Reopening Ontario Act

Coat of arms of Ontario, Canada

Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Long title An Act to address the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
Citation	SO 2020, c 17
Territorial extent	Ontario, Canada
Enacted by	Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Assented to	July 21, 2020
Commenced	July 24, 2020
Legislative history
Bill title	Bill 195
Introduced by	Doug Ford
First reading	July 7, 2020
Second reading	July 14, 2020
Third reading	July 21, 2020
Status: In force

The Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) is a piece of legislation enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to manage the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. The Act provides the Government of Ontario with the authority to extend and amend emergency orders made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) even after the state of emergency has ended.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in Ontario, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency under the EMCPA on March 17, 2020. As the situation evolved, there was a need for a more flexible legislative framework to manage ongoing public health risks and support economic recovery. The ROA was introduced to address these needs by allowing the government to continue enforcing and modifying emergency orders without the need for a state of emergency.

Provisions

The ROA grants the Lieutenant Governor in Council the power to extend, amend, and revoke emergency orders made under the EMCPA. Key provisions of the Act include:

• The ability to extend emergency orders for up to 30 days at a time.
• The authority to amend emergency orders to address changing circumstances.
• The requirement for the government to report to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario every 30 days on the status of emergency orders.

Impact

The ROA has been instrumental in managing the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. It has allowed for the continuation of measures such as physical distancing, mask mandates, and capacity limits in various settings. The Act has also facilitated the gradual reopening of the economy by providing a legal framework for adjusting restrictions based on public health data.

Criticism and Controversy

The ROA has faced criticism from various groups, including civil liberties organizations and opposition parties. Critics argue that the Act grants excessive power to the executive branch and lacks sufficient oversight mechanisms. There have been calls for greater transparency and accountability in the decision-making process related to emergency orders.

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
• Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act
• Public health
• Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

External links

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