On April 30, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton announced the release of workplace safety guidelines for employers ahead of the gradual reopening of Ontario’s economy. Premier Ford and Minister McNaughton were joined by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.
Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media about Ontario’s plan for reopening the economy.
Further Details
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidelines for Employers
This afternoon, Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton, announced the release of workplace safety guidelines for Ontario employers. These guidelines will ensure that employers are prepared to protect workers, customers, and the general public from COVID-19 once Ontario begins to gradually reopen its economy.
More than 60 sector-specific guidelines have been developed for Ontario workplaces in partnership with provincial health and safety associations. The guidelines will provide direction to employees working in the following sectors and settings, as well as general guidelines:
- Construction
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Health care
- Offices
- Transit
- Police and fire services
- Mining and forestry
- Retail and food retail
- Funeral services
- Tourism and hospitality
- Maintenance
- Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Film and television
- Agriculture
The sector-specific guidelines feature recommended actions employers can begin to plan for as they prepare to reopen and adapt operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggestions include ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, make physical changes to the workplace, and promote proper workplace sanitation.
The government will continue to work with Ontario’s health and safety associations to release additional workplace safety guidelines for more sectors.
Minister McNaughton also announced that Ontario has hired 58 new provincial labour inspectors, who will be tasked with communicating COVID-19 safety guidelines to essential workplaces and enforcing emergency measures, such as physical distancing and the closure of non-essential workplaces.
Premier Ford acknowledged that some of the guidelines released today may take time for employers to implement but are important considerations for employers prior to the reopening of Ontario’s economy. Premier Ford also expressed optimism about positive trends that Ontario has seen over the last several days.
Plan for Reopening Ontario’s Economy
Following this afternoon’s announcement, Premier Ford and Minister Elliott responded to questions from media about Ontario’s plan for reopening the economy.
Premier Ford said that he would not consider splitting Toronto from the rest of the province when determining a timeline to lift restrictions, emphasizing that action needs to occur uniformly
Minister Elliott confirmed that COVID-19 testing and surveillance in the community will be important determinants when reopening parts of the economy.
In response to questions about Ontario’s plan for resuming elective surgeries, Minister Elliott said that priority will be determined based on patient needs with a focus on cancer and cardiac surgeries. Other factors which will be considered include a possible need to move surgeons and patients from one hospital to another, as well as ensuring adequate supplies of sedation drugs and personal protective equipment. Minister Elliott also confirmed that recently added beds to create hospital surge capacity for COVID-19 will remain in place to help hospitals manage surgery backlogs created as a result of the pandemic. Minister Elliott announced that more information on Ontario’s plan for resuming elective surgeries will be shared next week.