The provincial government has announced cautious steps to re-open businesses shuttered due to public health measures to combat the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Today, it announced a three-stage process, beginning January 31st, that will see restrictions on gatherings and on businesses that were forced to close earlier this month (such as restaurants, gyms and cinemas) being lifted. Enhanced proof of vaccination will remain a requirement.
Here is a summary of the changes, and timeline:
January 31st:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors, 25 people outdoors.
- 50% capacity maintained in shopping malls, retail stores, and other places currently at 50%.
- Allowing the following businesses to open at 50% capacity:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
- Cinemas;
- Meeting and event spaces;
- Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
- Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
February 21st:
- Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, cinemas, as well as other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
- Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres at 50 per cent capacity.
- Increasing social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- At indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required, capacity will be limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance.
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
March 14th:
- Lifting capacity limits in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
- Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.
Business Supports
The previously announced Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program is now accepting applications from businesses forced to close or reduce capacity due to the current health measures. You MUST apply to receive the rebate on property taxes and heating costs (up to 100% for eligible businesses).
There is also a Small Business Relief Grant of $10,000 available to businesses that have closed and can show a significant loss of revenue from December 2021 to January 2022 as a result. Businesses that previously received the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and do not need to apply to the new program. They will automatically be pre-screened to verify eligibility. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the province has suspended interest and penalties on payments for most provincially administered taxes, for six months beginning January 1, 2022.
For questions, call 1-855-216-3090.
