Risking lives, risking freedoms, risking livelihoods

By MPP Toby Barrett

To The Haldimand Press

Throughout the world people and their governments are making a myriad of decisions that are risking lives, risking freedoms, and risking livelihoods.

To continue to take on the challenges of coronavirus, Ontario has extended its Declaration of Emergency to May 12.

First announced on March 17, these measures under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, mean that non-essential workplaces will remain closed, gatherings will continue to be restricted to five people, price-gouging remains outlawed, and restaurants will be limited to takeout. Students will not be going back to school May 4 and there is no set date for their return.

The legislation also permits Haldimand, Norfolk, and all municipalities to extend their own state of emergency – with measures sometimes at odds with the province, and also with varying levels of support.

Canada’s proposal to bring in sweeping powers to deal with COVID-19 under the Emergencies Act has been opposed by most of the provinces, including Ontario.