WHEREAS the current Provincial framework under Red-Control will allow 30% capacity of the room indoors for religious services and ceremonies, where physical distancing can me maintained;
WHEREAS at The Region of Halton’s Council Meeting – February 17, 2021 MOVED BY: Mayor Rob Burton SECONDED BY: Councillor Dave Gittings the following resolution was passed;
“WHEREAS the foodservice industry has been the hardest hit sector in Ontario and Canada. With little to no revenue, restaurant operators will be unable to pay rent and other fixed costs, forcing them to permanently close their doors before recovery can even begin.
WHEREAS according to the January Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada, employment declined in January in three services-producing industries most affected by new and continuing public health restrictions—accommodation and food services (- 8.2%), retail trade (-7.4%), and information, culture and recreation (-2.4%).
WHEREAS according to the latest survey from Restaurants Canada: Eight out of 10 restaurants are either losing money or barely scraping by. 65% are continuing to operate at a loss, while 19% are just breaking even and 63% of foodservice businesses that are losing money expect to take at least a year to return to profitability.
WHEREAS under the Red – Control framework the Province of Ontario currently allows retail stores to operate with a 75% capacity limit and non-essential retail stores to operate with a 50% capacity limit. WHEREAS restaurants in Ontario are unfairly restricted to 10 patrons regardless of space available and capacity to safely serve patrons.
WHEREAS restaurants in British Columbia were required to determine the maximum number of patrons and staff that their premises can accommodate if they are standing or sitting two metres apart and allowed to operate above 50% capacity if they can abide by physical distancing requirements.
WHEREAS local Halton Region restaurants have invested thousands in personal protective equipment and modifying their spaces to provide a safer environment for their employees and customers. According to Restaurants Canada: restaurants have invested over $750 million in training, sanitizer stations, PPE, air purification systems, and other protective equipment, all designed to provide the highest levels of safety for their customers.
WHEREAS the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has decided to continue to not require licensees to apply or pay a fee for temporary extensions to outdoor patio spaces to safely accommodate patrons and staff;”
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville calls on the Province of Ontario to review the British Columbia restart plan and update its framework to allow restaurant capacity to be based on percentage of square footage and the ability of a restaurant to safely serve patrons;
AND THAT the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario accept our thanks for having decided to extend the same provisions and permissions to its licensing program for bars and restaurants for temporary extensions to outdoor patio spaces until the end of 2021;”
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville support and endorse the Region of Halton’s motion and;
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be circulated broadly and made publicly available and sent to the Premier of Ontario, the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ontario Minister of Health, the Attorney General of Ontario, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, the Ontario Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, York Region’s Members of Provincial Parliament and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario’s Big City Mayors, the Small Urban GTHA Mayors,York Region Municipalities ,the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Restaurants Canada.