Archived News: COVID-19 Provincial Government

NEWS & UPDATES:

December 18, 2020: Ontario Caps Food Delivery Fees to Protect Small Businesses Effective December 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.

December 09, 2020: Ontario Permanently Allowing Alcohol with Food Takeout and Delivery

November 26, 2020: Province Proposes Cap on Delivery Fees to Support Local Restaurants

June 08, 2020: AGCO: Changes to Tied House Liquor Sales Licence Requirements

June 08, 2020: Ontario Extending Outdoor Patios to Allow for Social Distancing During COVID-19

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY:

STATEMENTS:

Mar 23, 2020: Hotels considered an essential workplace as per the government's news release on closing non-essential services. See essential workplaces list here.

MEETING & EVENT FACILITIES:

November 22, 2020: COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open —Lockdown Measures. Page 16

October 16, 2020: Ontario Moving York Region to Modified Stage 2 (Effective Monday, October 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.)

October 09, 2020: Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region Government Taking Further Steps to Support Small Business in these Hotspots

October 02, 2020: New Public Health Measures Restricts Restaurants & Events Capacity (Effective Saturday Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.) Find the updated Guidance for Professional Meeting and Event Facilities During COVID-19 (Updated October 23, 2020. Includes recommendations for businesses in Stage 2)

September 19, 2020: Ontario Limits the Size of Unmonitored and Private Social Gatherings across Entire Province. New limits establish 10 people at an indoor event or gathering and 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering. The new limits do not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities such as convention centres, banquet halls, restaurants, etc. Establishments must adhere and follow this sector specific Guidance for Professional Meeting and Event Facilities During COVID-19 (Updated October 23, 2020)

August 21, 2020: Ontario Expands Indoor Capacity for Meeting and Event Facilities. Establishments must adhere and follow this sector specific Guidance for Professional Meeting and Event Facilities During COVID-19 (Updated October 23, 2020)

June 13, 2020: Ontario Eases Restrictions on Wedding and Funeral Ceremonies

BARS & RESTAURANTS:

November 22, 2020: COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open —Lockdown Measures. Page 14

October 16, 2020: Ontario Moving York Region to Modified Stage 2 (Effective Monday, October 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.)

October 13, 2020: Ontario Continues to Support Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic. Province Helping to Offset Fixed Costs and Permitting Alcohol with Delivery and Takeout Food Orders

October 09, 2020: Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region Government Taking Further Steps to Support Small Business in these Hotspots

October 02, 2020: New Public Health Measures Restricts Restaurants & Events Capacity (Effective Saturday Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.)

September 25, 2020: Province-wide New Restrictions for Restaurants and Bars, Effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday September 26

July 31, 2020: Ontario Implementing Additional Measures at Bars and Restaurants to Help Limit the Spread of COVID-19

July 03, 2020: Ontario Supporting Restaurants as Province Safely Reopens

DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY:

August 20, 2020: Ontario Extends Orders Under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 until September 22

July 16, 2020: Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency to July 29

July 09, 2020: Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency to July 22

June 24, 2020: Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency to July 15

June 03, 2020: Ontario Extends Declaration of Emergency until June 30

May 27, 2020: Ontario Extending Emergency Orders (until June 09, 2020) During COVID-19 Outbreak

May 19, 2020: Ontario Extends Emergency Orders (until May 29, 2020) to Keep People Safe

May 12, 2020: Declaration of Emergency Extended (until June 2) While Ontario Gradually Reopens the Economy

April 23, 2020: Ontario has extended the emergency orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19 until May 6, 2020

April 3, 2020: Ontario Extends Business Closures to Stop the Spread of COVID-19. Please note that hotels are still considered essential workplaces to stay open here.

Mar 23, 2020: Ontario Orders the Mandatory Closure of All Non-Essential Workplaces to Fight Spread of COVID-19

Mar 17, 2020: Ontario Enacts Declaration of Emergency to Protect the Public.

This includes the legal requirement to close all bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery immediately. We have confirmed with both the province of Ontario and the City of Toronto that in-room dining in hotels can continue under this definition as it is considered to be a delivery option under the rules.

SUPPORT FOR WORKERS:

August 12, 2020: Ontario Continues to Support Health Care, People and Jobs in the Fight against COVID-19

August 12, 2020: Ontario extends the interest and penalty relief period by one month to October 1, 2020. Read Ontario Taxes and COVID-19 Tax Bulletin for more information. May 06, 2020: Ontario Extends Electricity Rate Relief During COVID-19

May 01, 2020: Ontario Providing Support for Industrial and Commercial Electricity Consumers During COVID-19

April 25, 2020: Pandemic Pay Provides Support for Frontline Workers Fighting COVID-19

Mar 19, 2020: Ontario Supporting Workers, Municipalities and Retailers in Response to COVID-19

Mar 16, 2020: Premier Ford Announces Job Protection for Workers during the COVID-19 Situation

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS:

November 23, 2020: Canada Revenue Agency Opens Applications for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

November 16, 2020: Applications Now Open for Ontario's COVID-19 Relief Funding for Your Business (Main Street Relief Grant for Personal protective equipment (PPE), Property Tax and Energy Cost Rebate Grants)

November 10, 2020: Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover Promotes Job Creation by Reducing Taxes on Employers

November 06, 2020: Ontario Increasing Services to Workers and Small Businesses. Ensuring non-unionized workers have access to the workplace representation they need and the benefits they deserve

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Operational Review Report

November 03, 2020: Ontario's Property Tax and Energy Cost Rebates Program (Application forms will be available starting on November 16, 2020.)

