Ontario Provincial Updates

Ontario and Canada Launch a Mobile App to Help Notify Canadians of COVID-19 Exposure. Read more here.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, today announced that COVID Alert, a new national mobile app, is now available to Canadians for free download. The app, first developed in Ontario, helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Use of COVID Alert is voluntary, and serves as another tool to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Once the app is fully functioning in their province or territory, users who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a one-time key from their health authority that they can enter into the app. When the key is entered, COVID Alert will notify other users who may have come in close contact with that person for at least 15 minutes in the past 14 days, so they can contact their local public health authority for guidance.

How It Works:

• The app uses Bluetooth to exchange random codes with nearby phones.
• Every day, it checks a list of random codes from people who tell the app they tested positive.
• If you’ve been near one of those codes in the past 14 days, you’ll get a notification.

Download the app, COVID Alert, here.

Ontario Releases Plan for September School Reopening. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced its plan to reopen schools in September. Elementary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will reopen provincewide, with in-class instruction five days a week. Secondary schools with lower risk will reopen with a normal daily schedule, five days a week, while most secondary schools will start the school year in an adapted model of part-time attendance with class cohorts of up to 15 students alternating between attending in-person and online. Students from Grade 4-12 and school staff will be required to wear masks. The government is investing $300 million to support the implementation of its school reopening protocols.

Ontario Releases Plans to Reopen Child Care Centres. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced its plan to allow licensed child care centres across Ontario to open at full capacity starting September 1, 2020. EarlyON Child and Family Centres will also be permitted to reopen with in-person programming along with before- and after-school programs for school aged children which will be permitted to operate with standard ratios and maximum group size requirements. All of these programs will be subject to health and safety protocols in order to keep kids safe.

Toronto and Peel Region to Move to Stage 3. Read more here.

Additional businesses and public spaces will be reopening as the Ontario government allows the City of Toronto and Peel Region to move into Stage 3 of reopening the province on Friday, July 31 at 12:01 a.m. Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health regions will join the 31 public health regions that entered into Stage 3 on July 17 and 24, 2020.

Province Transferring $4 billion to Municipalities for Critical Services and Transit. Read more here.

The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, is providing up to $4 billion in urgently needed one-time assistance to Ontario’s 444 municipalities. This funding will help local governments maintain the critical services people rely on every day, including public transit, over the next six to eight months. Details on specific allocations will be provided in the coming weeks.

Additional Regions to Move into Phase 3. Read more here.

The Ontario government is allowing seven more regions to enter Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, increasing the number of businesses and public spaces that will reopen across the province.

The following public health units will be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:

• Durham Region Health Department;
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
• Halton Region Health Department;
• Hamilton Public Health Services;
• Lambton Health Unit;
• Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
• York Region Public Health Services.

The following regions will remain in Stage 2 until local trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 3:

• Peel Public Health;
• Toronto Public Health; and
• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders to July 29. Read more here.

The Ontario government, in consultation with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended all emergency orders currently in force that were made under s.7.0.2(4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to July 29, 2020. See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Announces Plans to Progress to Stage 3 of Reopening. Read more here.

The Ontario government announced nearly all businesses and public spaces will reopen in Stage 3 of the province’s reopening framework with public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in place. As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage to the following:

• Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people;
• Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people;
• Gathering limits are subject to physical distancing requirements.

For more information on the restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health guidance necessary to keep the people of Ontario safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders to July 22. Read more here.

The Ontario government, in consultation with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended all emergency orders currently in force that were made under s.7.0.2(4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to July 22, 2020. See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Introduces the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act. Read more here.

Today, the province introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, proposed legislation aimed at restarting jobs and development, strengthening communities, and creating opportunity for people in every region of the province.

Ontario Announces Made-in-Ontario Plan for Growth, Renewal and Economic Recovery. Read more here.

The Government of Ontario has developed a made-in-Ontario plan for growth, renewal and economic recovery. This plan includes measures that would make it easier and faster to build provincial highways, major transit infrastructure projects and affordable housing.

