The Ontario Government announced today that the province will follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting public health measures in the coming weeks. Please click here for full details of changes to Public Health Measures. Enhanced proof of vaccination (for those 12 and older), face coverings and/or masks, social distancing, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings. 

Effective Monday, January 31st at 12:01 a.m. Ontario will begin the process of easing restrictions, while maintaining protective measures.

To support businesses required to close or reduce capacity due to the public health measures put in place to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant, the government has launched the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program. Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100 per cent for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions. Applications for the program opened on January 18, 2022. Learn more about the program and apply here.

The government is also introducing a new COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant that will give businesses subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen a $10,000 grant. The application process will be open in the coming weeks and money will flow to eligible businesses in February. 

In addition, the government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by making up to $7.5 billion available through a six-month interest-and penalty-free period for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This penalty and interest-free period started on January 1, 2022. This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.

In the absence of concerning trends in public health and health care indicators, Ontario will follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting public health measures, with 21 days between each step, with more lifting of measures anticipated on February 21st and again on March 14th… click here for details.