Jill Andrew MPP, Toronto–St. Paul's

Government of Ontario

State of Emergency Declared

Published on March 17, 2020

State of emergency 

On March 17, Premier Doug Ford announced a state of emergency. This gives the government emergency powers for a period of 14 days. There will be an immediate closure of the below, as well as a prohibition on any gathering of 50 people or more.

Closures:

  • All facilities providing indoor recreational programs;
  • All public libraries;
  • All private schools as defined in the Education Act;
  • All licensed child care centres;
  • All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery;
  • All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies
  • Concert venues.

What's not closed: Grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, public transit, office buildings, and manufacturing. Also, no new eviction orders will be made, nor existing eviction orders be enforced.