As of this morning, the provincial government has declared a state of emergency in Ontario. So, what does this mean for your organization?
The following establishments are required to close immediately:
- All facilities providing indoor recreational programs
- All public libraries
- All private schools as defined in the Education Act
- All licensed child care centres
- All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery
- All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies
- Concert venues
All organized public events of over 50 people are prohibited including parades, events and communal services within places of worship. These orders will remain in effect until March 31, 2020, at which point they will be reassessed. (Source: news.ontario.ca)
The Ontario government stated they are also looking to the federal government to establish a loan program for businesses, reform EI and revisit the eligibility of workers who are affected by this. None of these are in place yet, however. The federal government is providing daily updates and reiterated they are looking at a number of options to support both business and individuals during this pandemic. We’ll provide more information on any new programs or supports as they become available.
We’ve also included the EI Work Share Program, which may be an option for some businesses.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any specific questions regarding your organization during the pandemic.