As part of the government’s plan, the province is proposing to accelerate key provincial highway construction and priority transit projects by establishing an exemption from the Hearing of Necessity process. The government would also enter into new commercial agreements with partners to build transit-oriented communities.

Ontario Launches Online Health and Safety Training Programs. Read more here.

The Ontario government is investing $3 million to provide free online health and safety training for the first time. These virtual courses will make it easier for job seekers and workers to get essential qualifications, while practising physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19. There are 10 courses on offer, which include topics such as infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, slips, trips and falls prevention, and preventing workplace violence and harassment. Job seekers should contact an Employment Ontario service provider in their area to enroll.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders to July 10. Read more here.

The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force that were made under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until July 10, 2020, while removing restrictions that were limiting access to certain sport training facilities. See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency Until July 15. Read more here.

The Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until July 15. The state of emergency was first declared on March 17.

See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario to Launch COVID-19 Tracing App. Read more here.

Today, in partnership with the federal government, the Ontario government announced that it will launch a new app called “COVID Alert” in the next two weeks. Users will be able to voluntarily download the app and be notified anonymously if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days. In Ontario, the app will also provide users with quick access to Ontario’s public health advice and resources, and recommend any necessary actions, such as monitoring for symptoms, self-isolation or appropriate next steps on getting tested.

Ontario Pauses Commercial Evictions. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government passed the Protecting Small Business Act, temporarily halting or reversing evictions of commercial tenants and protecting them from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19. The legislation applies to businesses that are eligible for federal/provincial rent assistance for evictions from May 1, 2020 until August 31, 2020.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders until June 30. Read more here.

The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This extension will be in effect until June 30, 2020.

Ontario Release Guide on How to Develop a Workplace Safety Plan. Read more here.

The Ontario government is providing employers with a new general workplace guide, which will help them develop a safety plan to better protect workers, customers and clients. The new downloadable toolkit offers tips on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as more people get back on the job during Stage 2 of the reopening of the province.

The government’s first general workplace guide is accompanied by a template that employers can fill in to develop their own unique COVID-19 safety plan. The materials will help employers:

• Identify the risks for transmitting the virus through person-to-person contact and actions such as touching faces with hands that have been contaminated by contact with surfaces and objects;
• Determine what controls are needed to help mitigate risk, such as engineering controls like the installation of plexiglass to separate workers from customers, administrative controls limiting the number of workers in a space at one time, and personal protective equipment including face and eye protection;
• Create a workplace safety plan based on the identified risks and appropriate controls specific to the employer’s workplace;
• Implement the plan in the workplace, and review and update it as the situation evolves; and
• Communicate the actions being taken to workers and other people entering the workplace.

Access the Guide here.

Today, the province announced that additional regions of the province can move to Phase 2 of reopening. 24 public health regions, including Greater Sudbury, moved into Phase on June 12, 2020. As of June 19, 2020, all except Peel region, Toronto, and Windsor-Essex region can move into Phase 2. Read more here.

Ontario Announces a $57 million Digital Main Street Platform. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, announced a plan to help small businesses enhance their online presence through a $57 million investment in a Digital Main Street platform.

Through the $57-million contribution to the Digital Main Street platform, businesses will be able to take advantage of three new programs to support their digital transformation:

• shopHERE powered by Google will leverage Ontario’s strengths by hiring highly skilled and trained students to build and support the launch of online stores for businesses that previously did not have the capacity to do so themselves. The core goal will be to help small businesses compete and grow, in a world that is increasingly online, and help them recover as quickly as possible following COVID-19.
• Digital Main Street Grant will help main street small businesses be digitally more effective. Through a $2,500 grant administered by the Ontario BIA Association, small businesses will be able to adopt new technologies and embrace digital marketing. Municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) can apply for a Digital Service Squad grant, which will allow them to establish teams to provide personalized, one-on-one support.
• Future-Proofing Main Street will provide specialized and in-depth digital transformation services and support that helps existing main-street firms adapt to changes in their sector and thrive in the new economy. By leveraging teams of digital marketing professionals and talented students, these firms will be able to create new online business models, develop and implement digital and e-commerce marketing strategies, and maximize digital tools, platforms and content.

