Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Makes Further Amendments to COVID-19 Rules

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario Makes Further Amendments to COVID-19 Rules

Date: January 11, 2021

On January 9, 2021, the Ontario government filed three regulations made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 amending the Rules for Areas in Stages 1, 2 and 3, which set out the restrictions in light of COVID-19.  

Among other things, Ontario Regulation 6/21 makes the following amendments to the Rules for Areas in Stage 1:

  • permits meeting or event space to be rented out for the purpose of collective bargaining (no more than 10 persons can occupy the space)
  • extends online learning for elementary students in the 27 southern Ontario public health unit regions (see our earlier post) to January 25, 2021
  • expands the list of individuals who are eligible for emergency child care. 

Among other things, amendments to the Rules for Areas in Stage 2 made by O. Reg. 5/21 and amendments to the Rules for Areas in Stage 3 made by O. Reg. 4/21 make the following changes:

  • adds a provision for the development of a professional sport plan for the NHL to be approved by the Chief Medical Officer of Health 
  • amends the rules for capacity limits for indoor and outdoor recreational activities
  • prescribes outdoor recreational facilities that may open in compliance with specified conditions.

Note that on January 7, 2021, O. Reg. 3/21 also amended the Rules for Areas in Stage 1 to include a provision for the approval of a professional sport plan for the NHL by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

These regulations are now in effect.


The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©