Ontario Premier Doug Ford yesterday presented the province’s reopening plan, outlining a gradual lifting of restrictions on activities including retail.
The three-step plan, which is tied to vaccine takeup, was provided with estimated target dates. It would allow for non-essential retailers to open for in-person shopping at 15 percent capacity once 60 percent of adults in the province have received one vaccine dose (around June 15). Essential retailers such as hardware stores would remain at a limit of 25 percent.
At least three weeks later, with first doses administered to 70 percent of adults and 20 percent fully vaccinated, those limits would increase to 25 and 50 percent, respectively.
In a statement, the Retail Council of Canada said it was “frustrated and incensed” with the timeline put forward by the government, arguing many retailers will struggle to stay afloat until June 15.
“We implore the Ontario government to let retailers reopen immediately at reduced capacities and with the continued health and safety measures that retailers continue to adhere to,” the council wrote.
