Extensions Protect Health and Safety as Economy Gradually Reopens
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended most emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) until July 29, 2020.
Keeping the emergency orders in place provides the government with the necessary flexibility to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations, such as seniors, while continuing to implement its Framework for Reopening the Province with many regions entering Stage 3 on Friday.
“Although the trends in public health indicators continue to improve, we must remain on our guard and only relax emergency orders if and when safe to do so,” said Premier Doug Ford.
“By following our gradual plan to reopen the province, we are seeing people get back to work and resume many activities safely. We do not want to undo the tremendous progress we have made together, so I urge everyone to stay the course and follow public health advice.”
On July 7, 2020, the Government of Ontario introduced the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 that would, if passed, ensure important measures remain in place to address the threat of COVID-19 once the provincial Declaration of Emergency has ended.
The extension of these emergency orders under the EMCPA would allow orders that remain essential to be continued under the proposed legislation, if passed. The government continues to review emergency orders currently in place to determine when and if they can be safely eased or lifted.
The following orders under s.7.0.2 (4) of the EMCPA are extended until July 29, 2020:
● Work Redeployment for Certain Health Service Providers
● Drinking Water Systems and Sewage Works
● Work Deployment Measures in Long-Term Care Homes
● Electricity Price for RPP Consumers
● Streamlining Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes
● Prohibition on Certain Persons Charging Unconscionable Prices for Sales of Necessary Goods
● Work Deployment Measures for Boards of Health
● Work Deployment Measures in Retirement Homes
● Pickup and Delivery of Cannabis
● Signatures in Wills and Powers of Attorney
● Use of Force and Firearms in Policing Services
● Agreements Between Health Service Providers and Retirement Homes
● Temporary Health or Residential Facilities
● Limiting Work to a Single Long-Term Care Home
● Work Deployment Measures for District Social Services Administration Boards
● Deployment of Employees of Service Provider Organizations
● Work Deployment Measures for Municipalities
● Limiting Work to a Single Retirement Home
● Work Deployment Measures for Mental Health and Addictions Agencies
● Access to Personal Health Information by Means of the Electronic Health Record
● Certain Persons Enabled to Issue Medical Certificates of Death
● Hospital Credentialing Processes
● Management of Long-Term Care Homes in Outbreak
● Management of Retirement Homes in Outbreak
● Special Rules Re: Temporary Pandemic Pay
● Patios
QUICK FACTS
● The Government of Ontario declared a provincial emergency on March 17, 2020 under the EMCPA. The declaration of emergency is currently in effect until July 24, 2020.
● On July 13, the government announced that more businesses and public spaces can reopen starting on July 17, 2020 as Stage 3 gets rolled out in many regions of the province.
● In addition to extending orders, the government is making technical amendments as needed to certain orders. A full list of emergency orders can be found on the e-Laws website under the EMCPA and at Ontario.ca/alert .
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