Learn more about Digital Main Street Ontario here.

Ontario Announces Plan to Reopen Post-Secondary Schools. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced its plan to resume in-person instruction at post-secondary institutions across the province. Starting in July 2020, limited in-person education and training may restart for students who were not able to graduate due to COVID-19 closures. This first phase will allow institutions to reopen to provide in-person instruction to students in essential, frontline, and high labour market demand areas, such as nursing, personal support workers, engineering, and other critical professions. In September, all students will have the opportunity to attend post-secondary education through virtual learning, in-class instruction, or hybrid formats.

The province is developing a framework to be released to the sector in the coming days, which will provide guidance on the summer reopening and on health and safety measures.

Beaches and Campsites to Reopen at Ontario Parks. Read more here.

As part of the Ontario government’s Stage 2 reopening plan, more facilities and services will be available at provincial parks in certain regions beginning on June 12, 2020. Gradually over the next several weeks, Ontario Parks will start opening campgrounds, providing more washrooms and drinking water, along with roofed accommodations, park store and rental operations, visitor centres, and sports fields. It’s important to check what facilities and services are available before visiting a provincial park.

Facilities such as showers, laundry, group camping, picnic shelter rentals and swimming pools will remain closed for the rest of the 2020 season.

Ontario to Reopen Child Care Centres. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced its plan to reopen child care centres across the province. Developed in consultation with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and medical leaders at The Hospital for Sick Children, the plan will require child care operators to follow strict health protocols to ensure the safety of child care staff and children.

Centres will be required to adopt specific rules, including:

• Cohorting ― putting children and staff in groups of 10 or less day over day;
• COVID-19 response plan ― all child care settings will be required to have a plan in place if a child, parent or staff member/provider is exposed to COVID-19;
• Screening ― all staff and children must be screened prior to entry to the child care setting.  Anyone feeling unwell must stay home;
• Daily attendance records ― child care settings must keep daily records of all attendees in order to support contact tracing;
• Cleaning ― child care settings must be thoroughly cleaned before opening and frequently thereafter;
• No visitors ― only essential visitors are permitted entry into the child care setting;
• Implementing drop-off and pick-up protocols in a way that facilitates physical distancing.

Effectively immediately, staff can re-enter child care facilities and begin preparation for reopening. When these operators have met all the strict and stringent guidelines for reopening, they will be permitted to reopen.

Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 for Employers of Child Care Centres

Ontario Moves to Regional Reopening Phase 2. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced a regional approach to progressing to Phase 2 of reopening the province. Public Health Sudbury & Districts is among the public health unit jurisdictions that is allowed to progress to Phase 2.

Effective Friday, June 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2. Additionally, all places of worship in Ontario will also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of worshipers.

Read here for more details on which sectors of the economy are allowed to progress to Phase 2.

Read here for more details on the reopening framework.

Ontario Proposes Temporary Ban on Commercial Evictions. Read more here.

The Ontario government announced today that it intends to take action to protect commercial tenants from being locked out or having their assets seized by their landlords due to the negative impacts of COVID-19.

The proposed changes to the Commercial Tenancies Act would, if passed, temporarily halt evictions of businesses that are eligible for federal/provincial rent assistance. If passed, the legislation would reverse evictions that occurred on or after June 3, 2020. If passed, the proposed legislation would make it illegal to evict a commercial tenant until August 31, 2020. The government intends to bring this legislation forward as soon as possible.

Ontario Extends All Emergency Orders Until June 19. Read more here.

The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 19, 2020. Current emergency orders that have been extended include those that enable frontline care providers to redeploy staff where they are needed most, allow public health units to redeploy or hire staff to support case management and contact tracing, and prohibits long-term care and retirement home employees from working at more than one home or for another health service provider.

See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency Until June 30. Read more here.

The Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 30. The state of emergency was first declared on March 17.

See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Extends Infectious Disease Emergency Leave for Workers During COVID-19.

Today, the government announced that it has enacted a new regulatory amendment that will put non-unionized employees on Infectious Disease Emergency Leave during the COVID-19 outbreak any time their hours of work are temporarily reduced by their employer due to COVID-19. This will ensure businesses aren’t forced to terminate employees after their ESA temporary layoff periods have expired.

