As COVID-19 variants continued to increase over the last few weeks, Ontario announced further restrictions to slow down the spread of the virus and relieve mounting pressures on the province’s health care system.
These new restrictions include:
- The stay-at-home order is extended for another two weeks until May 20.
- Travel from Manitoba or Quebec into Ontario will be restricted except for essential purposes.
- Outdoor public gatherings and social gatherings are restricted to just members of the same household.
- All outdoor recreational amenities will be closed.
- All non-essential stores (such as hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery) can only open between the hours of 7 am and 8 pm.
- If a police officer has reason to suspect that you are participating in an organized public event or social gathering, they may require to you provide information to ensure you are complying with restrictions.
- All publicly funded schools and private schools will be transitioning to remote learning.
- Child-care for non-school aged children will be open and free emergency child-care for eligible frontline workers (this includes construction workers) will be provided.
- Non-essential construction will close, including construction at shopping malls, hotels and office towers.
For more information about the restrictions and enforcement measures, visit Ontario’s news release.
List of Essential Construction Projects
The Ontario government has updated the list of construction projects deemed essential. This list includes construction activities or projects that:
- are associated with the health care sector or long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space
- ensure safe and reliable operations of, or provide new capacity in:
- municipal infrastructure
- provincial infrastructure, including but not limited to, the transit, transportation, resource, energy and justice sectors
- support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage, natural gas distribution, transmission and storage or in the supply of resources
- support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, schools, colleges, universities or child care centres within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
- are required for:
- the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries
- significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work commenced before April 17, 2021
- industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance or enhancement of personal protective equipment, medical devices such as ventilators and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic
- would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products
- were started before April 17, 2021 and would provide additional capacity:
- for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services
- in the operation and delivery of Information Technology (IT) services or telecommunications services
- to, or enhance the efficiency or operations of, businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials
- support the operations of broadband internet and cellular technologies and services
- are residential construction activities or projects and related services
- prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure
- are necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused, or that are not active, to ensure ongoing public safety
- are funded in whole or in part by:
- the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- an agency of the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- a municipality
- are:
- intended to provide shelter or supports for vulnerable persons or affordable housing
- being funded in whole or in part by, or are being undertaken by:
- the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- an agency of the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- a municipality
- a service manager as defined the Housing Services Act, 2011
- a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)
- a not-for-profit corporation
It is imperative that employers and workers take further precautions while working on site. IUPAT members can find a more complete list of health and safety practices here.
For any workplace health and safety concerns, we urge our members to contact their local area IUPAT Business Representative immediately. We will continue to monitor the situation, keep our members informed and take the necessary steps to ensure the ongoing health and safety of our members.
