When is last call? Questions remain as Toronto restaurants scramble to reopen patios safely
Restaurants are excited to welcome back the public once again to its patios when the Ontario government kick starts Step 1 of its plan to reopen of the economy, but many are scrambling.
The government has set June 14 as the target date and now says there’s a chance it could happen earlier. The last time patios were allowed to open was the end of March.
Aside from four people being able to sit at tables distanced apart— restauranteurs have a lot of questions.
“When’s last call? Are we going to have last call at 9 p.m. when the sun’s still blazing? How do I staff? How do I train? It’s absolutely confusing,” said Shamez Amlani, owner of La Palette on Queen Street West.
Early on in the pandemic, Amlani rejigged his French restaurant into a wine shop. Down the street his live music venue sells groceries and sandwiches.
He’s looking forward to the reopening but is also concerned about budgeting, bringing in perishable foods and hiring enough staff — his former employees are elsewhere.
“I know maître ds who’ve turned real estate agents, I know cooks who’ve taken up gigs in B.C., Turks and Caicos … Mixologists who have moved to Montreal, so our industry has taken a beating.”
The scramble for labour is creating a competitive environment. Some Toronto Business Improvement Areas told CTV News Toronto that bars and restaurants won’t have the staff to maximize their earnings.
In Bloorcourt, Wise Bar was concerted into Wise Bagel as a result of COVID-19.
The ups and downs of the pandemic economy has made owner Tamara Wise apprehensive about what the latest reopening will look like and how long it will last.
“It is very frustrating,” she told CTV News Toronto. “I don’t really have faith that what the government plans is going to happen. Even if they had a clear message at this point, I’m not sure I would believe it.”
Wise bagel starts to prepare their curbside patio as Ontario gets ready to reopen. (Beth Macdonell/CTV News Toronto)
CTV News Toronto reached out the Premier’s Office about reopening questions and concerns. It said the province will confirm details closer to the expected start of Step 1.
“I definitely feel a little overwhelmed,” Wise said. “Off the bat just the safety for me and my staff, a bit worried about re-entering a space where a lot of people will be unmasked.”
Everything considered she’s decided to wait to reopen her patio until at least June 14, whether or not the green light comes before then.
“My other main concern is putting a lot of energy time and money into a reopening project that won’t come to pass or will only be allowed for two weeks or so i’ve really done as little investment as possible both financially and emotionally.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.