The regulatory amendment applies retroactively to March 1, 2020 and will expire six weeks after the declared emergency ends. The regulatory amendments do not include employees represented by a trade union.

Read CCPartners’ analysis of the announcement here.

Ontario Introduces COVID-19 Recovery Rate Electricity Rate. Read more here.

Today, the province introduced a fixed electricity price, known as the COVID-19 Recovery Rate, of 12.8 cents per kWh, which will be automatically applied to all time-of-use customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This fixed electricity price will be in place from June 1 – October 31, 2020.

The COVID-19 Recovery Rate of 12.8¢/kWh is based on the average cost of electricity, set by the Ontario Energy Board. This fixed rate will continue to suspend time-of-use prices in a fiscally responsible manner. By introducing this new fixed rate, consumers will have greater flexibility to use electricity when they need it without paying on-peak and mid-peak prices.

Ontario Expands COVID-19 Testing; Considering Regional Reopenings. Read more here.

Today, Premier Doug Ford and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, released the next phase of the province’s COVID-19 testing plan, Protecting Ontarians Through Enhanced Testing, which includes three branches of testing:

1. Assessment Centre Testing: expanding who gets tested to now include asymptomatic individuals concerned about exposure and continued routine symptomatic testing at assessment centres.
2. Targeted Campaigns: detecting and containing cases by expanding asymptomatic surveillance for vulnerable populations, including in long-term care homes and other shared living spaces like shelters and group homes, as well as targeted testing of workplaces in priority sectors which work with priority populations and where it may be difficult to physically distance.
3. Outbreak Management: testing to ensure rapid and agile response capacity for outbreak management, including in specific neighbourhoods and regions or at hospitals, institutions and workplaces.

Ontario will also soon release a renewed strategy to support public health units with case management and contact tracing, including launching a new exposure notification app that will alert Ontarians when they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and would recommend appropriate actions, such as monitoring for symptoms, self-isolation and/or appropriate next steps on getting tested.

Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency Until June 9. Read more here.

The Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 8. The state of emergency was first declared on March 17.

See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Announces School Closure Until September, 2020. Read more here.

Today, the province announced that it would be closing all schools for the rest of the school year. The province intends to re-open schools for the 2020-21 school year in September.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders Until May 20, 2020. Read more here.

The Ontario government has extended all emergency orders currently in force until May 29, 2020. That includes the closure of bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery only, restrictions on social gatherings of more than five people, and staff redeployment rules for long-term care homes and congregate settings like retirement homes and women’s shelters.

See here for a full list of emergency orders.

Ontario Progresses to Stage 1 of Reopening Phase; Lifts Some Restrictions. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government announced the retailers, seasonal businesses and health and community service providers who will be permitted to open or expand their services on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.

The government also announced additional seasonal services and activities will be permitted to open as early as Saturday May 16, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., in time for the Victoria Day long weekend, as key public health indicators continue to show progress.

As soon as 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020:

• Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out.
• Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
• Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
• Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal.

Ontario’s first stage of reopening will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will include:

• Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand or on the spot.

• Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing.

• Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.

• Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.

• Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.

• Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling and scheduled surgeries based on the ability to meet pre-specified conditions as outlined in A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as resuming professional services such as shifting Children’s Treatment Centres from virtual to in-person.

Additional Resources:

A Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 1

Detailed List of Stage 1 Openings

Workplace PPE Supplier Directory

Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency Until June 2. Read more here.

The Ontario government is extending the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 2. The state of emergency was first declared on March 17.

A full list of emergency orders can be found on the e-Laws website, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Ontario Opening Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. Read more here.

The Ontario government is opening provincial parks and conservation reserves for limited day-use access. The first areas will open on Monday May 11, 2020, with the remaining areas opening on Friday May 15, 2020. At this time, recreational activities will be limited to walking, hiking, biking and birdwatching. Day visitors will also be able to access all parks and conservation reserves for free until the end of the month.

