Ontario Has Promised to Announce Plans to Reopen More Workplaces on Thursday
On May 12, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford promised that the province will announce plans on Thursday, May 14 for reopening more seasonal businesses and low-risk workplaces in Ontario.
Ontario Extended its Declaration of Emergency and Passed New Legislation
On May 12, 2020, Ontario extended its Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (the “EMCPA”) until June 2, 2020. This extension will allow the province to continue enforcing the Emergency Orders that it has made under the EMCPA and to issue new emergency orders until at least June 2, 2020, if it chooses to do so.
The government also passed the COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act (the “Act”), which is intended to help people conduct business while practicing appropriate physical distancing.
Some of the changes implemented by the Act that are most relevant for employers include:
- corporations can now call and hold certain meetings virtually, and the time period for when annual meetings must be held will be extended in certain circumstances;
- businesses are now allowed to file business registration documents electronically, and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services will accept copies of business registration documents and e-signatures; and
- the Attorney General is empowered to make regulations that would allow for documents to be commissioned and notarized remotely.
What do these Announcements Mean?
The extension of Ontario’s Declaration of Emergency reaffirms what we already know—that it will not be “business as usual” in Ontario in the near future. Nonetheless, Ontario employers can look forward to the province’s announcement this Thursday regarding the reopening of more seasonal businesses and low-risk workplaces.
Employers will have to wait for Thursday’s announcement to know whether they are considered “low-risk” and allowed to reopen. However, the government made it clear in its Framework for Reopening Our Province (read our recent article for an overview of this framework) that it is reopening Ontario’s economy gradually and that the only businesses that will be allowed to reopen during Stage 1 of the framework are those that can immediately modify their operations to comply with public health guidelines. Accordingly, employers with workplaces in which it is not feasible to engage in appropriate physical distancing or to meet other public health guidelines will likely not be included in Thursday’s announcement and will therefore need to wait a while longer before they are given the green light to reopen their workplaces.
We will continue to keep you In the Know with frequent updates on this Resource Centre regarding new developments during the COVID-19 pandemic and what they mean for your organization.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.