The reopening of Canada’s economy took another leap forward on Monday as the two biggest provinces, Ontario and Quebec, announced they’ll soon allow restaurants to serve dine-in customers again, albeit under different sets of rules.
However, the country’s two biggest cities, Toronto and Montreal, will still have to wait a little longer as health authorities try to get their COVID-19 case counts down.
Most other provinces have already reopened their restaurants, one of the hardest-hit sectors in the pandemic. But Ontario and Quebec, representing 60 per cent of Canada’s population, have lagged behind due to the severity of their COVID 19 outbreaks. The two provinces have seen about 90 per cent of Canada’s confirmed cases and deaths.
In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced restaurant and bar patios, shopping malls, hair salons and many other workplaces will reopen on Friday in most of the province as it moves into “Stage 2.”
However, that reopening won’t apply to the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, nor in border regions including Windsor, Niagara and Sarnia. Instead the province will give an update every Monday on whether those places can reopen on the following Friday, meaning the soonest they could reopen is June 19.
“We need to get the economy going, and to do this as quickly as possible, we’re moving forward with a regional approach,” Ford said. “We will continue to keep a close eye on regions that will not open this Friday; we need just a little more time.”
Unlike Ontario, Quebec will allow restaurants to serve customers indoors, but will keep bars closed for now. Restaurants outside Montreal can open on June 15, with Montreal scheduled to follow on June 22. Under the new rules, restaurants must have a hand-washing station at the door, allow only one person at a time into washrooms, and have masks for its employees.
“It will be a new experience for everyone, but it will be a secure atmosphere,” said Quebec Employment Minister Jean Boulet. “Summer is here. Take advantage to go and eat and drink in a local restaurant.”
Both provinces are also easing restrictions on social gatherings. In all of Ontario — including areas where restaurants will remain closed — the limit on gatherings will be lifted from five to 10 on Friday, but social distancing must be maintained with people outside one’s household. Ontario’s places of worship will also all be allowed to reopen, but at 30 per cent capacity.
In Quebec, the province announced it will now allow indoor gatherings with a maximum of 10 people, which can include up to three households.
Ontario released a full guide for its Stage 2 reopening, which along with patios includes shopping malls, personal care services such as hair and beauty salons, museums, libraries, beaches, pools and tour and guide services.
Venues for wedding ceremonies, funerals and similar gatherings can also reopen but will still have to comply with the 10-person limit on social gatherings.
Restaurants and bars will be allowed to open outdoor dining areas as long as they “ensure physical distancing of at least two metres between patrons from different households,” the reopening guide says. The province is also making it easier for them to temporarily expand their patios to adjacent areas such as sidewalks, curb lanes and parking lots.
Shopping malls and markets can reopen, but enclosed food courts can only do takeout. The guide recommends that malls screen people for COVID-19 symptoms at the mall entrances, not at individual shops.
Personal care services can reopen including barber shops, hair salons, beauty salons, hair removal services, diet centres, piercing services, day spas, tanning salons and tattoo studios.
However, some services will remain prohibited including saunas, baths, steam rooms and services that tend to a person’s face (such as facials, facial hair grooming, eyebrow grooming and oxygen bars).
Indoor and outdoor tour and guide services will be allowed to resume, such as winery tours and bike tours. Pools both outdoor and indoor can open, but waterslides and wave pools must stay closed.
“Outdoor-only recreational facilities that operate low-contact attractions and activities will be allowed to reopen,” the guide says, and lists examples such as paintball, mini-golf, archery ranges and go-cart tracks. But it still prohibits recreational activities that “do not allow for two-metre physical distancing between patrons.”
Libraries can reopen for certain services, including computer access and book pickup and drop-off. Community centres and culture centres such as museums and galleries can also reopen, but with limited capacity and rules for physical distancing.
Small outdoor events can take place, “such as cultural celebrations, animal shows and fundraisers,” but large outdoor events such as concerts, large festivals, parades and amusement fairs will remain prohibited.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
