November 25, 2021
A motion by Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones to extend the emergency orders in place under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) was passed on Tuesday, November 23. The orders had been set to expire December 1, 2021 and will now be in effect until March 28, 2022.
As I have advised in the past, extensions of the emergency orders are largely a ‘housekeeping’ procedure, as the ROA requires that the orders be periodically reviewed and terminated, revised or extended.
The extended orders include, but are not limited to:
- the proof of vaccination system
- rules on public gatherings, business closures and
- rules on managing outbreaks in hospitals or long-term care homes.
This extension of the orders to March aligns with the government’s reopening schedule, which is currently set out as:
- December 13, 2021: review the lifting of capacity limits that had originally been scheduled for November 15 but were postponed due to public health concerns
- January 17, 2022: gradual lifting of capacity limits in places where proof of vaccination is not required.
- There is also the possibility at that time of lifting proof of vaccine requirements at:
- restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments
- facilities used for sports and recreational facilities
- casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
- February 7, 2022: lifting of proof of vaccination requirements in high-risk settings, including night clubs, strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs.
- March 28: lifting of remaining public health measures, including wearing face coverings for indoor public settings.
- Proof of vaccination would also be lifted for all settings
I will keep you advised as these plans are implemented or revised.
I hope you find this information helpful. Please contact me with assistance working through your employment and labour law matters.
Yours truly
James