Ontario Outlines Steps to Ease Public Health Measures
With key public health and health care indicators starting to show signs of improvement, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, today released details of steps to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures, starting on January 31, 2022. In the absence of concerning trends in public health and health care indicators, Ontario will follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting public health measures, with 21 days between each step.
Effective January 31, 2022, Ontario will begin the process of gradually easing restrictions, while maintaining protective measures,
including but not limited to:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
- Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50 per cent in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
- Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
- Shopping malls;
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
- Cinemas;
- Meeting and event spaces;
- Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
- Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
- Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Effective February 21, 2022, Ontario will lift public
health measures, including:
- Increasing social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, cinemas, as well as other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
- Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres at 50 per cent capacity.
- Limiting capacity in most remaining indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance.
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
- Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.
- Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Effective March 14, 2022, Ontario will ease public
health measures, including:
- Lifting capacity limits in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
- Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.
To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, local and regional responses by public health units may be deployed based on local context and conditions.
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Businesses Seek Predictability and Stability Amidst
Ongoing Pandemic
Today, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement: “Today, the government has finally provided clarity on the next steps of their reopening plan. While the pandemic has been unpredictable, the response should not be. We welcome added clarity but urge the government to stop thinking in short-term increments and come up with a strategic and evidence-based plan to manage future waves. We are calling for investments in testing capacity and business supports to foster a sustained reopening guided by evidence and science. Government also needs to be transparent about the data behind restrictions. Businesses need to see modeling that justifies the nature and timing of response measures and how they are successfully mitigating the virus or alleviating pressure on our overwhelmed health care system. If we want a robust and inclusive economic recovery we need our government to focus on creating the right conditions to support business stability, predictability, and confidence.”
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ICYMI: GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS
Applications are now open for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program which will support eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity due to recently announced public health measures. To learn more, including to find a full list of eligible businesses, visit the online application portal here.
Our partners at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce have compiled a list of provincial and federal government programs that are being offered to support businesses and employees impacted by COVID-19.
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FUN! FAST! FOCUSED!
Grow your business and build your brand by connecting with fellow business leaders with our new member only networking opportunity. Make 5 new connections every month by investing just 30 minutes. Effective, facilitated conversations that will enhance your professional network and strengthen your business community.
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Proud OBOT Member Sponsor |
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You're invited! Join the 2022 Run for Women Ottawa
Calling all Ottawa business leaders! Your Ottawa Board of Trade invites you to join our team for the 2022 Run for Women in support of women’s mental health at The Royal. Our actions today will make a world of difference for women in our community living with mental illness. Join our team and help us support The Royal Ottawa Foundation and the important and impactful work that their organization does to support the health and wellness of our community, women leaders, and their teams.
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January 27, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
The Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal wish to say thank you to the sponsors who supported our business community by making it possible to deliver events that informed and inspired Ottawa business and community leaders during the last year. Current and future sponsors are invited to a special virtual appreciation event for networking, to learn about the successes of last year and get a sneak peek into the calendar and plans for 2022.
We have learned a lot about what our community needs to grow and we are excited to share our plans for the upcoming year with our local business community!
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The Ottawa Board of Trade is pleased to partner with the Canadian Urban Institute(CUI) in planning The Summit on the City: Recovering Canada’s Downtowns on January 25 and 26, 2022.
The two-day summit will feature public sessions to drive thought leadership on the future of downtowns and working table discussions with leaders across industries and sectors. The end result: an action plan for downtown recovery that includes federal, provincial, and municipal investment priorities and policy leadership, crucial elements of the new urban agenda for Canada.
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Take the EmployerOne Survey Today
Ottawa Employment Hub is calling on all Business Owners and HR Managers to complete the annual EmployerOne Survey. It is quick and easy to complete and your insights will impact workforce development initiatives in the National Capital Region.
The EmployerOne Survey is open between Jan. 4th and Feb 18th, 2022.
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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Ottawa Board of Trade (OBOT) is looking for business and community leaders who want to make a difference in our community, support Ottawa businesses and strengthen the voice of business.
OBOT is a member driven, impact focused business advocate. We are an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan collection of passionate leaders determined to create a thriving world class business community in Ottawa.
OBOT volunteers have reported increased connections, greater understanding of information and opportunities as well as an ability to influence our economy. Members are invited to join these two committees today.
For more information, please contact: Kassondra Walters,
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Membership Committee
Grow and diversify the OBOT membership by promoting the value proposition including services that help businesses succeed.
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Ambassador Corps
Welcome and orient new OBOT members to help them realize the full value of membership and make meaningful connections.
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Exclusive Offer for Board of Trade Members
Everyone enjoys good savings, right? Take advantage of the purchasing power that membership in the Ottawa Board of Trade offers! With an extensive selection, shop items like office supplies, technology, furniture and print and promotional products.
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Stay connected with Your Ottawa Board of Trade!
Members can now download the FREE MemberPlus app to:
- Stay up-to-date with notifications from OBOT
- Register, pay, and check in for events
- Access your Member Information Center
- Interact with other members
- and so much more!
Download the app, use your member login, and stay connected with the Ottawa Board of Trade anywhere, anytime from any device.
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THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS!
The Ottawa Board of Trade is a non-profit, non partisan, independent
association that exists for the sole purpose of advocating for our
businesses and growing community prosperity. Although we are driven by the needs of the entire business community, it is the members who make it possible for Ottawa to have a strong voice of business. And it may never be more important than now. So please join us in saying
THANK YOU to our members.
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