Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Office of the Deputy Minister
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
April 13, 2021
MEMORANDUM TO: Municipal Chief Administrative Officers and Clerks
SUBJECT: Declaration of Provincial Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and Amendments to the Reopening Ontario Act
Today I am writing to share some updates related to the declaration of a provincial emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), new orders under the EMCPA and amendments to orders under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act (ROA).
By declaring a provincial emergency, the EMCPA provides the government with authority to make new orders to address the increasing COVID-19 transmission rates and associated system impacts. The declaration of emergency is valid for up to 14 days and can be extended once for up to another 14 days. Any further extensions must receive approval by the Legislature. The Legislature can extend the emergency declaration for additional periods of no more than 28 days for each extension.
As you are aware, effective April 8, 2021, the government issued a province-wide Stay-at-Home Order (Ontario Regulation 265/21). The Stay-at-Home order requires everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, which are set out in the order.
Additionally, the Ontario government issued Ontario Regulation 266/21- Residential Evictions, effective April 8, 2021. This order temporarily suspends the enforcement of residential evictions subject to specific exemptions outlined in the order.
Previously, on April 3, 2021, the province imposed a province-wide emergency brake which amended the Stages of Reopening Order under the ROA by placing all public health units under the Shutdown zone of stage 1. Additional amendments were made to the Rules for Areas in Stage 1 Order through Ontario Regulation 267/21 effective April 8, 2021.
For more details on the declaration of a provincial emergency, the province-wide Stay-at-Home Order, the temporary suspension of enforcing residential evictions and amendments under the ROA, please see the attached memorandum from the Ministry of Solicitor General to Chiefs of Police dated April 8, 2021.
Thank you, once again, for your continued efforts to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Kate Manson-Smith
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Enclosure:
Correspondence from the Ministry of the Solicitor General to allChiefsofPolicedatedApril8,2021 – Declaration of Provincial Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and Amendments to the Reopening Ontario Act