On Monday, 520 provincial parks and conservation reserves across the province will open, and the remaining 115 will open on the following Friday for limited day-use activities. At this time, camping and other activities are not permitted at any provincial park or conservation reserve. All buildings and facilities including washrooms, water taps, campgrounds, backcountry campsites, roofed accommodations, playgrounds, and beaches continue to be closed.

Before planning your trip, please visit www.ontarioparks.com/park-locator to check the status of your local provincial park.

Ontario Eases Restrictions and Allows Certain Stores to Reopen. Read more here.

The Ontario government is allowing all retail stores with a street entrance to provide curbside pickup and delivery, as well as in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores. The business owners should review the health and safety guidelines developed by the province and its health and safety association partners.

As early as Friday, May 8 at 12:01 a.m., garden centres and nurseries will be able to open for in-store payment and purchases, operating under the same guidelines as grocery stores and pharmacies. Hardware stores and safety supply stores will be permitted to open for in-store payment and purchases as soon as 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 9. On Monday, May 11 at 12:01 a.m., retail stores with a street entrance can begin offering curbside pickup and delivery, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces and occupational health and safety requirements.

Businesses must follow public health measures and should review the workplace safety guidelines, such as promoting physical distancing and frequent handwashing, sanitizing surfaces, installing physical barriers, staggering shifts, and using contactless payment options to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Relevant documents:

• Health and Safety Association Guidance Documents for Workplaces During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• Ministry of Health’s Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces

Ontario Extends Electricity Rate Relief Until May 31; Extends All Emergency Orders Until May 19. Read more here.

The Ontario government is extending emergency electricity rate relief to families, farms and small businesses until May 31, 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak. Customers who pay time-of-use electricity rates will continue to be billed at the lowest price, known as the off-peak price, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Ontario government is also extending all other emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 19, 2020.

Certain Businesses Allowed to Reopen Under Strict Safety Guidelines. Read more here.

The Ontario government is allowing certain businesses and workplaces to reopen as long as they comply with strict public health measures and operate safely during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those permitted to start up include seasonal businesses and some essential construction projects.

By following the proper health and safety guidelines these businesses will be permitted to begin operations on Monday, May 4 at 12:01 a.m.:

• Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
• Lawn care and landscaping;
• Additional essential construction projects that include:
  • shipping and logistics;
  • broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
  • any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
  • municipal projects;
  • colleges and universities;
  • child care centres;
  • schools; and
  • site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
• Automatic and self-serve car washes;
• Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
• Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
• Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.

Progress to the next stage of reopening requires a steady decrease in COVID-19 cases.

Ontario Released Workplace Safety Guidelines in Anticipation of Loosening Restrictions. Read more here.

The government’s safety guidelines released today will provide direction to those working in manufacturing, food manufacturing and processing, restaurant and food service, and the agricultural sector.

These new sector-specific guidelines feature recommended actions employers can begin to plan for as they prepare to adapt to the new reality during COVID-19, including:

• Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, like eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow.
• Changes to the workplace, like installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to increase air flow, and using boot sanitizing trays.
• Promoting proper workplace sanitation, providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizer, providing a place to dispose of sanitizing wipes, and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks

View the guidance notes for the construction, food processing, restaurant and food services, agriculture, manufacturing, and long term care sectors here.

Ontario Launches COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers website. Read more here.

The Ontario government is launching the COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers website to help businesses overcome the unique challenges created by the global pandemic. Businesses working to retool their operations to produce health-related products, or those that want to continue their operations in this new environment of physical distancing, can submit any potential roadblocks to the website. The province is prepared to allow temporary changes to provincial rules and regulations in order to remove any barriers that are hindering business and negatively impacting Ontario’s supply chain.

The province is also pausing or extending any existing public consultations, delaying non-urgent related consultations while the emergency situation remains in place, and considering extending deadlines for reports and audits.

Access the COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers website here.

Ontario Unveils Guiding Principles to Reopen the Province. Read more here.

Today, the Ontario government released A Framework for Reopening our Province, which outlines the criteria Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will use to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures, as well as guiding principles for the safe, gradual reopening of businesses, services and public spaces. The framework also provides details of an outreach strategy, led by the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee, to help inform the restart of the provincial economy.

