Over the weekend, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, announced the further closure of Ontario parks until May 31.
The closures are a direct effort to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.
"In order to keep Ontarians safe during this COVID-19 outbreak, our government is extending the closure of Ontario's provincial parks and conservation reserves to May 31, 2020. This includes car camping, backcountry camping, roofed accommodations, day-use opportunities, access points and all public buildings."
In Toronto, Mayor Tory has already announced the complete closure of the City's largest park, High Park, during the popular cherry blossom bloom. As well, as residents in Toronto have continued to follow the guidance of health officials and stayed inside to help stop the spread of COVID-19, animals have begun to come out in numbers, appearing on streets, beaches, and backyards.
READ: Looking Back at Toronto After One-Month in a State of Emergency
The closure of Ontario Parks until the end of May will, of course, mean no camping over the popular Victoria Day long weekend in May – a weekend that signifies the start of summer for many. The province will issue a full refund without penalty to anyone holding camping reservations in May. You can visit OntarioParks.com for the most up-to-date information on the closures.
Meanwhile, Premier Ford is expected to introduce his plan for re-opening the Ontario economy later today.
