March 15, 2022
Ontario Lifting Most Remaining COVID-19 Public Health Measures, Including Mask Mandates
After almost two years of COVID-19 restrictions and public health mandates, the provincial government has announced a timeline for removing all public health restrictions, including mask mandates. 

Effective March 21: 
  • Masking requirements will be removed in most settings including: schools, restaurants and bars, gyms, movie theatres, shopping centres, etc. 
  • Remaining measures in schools including cohorts and on-site symptom screening are removed 
  • Remaining regulatory requirements for businesses are removed, including passive screening and having a COVID-19 safety plan 
Effective April 27: 
  • Mask requirements are removed in all remaining settings 
  • All remaining orders under the Reopening Ontario Act expire 
  • Remaining health-care directives are lifted, however, the government will still direct health-care workers to wear personal protective equipment 
  • After this date, masks will not be mandatory but will be encouraged and highly recommended for those who are immunocompromised, at high risk, or who choose to still use them.  

Retail Council of Canada
To support members as governments transition away from mandatory masking in indoor settings, RCC has completed a member survey to provide sightlines into what policies other retailers plan to voluntarily continue.
Niagara Region
Regional Chair Bradley and Niagara’s 12 mayors make joint decision to end the State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Businesses Can Assist Refugees Through Employment
Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) is on a mission to open international employment pathways for skilled forcibly displaced people to fill talent gaps. 
Ontario Increasing Support for 2022 Canada Summer Games
Minister MacLeod of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries announced an additional $1.1 million in funding for the Canada Summer Games. With this investment, the government has provided more than $40 million in capital and operating funding to support athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators attending the Games in August.
Canada Digital Adoption Program
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with The Ontario Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant to small businesses across the country.
Niagara Health continues to expand visitor guidelines starting Monday, March 14
Starting Monday, March 14, we are increasing our visitor guidelines to welcome two visitors at the bedside for inpatient units, including Labour and Delivery and NICU. At this time, there is no change for outpatient, Emergency Department (ED) and Urgent Care Centres (UCC) where patients can continue to bring one person to support them.