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Be aware, though, that these measures are having dramatic impacts on the lives of people across Ontario, many of them the least able to afford a shutdown.
Thankfully, Premier Doug Ford said he is starting to think of when and how to reopen.
“Our goal is to open up the economy safely,” Ford said, adding that areas with few cases like Northern Ontario could open soon. “A couple of hot zones might be a week later.”
Ford added an announcement on how and when the economy might open up could come as soon as Monday.
He has to do something. The Emergency Order that Ford invoked on Jan. 14 and extended on Jan. 28, comes to an end as of Feb. 11. To extend any further would require a vote in the legislature which returns next week.
Truth be told, the opposition NDP and the Liberals would likely vote to keep Ontario closed for much longer, but they shouldn’t. If they believe the claims they made to the public before Christmas about wanting small retailers open rather than big box stores, then they should vote to open.
That opening may include extending the emergency order, but must include a relaxation of restrictions. We can return to a staggered or regional approach, if necessary, but in my view, all retail should open as of next week.
It makes no sense to push people to shop only at a select few large retailers or online. Allow stores to open but borrow from Alberta and set a limit for customers based on a percentage of the location’s fire code capacity.
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