The government is planning a stage-by-stage approach to reopening the economy to ensure there are appropriate measures in place so workplaces can open safely. Public health officials will carefully monitor each stage for two to four weeks, as they assess the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak to determine if it is necessary to change course to maintain public health.

• Stage 1: For businesses that were ordered to close or restrict operations, opening select workplaces that can immediately modify operations to meet public health guidance. Opening some outdoor spaces like parks and allowing for a greater number of individuals to attend some events. Hospitals would also begin to offer some non-urgent and scheduled surgeries, and other health care services.
• Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.
• Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.

To reopen the economy, the government will consider factors such as the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability to implement protective measures to keep workplaces safe. The Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will provide advice to the government about easing public health measures using a range of set criteria, including:

• A consistent two-to-four week decrease in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases;
• Sufficient acute and critical care capacity, including access to ventilators and ongoing availability of personal protective equipment;
• Approximately 90 per cent of new COVID-19 contacts are being reached by local public health officials within one day, with guidance and direction to contain community spread; and
• Ongoing testing of suspected COVID-19 cases, especially of vulnerable populations, to detect new outbreaks quickly.

Ontario Extends All Emergency Orders Until May 6.

The Ontario government is extending all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 6, 2020.

This Emergency Order extension includes the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home.

For a full list of Emergency Orders in effect, see here.

Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency Until May 12. Read more here.

The Province Extends Emergency Orders until April 23. Read more here.

• The Government of Ontario has extended all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23, 2020, including the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and the prohibition of price gouging.

Premier Ford Appoints Team to Develop Plan for Post-Pandemic Growth and Recovery. Read more here.

• Ontario launches a Job and Recovery Committee, which will focus on getting businesses up and running and people back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
• The membership of the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee includes:
  • Rod Phillips, Chair, Minister of Finance
  • Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
  • Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board
  • Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation
  • Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
  • Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
  • Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs
  • John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
  • Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure
  • Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
  • Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services
  • Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development
  • Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction

Ontario Updates List of Essential Business. Read more here.

• The government is ordering all businesses not covered by the updated Emergency Order to close effective as of Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. This closure will be in effect for 14 days, with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves.
• Teleworking, online commerce and other innovative ways of working remotely are permitted at all times and are strongly encouraged for all businesses.
• View updated list of essential businesses here.

Ontario Launches $50 million Ontario Together Fund to Combat COVID-19. Read more here.

• The new $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses provide innovative solutions or retool their operations in order to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment.
• This new Fund will support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal.

Ontario Prohibits Gatherings of More Than Five People. Read more here.

Ontario Protecting Consumers from Price Gouging. Read more here.

• Effective immediately, retail businesses and individuals cannot charge unfair prices for necessary goods.
• Necessary goods include:
  • Masks and gloves used as personal protective equipment in relation to infections.
  • Non-prescription medications for the treatment of the symptoms of the coronavirus.
  • Disinfecting agents intended for cleaning and disinfecting objects or humans.
  • Personal hygiene products, including soap products and paper products

Ontario Introduces Changes to Public Sector Supply Chain Management for Duration of COVID-19 Crisis. Read more here.

• These regulations will enable the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and the Ministry of Health to centrally manage public sector supply chains. It will allow the collection of key data on inventories, orders and supply constraints and the development of a virtual inventory tool so that demand for crucial supplies are visible and trackable. With these measures in place, the government can prioritize buying what is needed most, deploying them, and allocating them on a priority basis to support the delivery of essential services to Ontarians.

Province delays release of annual budget; releases $17 billion Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. Read the Action Plan here.

