Construction’s going back to work.

As part of the province’s plan to restore Ontario’s economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Doug Ford announced a broader list of workplaces that would be allowed to re-open. Construction sites—all of them—are included in this new list and will be free to resume operations on May 19 after a closure of approximately six weeks.

The premier made the announcement alongside Deputy Premier Christine Elliott, Finance Minister Rod Phillips, Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli, and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton.

"During the last several weeks, the people of Ontario have been called on to make incredible sacrifices to help us stop the spread of COVID-19, including staying home from work, closing down businesses and going without a regular paycheque," said Ford. "However, we are reopening even more of our businesses beginning this long weekend. We are taking a cautious, balanced approach to our economic reopening, to protect the health and safety of everyone."

Also permitted to resume operations on May 19 are retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances that can enable physical distancing, seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individuals and single competitors, animal-care services, indoor and outdoor household services, and certain health and medical services.

The province also announced that other businesses would be allowed to reopen on May 16. Among these are golf courses, marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches, private parks and campgrounds, and businesses that board animals.

Those businesses allowed to resume operations are considered well-positioned to follow public health advice to maintain physical distancing, implement workplace safety guidance and limit gatherings.

"We are taking a cautious, practical and reasonable approach to restarting the economy, while maintaining the health and safety of the people of Ontario as our top priority," said Phillips. "This will allow Ontario to emerge from this outbreak with a clear path to economic recovery that keeps people safe and healthy."

Safety remains at the forefront of the government’s decision to restore operations to these businesses. The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has promised to deploy its inspectors across the province to ensure employers have appropriate safety measures in place.

In late April, the province announced it had developed a series of 60 safety guidance documents for employers in all manner of sectors. That list has since been expanded to now include more than 90 sectors. Construction is among them.

To further help employers to keep workplaces safe, the government also announced that it has launched a website to provide businesses with information on where and how to source personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and sanitization products. The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory has an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment.

"We will leave no stone unturned in our mission to keep workers in this province safe," said McNaughton. "Ontario's labour laws are clear: businesses must protect the health and safety of workers, including against workplace hazards like COVID-19. That's why our ministry has released practical safety guidelines, doubled our capacity to help people by phone and hired more inspectors. We want to ensure everyone is safe at work."

The province has hinted at its plan to gradually re-open Ontario’s economy since the end of March. At that time, it released its framework for re-opening that included three stages. The May 14 announcement signalled the launch of stage 1. It is not clear when the province might relax restrictions further and bring the economy to its second stage.

Reaction to the news that construction would be permitted to resume full activities has been met with praise from stakeholders around the industry.

“Allowing all residential construction to proceed in Ontario as of next week will have a tremendously positive impact on the economic recovery of the province as well as ensuring that housing is provided for thousands of Ontarians,” said Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario. “It will be critical that the municipal development and building review, permitting and inspection process support the industry’s efforts. RESCON and others are engaged in identifying enhanced performance standards and related innovations that will help in this effort.”

Ontario General Contractors Association president Clive Thurston called the decision “great news” in a recorded statement. He thanked the premier for taking such action, and pledged that the industry would “move forward in a safe and healthy manner.”