Over the weekend, the Ontario government announced it is reducing limits on the number of people permitted to attend unmonitored and private social gatherings across the entire province.

Unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas.

The new limit on the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored private social gathering across the province is:

Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together. Gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted.

The new limits will not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres, banquet halls, gyms, places of worship, recreational sporting or performing art events. Existing rules, including public health and workplace safety measures for these businesses and facilities, continue to be in effect.

These new limits are effective immediately.

"In Durham Region, we have done tremendous work to flatten the curve together as a community since March, and this is no time to become complacent," said Regional Chair John Henry in a statement. "We stand in full support of the province’s decision to limit gatherings across the province, including Durham Region.

"We must continue to follow best public health practices as much as possible to mitigate the effects of another large spike in cases. Please respect the new social gathering limits. Stay home if you’re sick. Prioritize your trips out of the house. Wash your hands often. Wear a non-medical mask or face covering in all indoor, enclosed public spaces and maintain six feet of physical distance."

The Canada-U.S. border closure, originally set to expire today, has been extended until October 21. The decision was bilateral and agreed upon by both national governments. Essential travel and the flow of goods will continue as before, but recreational travel remains forbidden.

Friday, Canada and Ontario announced funding for 11 projects that will modernize and improve public transit and active transportation in Durham Region.

Projects include the replacement of 11 conventional buses with new hybrid electric vehicles. An additional 13 conventional buses and 16 mini buses to replace aging vehicles that have reached the end of their lifecycle, helping to reduce Durham Region Transit's maintenance and operating costs while lowering the fleet's impact on the environment. The purchase of two additional articulated buses for the bus rapid transit fleet will increase the capacity of the region's transit system along the bus rapid transit corridor.

The Ontario government has introduced the Helping Tenants and Small Businesses Act, including changes to the Commercial Tenancies Act to extend the temporary ban on evictions for commercial tenants. The ban was initially in place from May 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, to align with the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program for small businesses. This temporary ban would continue to apply to businesses that are eligible for federal-provincial rent assistance through the CECRA for small businesses, but whose landlord chose not to apply for the program. The ban will protect small businesses from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19.

The bill, if passed, would also freeze rent in 2021 for most rent-controlled and non-rent-controlled residential units. The Residential Tenancies Act sets out the formula for calculating the maximum allowable rent increase for the next year in rent-controlled units. The proposed legislation would revise the guideline for 2021, which is set at 1.5 per cent.

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has partnered with the Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Centre Toronto to bring our members the Recovery Activation Program (RAP). This new initiative is designed to help businesses improve their digital capacity, and build their network through curated programs that will help them take the next step toward their digital restructuring.

Participants start this process by completing the Digital Needs Assessment, which will gauge their digital competencies against industry benchmarks and allow course experts to connect them with the program that is best suited to their needs.