• The Action Plan includes $10 billion in support for people and businesses aimed at improving cash flows.
• Business Supports in the Action Plan:
  • Defer $6 billion of provincially administered taxes (April 1 to August 31)
  • Defer $1.9 billion of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) premiums and expenses for employers for 6 months
  • Work with municipal partners to defer $1.8 billion in property taxes for 90 days (including the provincial education tax)
  • Postpone the 2021 property tax reassessment.
  • Retroactively reduce the Employer Health Tax (EHT) and temporarily increase the exemption from $490,000 to $1 million
  • Help support regions lagging in employment growth with the proposed new Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
  • Support energy affordability for small business, farm, and residential consumers with approximately $5.6 billion towards electricity cost relief programs in 2020-21, an increase of approximately $1.5 billion compared to the 2019 Budget plan.
• Other Supports in the Action Plan:
  • Invest an additional $3.3 billion in health care resources beyond what was budgeted last year. This includes:
    • $935 million towards the hospital sector
    • $160 million towards public health funding to support COVID-19 monitoring, surveillance, testing, and Telehealth Ontario
    • $243 million for surge capacity in the long-term care sector
    • $75 million to supply personal protective equipment and critical medical supplies to front-line staff
  • Provide $26 million in additional support to Indigenous peoples and communities
  • Help families pay for the extra costs associated with school and daycare closures by providing a one-time payment of $200 per child up to 12 years of age, and $250 for those under 21 with special needs
  • Double the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) payment for low-income seniors for six months
  • Defer loan payments and interest accrual for six months for Ontario Student  Assistance Program (OSAP) borrowers

Read the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Rapid Policy Update of Ontario’s Action Plan.

The formal provincial budget is expected no later than November 15, 2020.

Ontario Launches a Toll-Free Business Information Line: 1-888-444-3659. Read more here.

• The toll-free Stop the Spread Business Information Line will provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province’s recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces.
• The line will be available from Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Ontario Extending Off-Peak Electricity Rates to 24 hours per day for 45 days. Read more here.

• For a 45-day period, the government is working to suspend time-of-use electricity rates, holding electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents-per-kilowatt-hour.
• This reduced price will be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week to all time-of-use customers, who make up the majority of electricity consumers in the province.
• This discount will be applied automatically to electricity bills without the need for customers to fill out an application form.

Ontario Orders All Non-Essential Stores and Services to Close, Effective 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 24. Read more here.

• List of what constitutes essential services and stores can be viewed here.

Ontario Launches COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool. Access the Self-Assessment Tool here.

Ontario Urges Business to Join the Fight Against COVID-19. Read more here.

• A new provincial government website removes barriers for companies to provide essential goods and services. Access Ontario Together here.
• Ontario Together will identify the province’s supply challenges and solicit ideas and advice from Ontario’s business and manufacturing communities on how the government can work together to meet the need. Through the portal, companies will be able to submit proposals for the government to procure required goods and services and share creative solutions quickly.
• Read the OCC’s statement in support here.

Ontario Passes the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 and Municipal Emergency Act, 2020. Read more here.

• The Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2020 provides job-protected leave for employees who are in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, or those who need to be away from work to care for children because of school or day care closures or care for other relatives. This legislation is retroactive to January 25, 2020.
• The Municipal Emergency Act, 2020 amends the municipal by-law to allow commercial deliveries at all times of day, where previously they may have been limited.

Ontario Declares a State of Emergency. Read more here.

• This declaration requires that the following establishments across the province are legally mandated to close:
  • All facilities providing indoor recreational programs;
  • All public libraries;
  • All private schools as defined in the Education Act;
  • All licensed child care centres;
  • All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery;
  • All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies; and
  • Concert venues.

Read CCPartners’s analysis here.

Ontario Introduces Legislation to Protect Workers During COVID-19. Read more here.

• The proposed legislation, if passed, would provide job protection for employees unable to work for the following reasons:
  • The employee is under medical investigation, supervision or treatment for COVID-19.
  • The employee is acting in accordance with an order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
  • The employee is in isolation or quarantine.
  • The employee is acting in accordance with public health information or direction.
  • The employer directs the employee not to work.
  • The employee needs to provide care to a person for a reason related to COVID-19 such as a school or day-care closure.
  • Not require a medical note for time off from work.
• The legislation would be retroactive to January 25, 2020.

Read CCPartners’s analysis here.

Ontario to Delay Release of Annual Budget; to Provide a Fiscal Update on March 25. Read more here.

Ontario Orders All Publicly Funded Schools to Close from March 14 to April 5. Read more here.