The Government of Ontario has declared a provincial emergency and enacted powers under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to combat COVID-19. As of Thursday January 14th 2021 at 12:01 AM a series of new restrictions will be implemented that may affect your business. Further details can be found HERE and HERE.
Of particular importance to our industry, additional closures are being placed on non-essential construction. Essential construction projects and services that are exempted from these restrictions include:
- Those associated with the healthcare sector and long-term care, including new facilities, expansions, renovation and conversion of spaces that could be repurposes for health care space
- Those required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy, mining and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance
- Those that support the operations of and provide new capacity in schools, colleges, universities, municipal infrastructure and child care centres
- Construction projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
- Construction projects and services that support the operations of Broadband internet and cellular technologies and services
- Critical industrial construction activities required for:
- The maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries
- Significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work has already commenced
- Industrial construction and modification to existing industrial structured limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance and/or enhancement of Personal Protective Equipment, medical devices (such as ventilators) and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic
- Construction projects that are due to be completed before July 2021 and that would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products
- Construction projects that were commenced before January 12, 2021 and that would:
- Provide additional capacity for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services or
- Provide additional capacity in the operation and delivery of information technology (IT) services or telecommunications services
- Provide additional capacity for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services or
- Residential construction projects where:
- A footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
- The project is a condominium, mixed use or other residential building, or
- The project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021
- Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure
- Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have pauses or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety
- Below-grade multi-unit residential construction projects, such as apartments and condominiums
- Construction on any project intended to provide either:
- 1) Affordable housing, or
- 2) Shelter or supports for vulnerable person;
- If the project is being funded in whole or in part by, or is being undertaken by, any of the following:
- 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 in the Housing Services Act, 2011 or;
- A registered charity and not for profit within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)