Ontario is moving to the Reopening’s Step 1!
As of June 11th, 2021, Ontario will be moving to Step 1 on the Province’s reopening roadmap. Most of Step 1 impacts outdoor activities. Here are some of the key activities that will be permitted:
- Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people [This means that small outdoor meetings will soon be a possibility.]
- Outdoor dining, up to 4 people per table
- Outdoor sports training and fitness classes, up to 10 people
- Day camps and overnight camping
- Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways without spectators
- Outdoor pools and wading pools, with capacity limited to what’s permissible with 2-metre distancing.
Indoor services opening up include essential retail at 25% capacity, non-essential retail at 15% capacity, and indoor religious services at 15% capacity (in each case maintaining 2-metre distancing).
Based on the explanation provided for “Sports and recreational fitness facilities” and “Personal fitness and training,” indoor amenities should generally remain closed (except in special cases).
Indoor pools (again, except in special cases) should also generally remain closed. The Province’s roadmap will permit them to open at Step 3.
Remember that you are not obligated to reopen as permitted by Step 1. Each condominium can consider reopening (as permitted by Step 1) in light of the circumstances of the particular condominium.
Additional notes are as follows:
Previous requirements in relation to wearing of masks (in interior common spaces) and personal protective equipment (for certain employees) are continuing.
Indoor gatherings or meetings are still not permitted (except between members of the same household).
The previous screening and self-screening requirements are continuing.
Essential activities and services (which are therefore permitted to continue) include the following:
- Landscaping services.
- Security services for residences, businesses and other properties.
- Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services.
- Maintenance, repair and property management services that manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings are allowed.
- ESSENTIAL construction projects are also otherwise permitted. Essential construction projects include “residential construction activities or projects and related services.”
So in summary: Required maintenance and repair projects are permitted (for all buildings). In addition: other residential construction projects are permitted.
But again, it’s up to the Board to decide, on a case by case basis, what activities (and what projects) are to be permitted. Please also remember to follow all the proper protocols, whatever you decide.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more about this new framework.
Stay safe and stay tuned to Condo Law News to keep up to date on the latest developments on reopening Ontario!
