We are entering Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario!
The Ontario Government released a three-step Roadmap that will guide a safe and gradual reopening of the province and the lifting of public health measures based on ongoing progress of provincewide vaccination rates and improvement in key public health and health care indicators.
The government will enter Step 1 of the Roadmap on Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. The Government has indicated that the province will remain in each of the steps for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the vaccination thresholds have been met, alongside positive trends of other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move forward.
Highlights for Restauranteurs:
Restaurants and bars and other food or drink establishments
Liquor sales licensees will be allowed to offer outdoor dining with restrictions. No more than four people may be seated together at an outdoor table at the establishment unless everyone seated at the table is:
• a member of the same household,
• a member of up to one other household who lives alone, or
• a caregiver for any member of either household.
The total number of patrons permitted to be seated outdoors must be limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person at the establishment.
Patrons must be seated at all times in any outdoor dining area of the establishment except,
• while entering the area and while moving to their table,
• while placing or picking up an order,
• while paying for an order,
• while exiting the area,
• while going to or returning from a washroom,
• while lining up to do anything described above, or
• where necessary for the purposes of health and safety.
Music must not be played at a decibel level that exceeds the level at which normal conversation is possible.
No person shall dance, sing or perform music at the establishment.
If an outdoor dining area at the establishment is covered by a roof, canopy, tent, awning or other element, at least two full sides of the entire outdoor dining area must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked by any walls or other impermeable physical barriers.
If an outdoor dining area at the establishment is equipped with a retractable roof and the roof is retracted, at least one full side of the outdoor dining area must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked by any walls or other impermeable physical barriers.
All eligible liquor sales licensees (including Boat Operators and “By the Glass” licensees) may add or temporarily extend their licensed premises without an application to the AGCO. For more details on the Registrar’s 2021 Patio Policy, please see this Information Bulletin.
Regular hours for the sale and service of liquor for consumption on licensed premises will resume; permissible hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Take out and delivery of liquor continues to be allowed between 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Strip clubs and nightclubs are permitted to operate as a restaurant in alignment with restaurant restrictions.
To view an overview how How the public health measures under Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen affect the AGCO-regulated sectors in Step one, please visit the following link: https://www.agco.ca/how-public-health-measures-under-ontarios-roadmap-reopen-affect-agco-regulated-sectors.
To read the Reopening of Ontario Three Step Process, please visit the following link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario/.
Let’s all do our part to get through this together. The LLCO is excited for Patio Season. Please contact us with your liquor sales licence inquiries.