As the province heads into its 50th day spent under a state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, further business shutdown restrictions have been loosened in Ontario.
Today, the provincial government announced that it would be expanding the parameters of essential construction to other activities and easing limitations on retail stores. This latest relaxation of restrictions will permit below-grade multi-unit residential construction projects to begin, along with allowing for the continuation of existing above-grade projects.
“For these buildings, below-grade work will be permitted and existing above-grade projects can continue so we can keep adding more housing and creating more jobs on the path to economic recovery,” said Premier Doug Ford in a daily press conference.
The expansion of essential construction operations means work on apartment and condominium projects can start or resume, slowly easing construction activities back to normal levels.
“With almost two thirds of the new housing units delivered each year in the GTA being in high-rise buildings, the resumption of below-grade construction is absolutely vital to meeting the region’s housing needs,” said Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) in a joint press release with the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA). “No work on a high-rise building can start without below-grade construction being completed.”
BILD explains that below-grade construction, which includes excavation, concrete forming, reinforcing and pouring, is used to install the foundation and systems that support high-rise structures. All expanded essential construction activities must comply with social distancing and virus prevention practices determined by the Ministry of Labour, according to the press release.
“We applaud the Government of Ontario for taking steady and consistent steps to safely re-activate residential construction work,” said Joe Vaccaro, CEO of OHBA in the joint press release. “With enhanced health and safety policies, buildings across Ontario can resume construction and move closer to completion. This decision moves thousands of families closer to getting the keys for their new homes.”
As of Monday, under the condition that they follow strict public health and safety protocol, the province has gradually started to reopen select businesses, including marinas, golf courses and landscaping companies. Today’s eased restrictions will also allow nurseries, garden centres and hardware stores to open for in-person visits over the course of the week. Retail stores with street entrances will also be permitted to provide curbside pick up and delivery services beginning Monday, May 11th.
On April 27th, a three-stage framework was released by the Ontario government outlining the gradual reopening of the province.
“We applaud the Government of Ontario for taking steady and consistent steps to safely re-activate residential construction work,” said Joe Vaccaro, CEO of OHBA in the joint press release. “With enhanced health and safety policies, buildings across Ontario can resume construction and move closer to completion. This decision moves thousands of families closer to getting the keys for their new homes.”
As of Monday, under the condition that they follow strict public health and safety protocol, the province has gradually started to reopen select businesses, including marinas, golf courses and landscaping companies. Today’s eased restrictions will also allow nurseries, garden centres and hardware stores to open for in-person visits over the course of the week. Retail stores with street entrances will also be permitted to provide curbside pick up and delivery services beginning Monday, May 11th.
On April 27th, a three-stage framework was released by the Ontario government outlining the gradual reopening of the province.
Maziar Moini, Broker of Record - Home Leader Realty Inc.
300 Richmond St. W., #300, Toronto, ON M5V-1X2
