The temporary closure of all non-essential construction will continue under the Ford government's extended stay-at-home order.
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced an extension of the current stay-at-home order as the new, more contagious variants continue to pose significant risks.
The new extension, which is in place until at least June 2, means all public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will also remain in effect, including the temporary cease of non-essential construction.
“While we are seeing positive trends as a result of the public health measures put in place, we cannot afford to let up yet,” said Premier Ford.
“We must stay vigilant to ensure our ICU numbers stay down and our hospital capacity is protected. If we stay the course for the next two weeks, and continue vaccinating record number of Ontarians every day, we can begin looking forward to July and August and having the summer that everyone deserves.”
READ: Province-Wide Stay-at-Home Order Extended Till June 2
The stay-at-home order was first implemented on April 8 to last six weeks in an effort to curb surging cases and hospitalization rates in the province.
As of April 17, all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector closed, with only essential construction permitted to operate. Examples of non-essential sites may include shopping malls, hotels, and office towers.
However, residential construction and critical infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, roads, and bridges will be continue.
According to the provincial government, essential construction activities or projects and related services (including land surveying and demolition services) are deemed essential if they:
- Are associated with the health care sector or long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.
- ensure safe and reliable operations of, or provide new capacity in:
- municipal infrastructure
- provincial infrastructure, including but not limited to, the transit, transportation, resource, energy and justice sectors
- Support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage, natural gas distribution, transmission and storage or in the supply of resources.
- Support the operations of, or provide new capacity in, schools, colleges, universities or child care centres within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.
- Are required for:
- the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries
- significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work commenced before April 17, 2021
- industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance or enhancement of personal protective equipment, medical devices such as ventilators and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19covid 19 pandemic
- Would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products.
- Were started before April 17, 2021 and would provide additional capacity:
- for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services
- in the operation and delivery of Information Technology (IT) services or telecommunications services
- to, or enhance the efficiency or operations of, businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials
- Support the operations of broadband internet and cellular technologies and services
- Are residential construction activities or projects and related services
- Prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure
- Are necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused, or that are not active, to ensure ongoing public safety
- Are funded in whole or in part by:
- the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- an agency of the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- a municipality
- Are:
- intended to provide shelter or supports for vulnerable persons or affordable housing
- being funded in whole or in part by, or are being undertaken by:
- the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- an agency of the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario
- a municipality
- a service manager as defined the Housing Services Act, 2011
- a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)
- a not-for-profit corporation
The announcement comes as Ontario reported 2,759 new cases on Thursday as the provincial total pushed past 500,000 cases. However, active cases, the seven-day average, and patients in ICUs have steadily declined over the last couple of weeks.
