On August 20, 2020, the Ontario provincial government announced an extension of the orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario Act (the “ROA”), with some exceptions.

The extension of these orders will help the provincial government address the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and ensure measures are in place to protect vulnerable populations as the province reopens.

All orders under the ROA have been extended to September 22, 2020, with the following exceptions:

• The Education Sector order will end on August 31, 2020.
• The Limitation Periods order will end, and suspended time periods will resume running on September 14, 2020.

The following orders have been extended to September 22, 2020:

• Work Redeployment for Certain Health Service Providers
• Drinking Water Systems and Sewage Works
• Electronic Service
• Electricity Price for RPP Consumers
• Work Deployment Measures in Long-Term Care Homes
• Streamlining Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes
• Prohibition on Certain Persons Charging Unconscionable Prices for Sales of Necessary Goods
• Work Deployment Measures for Boards of Health
• Work Deployment Measures in Retirement Homes
• Service Agencies Providing Services and Supports to Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Service Providers Providing Intervenor Services
• Signatures in Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Use of Force and Firearms in Policing Services
• Temporary Health or Residential Facilities
• Work Deployment Measures for Service Agencies Providing Violence Against Women Residential Services and Crisis Line Services
• Limiting Work to a Single Long-Term Care Home
• Work Deployment Measures for District Social Services Administration Boards
• Deployment of Employees of Service Provider Organizations

The ROA was passed to ensure important measures remained in place after Ontario’s emergency declaration ended. The orders under the ROA, initially made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act,were continued for another 30 days when the ROA came into effect on July 24, 2020. The orders were set to expire on August 23, 2020.

Under the ROA, orders can be extended for up to 30 days at a time. The Ontario government continues to review all orders in place for further extension.

To read Mathews Dinsdale’s initial update on the enacting of the Reopening Ontario Act, click here. If you have any questions about this matter, other COVID-19 related issues, or would like any other workplace law assistance, please contact a Mathews Dinsdale lawyer, or refer to the Firm’s COVID-19 website resources