At long last the Ontario government is allowing some businesses to reopen, with strict guidelines, starting on Monday, May 4th, 2020. This announcement follows several other provinces announcing their reopening plans over the past week.

If following proper health and safety guidelines, the following will be allowed to open come Monday:

  • Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
  • Lawn care and landscaping;
  • Additional essential construction projects that include:
    • shipping and logistics;
    • broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
    • any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
    • municipal projects;
    • colleges and universities;
    • child care centres;
    • schools; and
    • site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
  • Automatic and self-serve car washes;
  • Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
  • Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
  • Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.

Information on the health and safety guidelines that businesses must follow can be found here:

https://www.news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/04/ontario-providing-employers-with-workplace-safety-guidelines.html

If you have any questions about recalling employees from layoff or anything else to do with reopening, please reach out to speak with an e2r® Advisor.