Overview
On March 17, 2020 the Province of Ontario, pursuant to an
Order-in-Cabinet, invoked its powers under the Emergency
Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) to declare a state
of emergency in Ontario due to COVID-19. Pursuant to section
7.02(4)5.of the EMPCA Cabinet has the power to Order
the
Closing [of] any place, whether public or private, including
any business, office, school, hospital or other establishment or
institution.
On that same day, the Government of Ontario released lists of
both essential and non-essential businesses and business
activities. All non-essential businesses were ordered to shut
down.
Under the original order most projects in the construction
industry, including all of those in the industrial, commercial and
institutional (ICI) and residential sectors were deemed essential
and exempt from closure.
