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and necessary COVID-19 related supplies.



5月6日，市议会决定取消原定于2020年10月1至4日举行的万锦博览会。博览会很受社区欢迎。在其175年的历史中，它克服了许多挑战，即使在世界大战，上世纪20年代末的经济大萧条和西班牙流感时期都没有停过。该博览会是安大略省同类活动中规模最大，活动时间最长的活动之一，是由近1,000名义工推动的非营利活动。为了参观者、义工、员工和供应商的安全，万锦博览会董事会不得不取消这一活动。

May 6, The Markham Fair, originally scheduled for Oct. 1-4, 2020 has been cancelled. The Fair has deep roots in the community, over its 175-year history it has overcome many challenges including world wars, depressions and the Spanish Flu. One of the largest and longest running fairs of its kind in Ontario, the fair is a non-profit organization driven by close to 1000 dedicated volunteers. This was a difficult but necessary decision made by the Markham Fair Board of Directors for the safety of visitors, volunteers, staff and vendors.

从上面我们可以看到，万锦市并没有为居民做很多事情。万锦市居民开始质疑他们是否可以做更多。许多人认为，那些因万锦市公共设施的关闭而省下的钱还不够填牙缝呢。其他人则问是否有任何市府公务员被解雇。市政厅没有人愿意对这些问题给出确切的答案。由于市府长期不提供服务，许多居民希望万锦市退还其向城市支付的税款。万锦市需要立即回答这些问题。

As we can see above, City of Markham did not do a whole lot for its residents. Markham residents are beginning to question if more can be done. Many feel that with the shutdown of the City's facilities, savings will be made with a skeleton crew. Others are questioning if any city staff are laid-off at all. No one at City Hall is prepared to give a definitive answer to these questions. Many residents want a refund on their taxes paid to the city since services are not provided to them for prolonged periods. The City of Markham needs to give the answers to its residents without delay.