By Adriel N. Clayton and Martin U. Wissmath

Ontario Takes Further Steps Towards Reopening

As the province of Ontario moves through its reopening milestones, it has transitioned from Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen plan to the final Roadmap Exit Step as of February 25, 2022. Many public health and workplace safety measures have been lifted, according to a statement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health made on March 9, 2022. Further to this, capacity limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings, including weddings, funerals and religious services, rites and ceremonies, as well as their associated social gatherings, have been removed.

The mandatory mask mandate has also been lifted as of March 21, 2022, with certain limited exceptions, including in health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings. In this regard, hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, healthcare clinics, service agencies (as defined under the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008), and homeless shelters, among other organizations, must continue to ensure that every person who is not subject to an exemption wears a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin while in the indoor area of the premises. A comprehensive list of organizations that must continue to enforce indoor masking requirements is set out in subsection 2(4.1) of Schedule 4 of O Reg 364/20, Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step.

​Read the March 2022 Charity & NFP Law Update