For many who want to travel to their operations in Ontario, unless it is essential business, all business must be conducted remotely.  Ontario’s Stay at Home Order has been continued until June 2, and it may be extended further.   Further, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the ban on nonessential travel with the United States will not be lifted until COVID-19 is significantly more under control around the world.  On May 21, the Government of Canada extended the temporary travel measures restricting entry into Canada by foreign nationals until June 21, 2021.

On May 20^th, the government of Ontario released its “Roadmap to Reopen,” a three-step plan that the government believes will guide a safe and gradual reopening of the province and the lifting of public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health system indicators.

Each step will last at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health indicators.  If at the end of the 21 days, the vaccination thresholds have been met, alongside positive trends of other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move forward to the next step.

Step One may begin after 60% of Ontario’s adults receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. If public health indicators, such as hospitalizations, ICU occupancy, and new admissions and case rates indicate, the province can safely move to this step of the roadmap.  Given all indicators, it is expected to enter Step One the week of June 14^th.

Step One will permit the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized and will permit retail, all with restrictions in place, including but not limited to:

• Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people;
• Outdoor dining up to 4 people per table;
• Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 people;
• Essential retail at 25 per cent capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box);
• Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity;
• Retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance;
• Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit 2 meters’ physical distancing;
• Horse racing and motor speedways without spectators;
• Outdoor horse riding;
• Outdoor pools and wading pools with capacity limited to permit 2 meters’ physical distancing;
• Outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limits;
• Campsites, campgrounds and short-term rentals; and
• Overnight camping at Ontario Parks.

Most of these activities are similar to Michigan’s reopening, but more restrictive. 

After 21 days, if the province has vaccinated 70% of adults with one dose, 20% of adults with two doses, and there are positive trends in public health and health system indicators, Ontario will move to Step Two.

Step Two activities include:

• Outdoor gatherings up to 25 people;
• Indoor gatherings up to 5 people and other restrictions;
• Outdoor dining up to 6 people per table;
• Outdoor sports and leagues;
• Overnight camps;
• Outdoor meeting and event spaces with capacity limits;
• Non-essential retail at 25 per cent capacity; essential retail at 50 per cent capacity;
• Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times with capacity limits;
• Outdoor cinemas and performing arts with capacity limits;
• Horse racing and motor speedways for spectators with capacity limits;
• Outdoor tour and guide services with capacity limits;
• Indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity;
• Public libraries with capacity limits;
• Outdoor waterparks and amusement parks with capacity limits; and
• Fairs and rural exhibitions with capacity limits.

Again, this approach is more restrictive than in Michigan.

Finally, Step Three will begin if at the end of those 21 days the province has vaccinated 70% to 80% of adults with one dose, 25% of adults with two, and other positive trends in public health and health system indicators continue. 

At this stage:

• Outdoor gatherings with larger capacity limits;
• Indoor gatherings with larger capacity limits and other restrictions;
• Indoor dining with capacity limits;
• Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities with capacity limits;
• Indoor meeting and event spaces with capacity limits;
• Essential and non-essential retail capacity expanded;
• Personal care services with capacity expanded and other restrictions;
• Indoor cinemas and performing arts facilities with capacity limits;
• Indoor and outdoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings with capacity limited to permit 2 meters’ physical distancing;
• Indoor museums and art galleries with capacity limits;
• Indoor zoos, aquariums, waterparks and amusement parks with capacity limits;
• Casinos and bingo halls with capacity limits; and
• Other outdoor activities from Step Two permitted to operate indoors.

Although the province may open, border controls are mandated by the Canadian central government.  Therefore, in June, there may be more leniency on opening to the U.S. if the Roadmap to Reopen statistics become highly positive.