Outdoor Recreation Amenities Closed under Emergency Order
On Monday March 30, 2020, Ontario's previous Emergency Order was extended to April 13, 2020 (they legally can only announce 2 weeks at a time). In addition, outdoor recreation amenities, private and public, were included in the order and deemed that all were to be closed immediately. Highlight of the government announcement is below:
"This new order would close all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities."
Ontario Sailing's interpretation of all Emergencies Orders is that all of our member organizations should be closed.
If you have business activities that support people accessing a boat which serves as their primary residence or a food service that provides delivery or take away food (not to be eaten on property), then those business activities are currently deemed essential (as of April 2, 2020).
No person shall enter or use an outdoor recreational amenity except for a maintenance, safety, law enforcement or other similar purpose. Note that fines can be given to individuals (up to $1,000), organizations (up to $10 million) and/or Directors of Organizations (up to $500,000).
Each organization should be closed! We ask each of our members and partners to do your part to stay home and help flatten the curve! The more we do now, the more likely we may be able to enjoy some of the summer on the water!
Temporary Changes to the Corporations Act
Under the Emergency Order, there have been allowances provided with respect to the Corporations Act impacting Annual General Meetings (AGM). Regardless of what your by-laws say, you are now allowed to hold your AGM virtually. To do this properly, you need a system that allows communication to be simultaneous & instantaneous.
There has also been an extension in regard to timing; again, regardless of your by-laws and the date of your last AGM, you will have 90 days from the end of the State of Emergency to hold your AGM.
If you have questions about timing or need options for virtual tools, please connect with Lisa Roddie at
lisa@ontariosailing.ca.
Employer Related Updates
The Federal government has announced 2 different wage subsidies available to employers in an effort to support employers in keeping their employees employed. These subsidies are available for current employees during the spring months. More information will continue to be shared by the federal government over the next week and we will continue to monitor and pass information to you. In the meantime, make sure your financials are organized and if you do not already have an online CRA business account, now may be a great time to set one up.
Instructor Courses
Ontario Sailing is using a rolling date to address scheduled Instructor courses. In partnership with Sail Canada's announcement to extend expiry dates for current instructors, our priority will be to get new instructors trained so they are ready to hit the water once it is safe to do so.
At this point, Fundamental Classes (theory-based) have all been moved online. Other courses, which all contain an on-the-water technical component, will be dealt with individually as the dates approach with efforts to move theory components online in an effort to shorten the in-person time of those courses.
As the work continues on these contingency plans, please be patient. Ontario Sailing staff will touch base with all registered participants in order of upcoming courses with updates for specific courses.
Website Updates
The Ontario Sailing office is closed as staff participate in social distancing. Staff are available directly by email and will set up phone calls as needed. A list of staff email addresses can be found at
https://ontariosailing.ca/about/ontario-sailing-staff/ along with staff responsibilities.
Thanks for your ongoing su
pport! Ontario Sailing continues to work (remotely) to provide updates and information for all sailors!
Stay Safe, Stay Home!
