. Chris Bloore

 

"TIAO is delighted with the decision by the Ontario government to enter Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan on July 16. Thanks to Ontarians getting vaccinated, the incredible work of our health care professionals and measures in place to reduce transmission, it will mean many of our members will be able to reopen and/or expand their operations indoors for the first time in many months.

This will mean vital revenues for these businesses after a torrid sixteen months and allow Ontarians to go back to the jobs they love and visitors will once again be able to enjoy what our incredible province has to offer.

But we also have a new and exciting challenge, that if we can reach 80% of Ontarians having at least one dose and 75% being fully vaccinated the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity limits for indoor and outdoor settings and limits for social gatherings, will be lifted.

TIAO would like to thank our partners and specifically, Minister Lisa MacLeod, for their steadfast support, commitment to dialogue and sheer hard work to make this happen. We must remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, but today’s news has been hard-earned and we’re all excited about what the next few weeks could hold."

-Chris Bloore, President and CEO, TIAO

 

Ontario Step 3 Rules and Regulations: Reopening on 12:01am on Friday, July 16, 2021 

The Ministry of Health is proposing amendments to O Reg. 364/20 to set out the public health and workplace safety measures for step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen. This includes but is not limited to (all with additional restrictions): 

 

Social Gatherings & Organized Public Events 

• Max 25 people indoors 

• Max 100 people outdoors 

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, and other food or drink establishments 

• Indoor and outdoor capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance  

• No limit on number of patrons seated at the same table 

Food and drink establishments with dance floors (including night clubs and resto bars) 

• Limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance with a maximum capacity of 25%, up to 250 people indoors 

• Maximum capacity of 75%, up to 5,000 outdoors  

• No limits to the number of patrons per table 

• Physical distancing is not-required for patrons when dancing 

Retail Stores 

• Essential and non-essential retail limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance 

Wedding, funeral or religious service, rite, or ceremony 

• For the ceremony itself:  

• Capacity is limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres physical distance  

• For social gatherings associated with the ceremony (e.g., receptions): 

• Maximum 25 people indoors  

• Maximum 100 people outdoors 

Indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces 

• Capacity is limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres physical distance  

• Maximum 50% capacity up to 1,000 people indoors 

• Maximum 75% capacity up to 5,000 people outdoors 

Facilities used for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities 

• Maximum 50% capacity for indoor facilities  

• Personal trainers and sports trainers permitted with physical distancing and other restrictions  

• Spectators limited to 50% of the indoor seating capacity for up to 1,000 people; masks are required   

• Spectators limited to 75% of outdoor seating capacity for up to 15,000 people, and other restrictions; masks are required except for members of the same household seated together  

• Sports permitted without restrictions on contact 

Day and overnight camps 

• Permitted to open as per the safety guidelines for COVID-19 for day camps produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health 

Hotels, motels, and short-term rentals 

• Permitted to open 

• On-premise indoor fitness or indoor recreational facilities permitted to open with maximum 50% capacity limit 

Campgrounds 

• Permitted to open 

• On-premise indoor fitness or indoor recreational facilities permitted to open with maximum 50% capacity limit 

Museums, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, gardens, and similar attractions 

• Permitted to operate with: 

• Indoor capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres’ physical distance, with a maximum capacity of 50%  

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors 

Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres 

• Maximum 50% seated capacity indoors, up to 1000 people 

• Reservations are required for attendance 

• An outdoor seated concert, event, or performance or movie within a concert venue, theatre or cinema is permitted to operate at a maximum capacity of: 

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors, or up to 15,000 people (seated) 

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors, or 5000 people (non-seated) 

• Masks must be worn both indoor and outdoor unless you are with people from your household or you are seated at least 2 meters away from every person outside your household 

• Reservations are required for attendance 

Amusement parks and waterparks 

• Maximum capacity of 75% outdoors 

• Indoor areas are limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distance of 2 metres, with a maximum of 50%  

• Reservations required for indoor events or activities, or outdoor seated events 

Casinos, bingo halls, and gaming establishments 

• Capacity is limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres physical distance  

• Maximum 50% capacity indoors 

Horse racing venues 

• Maximum 50% capacity indoors, up to 1000 people (seated) 

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors, up to 15,000 people (seated) 

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors, up to 5,000 people (non-seated) 

• Reservations required for indoor events or activities, and outdoor seated events 

Boat Tours 

• Open indoors and outdoors 

• Limited to the amount of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance with a maximum capacity of 50%  

• Reservations required 

Tours and guide services 

• Includes guided hunting trips, tastings, walking tours, etc. 

• Limited to the amount of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance 

Fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals 

• Maximum 75% capacity outdoors 

• Indoor capacity is limited to the amount of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance, not exceeding 50% capacity 

Strip clubs 

• Indoor capacity limited to the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of 2 metres (seated)  

• Performers must maintain at least 2 metres’ physical distance from patrons 

Bathhouses and sex clubs   

• Capacity limited to the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of 2 metres  

• Maximum 25% capacity, up to 250 people 

• Masks required 

 

For more details on the rules and regulations for step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen, please visit the official news release at  Ontario Moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16 | Ontario Newsroom 

You can also view the regulation for full details.

Next steps 

The province will remain in Step Three of the Roadmap for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their population fully vaccinated. 

Upon meeting these thresholds, the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity limits for indoor and outdoor settings and limits for social gatherings, will be lifted. Only a small number of measures will remain in place, including the requirement for passive screening, such as posting a sign, and businesses requiring a safety plan. 

The Canada-U.S. border will stay closed to all but essential traffic for another month. Bill Blair MP, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness announced that  "in coordination with the U.S., we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel and with the United States until July 21st, 2021."

TIAO President and CEO responded:

"There is no escaping the fact that this is a hammer blow for the tourism industry. Yet again, the federal government has chosen not to put forward its plan to reopen the border and now we’re in danger of losing our entire summer season. Uncertainty is killing our industry and the jobs that provide Ontarians their livelihoods may never return and the damage to our industry could become permanent."