Covid Alert App: Helping Ontario businesses and organizations to show their Ontario spirit and get the word out about COVID Alert

April 30, 2020: Ontario Providing Employers with Workplace Safety Guidelines
- Health and Safety Association Guidance Documents for Workplaces During the COVID-19 Outbreak (guidelines for hotels included)

April 28, 2020: Ontario Helping Businesses Overcome the Unique Challenges Created by COVID-19

The Ontario government is launching the COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers website to help businesses overcome the unique challenges created by the global pandemic.

To learn how to request a temporary rule or regulation change to help your business respond to COVID-19 (coronavirus) or to submit a request visit the COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers website here.

Send the GTHA your ideas that you would like the Provincial Government to consider via email to Bonnie Medensky at b.medensky@gtha.com

REOPENING THE PROVINCE:

April 7, 2021: Ontario Enacts Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order effective April 8, 2021

April 1, 2021: Ontario Implements Provincewide Emergency Brake effective April 3, 2021

March 19, 2021: Peel and Toronto Public Health regions will remain in the Grey-Lockdown level

- Adjustments to Dining Capacity Limits for regions in the Grey-Lockdown & Red-Control effective March 20, 2021.

March 5, 2021: Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound Public Health Regions Returning to Strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework

February 19, 2021: Stay-at-Home Order Extended in Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions Along with North Bay-Parry Sound (York Region to Return to Strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework)

February 08, 2021: Ontario Extending Stay-at-Home Order across Most of the Province

January 29, 2021: Ontario Takes Immediate Action to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 Variants (Ontario's new six-point plan includes mandatory on-arrival testing for international travelers)

January 16, 2021: Enhanced Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in Provincewide Shutdown

January 15, 2021: Clarity on Hotel Restrictions During Provincial Emergency in Ontario

January 12, 2021: Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency Effective Immediately to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives

December 21, 2020: Ontario Announces Provincewide Shutdown to Stop Spread of COVID-19. Effective as of Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.

Provincewide Shutdown PDF. The information contained in this document is intended to communicate a summary of information about measures proposed to come into effect in Ontario or in areas of Ontario at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 26.

December 18, 2020: Ontario Taking Further Action to Limit Spread of COVID-19. Peel and Toronto Regions to Remain in Grey-Lockdown

December 11, 2020: Ontario Moving Regions to New Levels with Stronger Public Health Measures. York Region Public Health moving into Grey-Lockdown

December 04, 2020: Ontario Moving Three Regions to New Levels in COVID-19 Response Framework

November 20, 2020: Updated Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open

November 20, 2020: Peel & Toronto Under Lockdown Effective November 23, 2020 as Ontario Takes Further Action to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

November 13, 2020: Ontario Updating COVID-19 Response Framework to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19. Click here to access the adjuntsments and Revised Thresholds

November 09, 2020: Ontario Providing Additional Public Health Support for Peel Region

November 06, 2020: Ontario Moves Public Health Unit Regions into COVID-19 Response Framework to Keep Ontario Safe and Open

- Toronto Public Health would remain in a modified Stage 2 until November 14, 2020.

- Peel Regional Health Unit has been placed under Red-Control

- Ottawa Public Health and York Region Public Health have been placed under Orange-Restrict

November 05, 2020: 2020 Budget Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover. Access the full Budget here

November 03, 2020: COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open

November 03, 2020: Ontario Releases COVID-19 Response Framework to Help the Province Safe and Open. Government Provides Additional Details on $300 Million to Support Eligible Businesses

October 06, 2020: Ontario has taken action to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. New restrictions took effect on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and are outlined in Ontario Regulation 364/20 (Rules for Areas in Stage 3) under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act

August 12, 2020: Ontario Releases 2020-21 First Quarter Finances. PDF available here

July 29, 2020: Ontario Moving Toronto and Peel Region into Stage 3

July 20, 2020: Ontario Moving More Regions into Stage 3- York Region moves to stage 3, Peel & Toronto remain in stage 2

July 13, 2020: Nearly All Businesses and Public Spaces to Reopen in Stage 3

June 22, 2020: Ontario Moving Toronto and Peel Region Into Stage 2

June 15, 2020: More People can Get Back to Work as Additional Businesses and Services to Reopen This Week

June 15, 2020: Province Reconnecting Ontarians with Arts, Culture and Tourism

June 08, 2020: Ontario Permits More Businesses and Services to Reopen in the Coming Days

May 14, 2020: Ontario Announces Additional Workplaces that Can Reopen

May 01, 2020: Certain Businesses Allowed to Reopen Under Strict Safety Guidelines

April 27, 2020: Ontario Unveils Guiding Principles to Reopen the Province. (Framework for Reopening our Province - PDF available here)

Mar 25, 2020: Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19