Ontario declares second provincial emergency

Premier Doug Ford, at news conference January 12. (source: video from Province of Ontario)

In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the previous two weeks, the Ontario government has declared a second provincial emergency.

“The latest modelling data shows that Ontario is in a crisis and, with the current trends, our hospital ICUs will be overwhelmed in a few short weeks with unthinkable consequences,” said Premier Doug Ford at a news conference on January 12. “That’s why we are taking urgent and decisive action, which includes declaring a provincial emergency and imposing a stay-at-home-order.”

Effective Thursday, January 14, the enhanced public health and workplace safety measures are in effect for all of Ontario and are anticipated to be in place until at least Thursday, February 11.

The province has outlined what businesses are permitted to open. The guidelines affecting the plumbing/HVAC/construction-related operations permitted to open under the Province-wide shutdown include:

• Businesses that supply businesses or places that are permitted to open within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate
• 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
• Residential construction projects where, a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes; the project is a condominium, mixed use or other residential building; or the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021.
• Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure
• Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety
• Below-grade multi-unit residential construction projects, such as apartments and condominiums.
• Construction on any project intended to provide either, affordable housing, or shelter or supports for vulnerable persons …
• Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector and long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space
• Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, provincial and municipal infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy, mining and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance
• Construction projects and services that support the operations of, and provide new capacity in schools, colleges, universities, municipal infrastructure and child care centres
• Construction projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
• Construction projects that are due to be completed before July 2021 and that would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products
• Construction projects that were commenced before January 12, 2021, and that would: i. provide additional capacity for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services, or • ii. provide additional capacity in the operation and delivery of Information Technology (IT) services or telecommunications services.

ontario.ca