Ontario to Extend State of Emergency until April 23

Ontario is expanding its State of Emergency until April 23, 2020 on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.  The move applies to all Emergency orders passed to date.

“We all must continue to do our part by staying home and practicing physical distancing,” Premier Doug Ford said.  The province also added four new emergency orders:

• Making it easier to repurpose existing buildings and put up temporary structures, like tents, so communities can meet their local needs quickly. This will reduce pressure on health care facilities, where needed, and help shelters provide more space for sleeping to maintain the physical distancing requirements to reduce the spread of the virus.
• Temporarily enabling hospitals to increase their capacity by using the beds and services of retirement homes without certain labour relations implications during the declared provincial emergency.
• Prohibiting recreational camping on Crown land as of April 9, 2020. Under the emergency order, no individual can camp on Crown land, including the placement of tents or other camping structures, while the order is in effect. The government will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate if further actions are required.
• Supporting construction workers and businesses with emergency action to help improve cash flow in the construction industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will lift the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act and allow the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors.

The emergency orders are being enforced by Hallton Regional Police service (HRPS), and local bylaw officers.  Fines start at $750.  Residents are encouraged to call police at: 905-825-4722 to report non-compliance.