Ontario issues Stay-at-Home Order
Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. This order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings to essential trips, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.
Letter Template to provide your employees
Landscape Ontario's Covid-19 Task Force hosted Q&A Meeting on the Stay-at-Home Order - Jan. 14, 2021
Here's how the order impacts Landscape and Horticulture Businesses
Snow Clearing and Landscaping Services
Q: Are snow clearing and landscaping services permitted?
A: Yes, "snow clearing and landscaping services" are explicitly listed as permitted services on Page 19 of the "Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Provincewide Shutdown" document.
Garden Centres
Q: Are garden centres permitted to operate?
A: Garden centres are permitted to provide curbside pickup and delivery: "Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted with operating hours of 7 am to 8 pm. An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises." Refer to Page 18 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.
Construction
Q: Is construction permitted?
A: Residential construction projects are permitted under specific circumstances, including:
Where the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021.
Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure.
Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety."
Refer to Page 23 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.
Growers
Q: Are nursery growers permitted to operate?
A: Yes, "businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing," and "businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants" are permitted. Refer to& Page 23 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.