Ontario to Introduce 50% Capacity Limit to All Indoor Settings Starting December 19
Premier Ford announced today that the provincial government will apply a 50% capacity limit to all indoor settings, with few exceptions, along with reintroducing several other public health restrictions. Effective 12:01am on Sunday December 19, the following public health measures will be in effect:
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50% capacity limits applied to ALL indoor settings, excluding a business or place that is being used for wedding, funeral, religious services, rites, or ceremonies. This includes restaurants, bars, gyms, personal care services, malls, retail and grocery stores and pharmacies. Businesses will be required to post a sign indicating the capacity allowed inside.
- Restaurants and bars will have to limit seating to 10 to a table and will have to close by 11 p.m., with the exception of takeout and delivery. Alcohol sales will also be restricted after 10 p.m.
- Indoor social gathering limit reduced from 25 to 10 people
- Maximum outdoor social gathering limit reduced from 100 to 25 people
The Government of Canada Releases Economic
and Fiscal Update 2021 with Target Support
for Hardest Hit Sectors
The document provides a report of Canada’s finances and updates on the government’s plan to finish the fight against COVID-19, support Canadian businesses, and ensure a strong recovery for all. The government is moving forward on proposed measures including:
NEW $60 Million Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund this temporary program will aim to fund new or enhanced sector-led and -delivered initiatives that improve the economic, career, and personal circumstances of individual workers in the live performance sector.
Extending the Canada Recovery Hiring Program the government introduced Bill C-2 to extend the program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent, and to increase the subsidy rate to 50 per cent.
Targeting Supports for Deeply Affected Businesses (through the proposed Bill C-2):
- The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to organizations in the tourism and hospitality sectors, with a subsidy rate of up to 75%.
- The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program would provide support through wage and rent subsidies to organizations that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50%
- The Local Lockdown Program would provide organizations that face new local COVID-19-related lockdowns with up to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs. These programs would be available until May 7, 2022, with the proposed subsidy rates available until March 12, 2022. From March 13 to May 7, 2022, the support would decrease by half.
The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program is extended to March 31, 2022. This program was set to expire on December 31, 2021.
Extending the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit until May 7, 2022 (flexibility to extend until July 2, 2022 – should public health considerations warrant it) and increase the maximum duration of benefits by 2 weeks.
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit which will provide income support at a rate of $300/wk to workers whose employment is interrupted as a result of a specific government-imposed public health lockdown. The benefit would be available until May 7, 2022 (flexibility to extend until July 2, 2022 – should public health considerations warrant it), with retroactive application to October 24, 2021, should the situation warrant it.
Other federal proposals and investments include:
- Free rapid tests and booster shots to eligible Canadians;
- Securing COVID-19 therapeutics;
- Support a standard of proof of vaccination credential in all provinces and territories;
- Relief to supply chain congestion in Canada
- $80 million in improvements to indoor ventilation and air quality;
- 10 days of paid sick leave for workers in federally regulated workplaces;
- $85 million to reduce backlogs in Canada’s immigration system; and
- Enhancing the Home Office Expense Deduction by increasing the flat rate to $500 annually
For more information, please visit here.
