Ontario government lifts capacity limits for organized events outdoors
The Ontario government will begin allowing large-scale organized events outdoors immediately, paving the way for full capacity Remembrance Day ceremonies and Santa Claus parades in the coming weeks.
The regulatory amendments, which were approved on Wednesday, effectively lift the capacity limits for all organized public events held outdoors so long as attendees wear masks when a physical distance of two metres cannot be maintained.
The amendments also remove the outdoor capacity limits in the handful of sectors where they had remained.
That means that ski hills and other outdoor recreational amenities can operate without capacity limits, as can festivals and the outdoor areas of fairs and rural exhibitions. Proof-of-vaccination will continue to be required in outdoor settings where the capacity is 20,000 or more.
Outdoor social gatherings will also continue to be capped at 100 people for the time being.
The changes come after the Ford government lifted indoor capacity limits for most settings where proof-of-vaccination is required on Monday, including bars, restaurants and gyms.
The Ford government has also indicated that it plans to lift all remaining public health requirements by the end of March, including the mandatory masking order.
At this point it remains unclear whether the regulatory changes will result in a slew of major events this winter.
Organizers of the Toronto Santa Claus Parade recently announced that the event would be broadcast-only for the second year in a row, in part because many of the children who typically attend the event cannot yet be vaccinated.
But in Brampton officials have announced plans to hold several annual events in-person this fall and winter, including a Remembrance Day ceremony, the Winter Lights Festival and several Halloween events.
“I am very pleased with today’s announcement by the Ontario government that will lift capacity limits for organized outdoor events. This was long overdue,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. “If we can have 20,000 people indoors at sporting events, there is no reason we cannot have our traditional large outdoor events like Remembrance Day Services, Santa Claus Parade, Winter Lights Festival and New Year’s Eve celebrations.”
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore was asked about the regulatory changes during a briefing on Thursday and said that his office heard “loud and clear” from municipal partners about their desire to return to hosting some large-scale events. He said that he is confident that things like Santa Claus parades can be held safely so long as precautions are taken.
“Given that they’re outdoors and our rates across Ontario are steadily decreasing we certainly hope that at the regional level they will make decisions to enable the parades to go forward,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.