Human Resources Legislative Update
Easing of Ontario Restrictions Continues
Date: May 20, 2020
On May 19, 2020, the Ontario government filed five Orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) which extend the existing Orders and which amend some Orders to further ease the provincial restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 declared emergency.
The new Orders can be summarized as follows:
- O. Reg. 220/20: Extensions and Renewals of Orders. The EMCPA Orders now have a revocation date of May 29, 2020. Note that by motion of the Legislature on May 12, the declared emergency was extended to June 2, 2020.
- O. Reg. 221/20: Amends O. Reg. 51/20 Closure of Establishments. Public libraries can now provide curbside pickup and delivery of library materials.
- O. Reg. 222/20: Amends O. Reg. 52/20 Organized Public Events, Certain Gatherings. The limitation on a gathering of more than five people for the purposes of conducting religious services, rites or ceremonies no longer applies as long as the persons in attendance follow the prescribed precautions, including remaining in their enclosed motor vehicle which only has passengers who are members of one household, staying two metres away from other motor vehicles, and more.
- O. Reg. 223/20: Amends O. Reg. 82/20 Closure of Places of Non-Essential Businesses. This is the Order giving effect to the first stage of the reopening of the province, discussed in our FTR Now of May 15, 2020 Ontario Announces First Stage of Reopening Province.
- O. Reg. 224/20: Amends O. Reg. 104/20 Closure of Outdoor Recreational Amenities. Effective May 19, the following are open: all outdoor sports amenities, all off-leash dog areas, all outdoor picnic sites, benches and shelters in park and recreational areas (subject to physical distancing). Added to the list of closures, among other things, are outdoor swimming pools and wading pools.
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