Covid-19 Task Force Update Jan. 13 2021

Please note, the information provided is subject to change as the provincial government continues to update the order. Landscape Ontario will provide information to members as the situation develops.

Join LO’s emergency Q&A at Congress Connect
Landscape Ontario is hosting a Q&A on the new government orders at its Congress Connect Booth on Jan. 14 at 9 a.m. You’ll need to sign up for Congress Connect to join, so please take a few minutes to do so. Registration is free and also provides access to the supplier marketplace for the year. Sign in tomorrow morning and navigate to the "Landscape Ontario Membership" Booth to participate.

Utilize LO’s essential worker template letter
Landscape Ontario has also created a template letter for members to provide employees engaged in essential work. We recommend you customize the letter with your company letterhead and copy and paste the relevant sections to correspond to your business. Also, consider printing copies of the updated shutdown order, and highlighting the relevant sections for your employees to have with them when on the job or travelling to and from work.

Develop a workplace safety plan
All businesses that are operating in Ontario are required to develop a COVID-19 workplace safety plan and to review and update it regularly. Find more information, including a template to create your own safety plan on the government’s website.

Here’s how the new Stay-at-Home Order impacts landscape and horticulture businesses. Note, this information is up to date as of Jan. 13, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. The information is subject to change.

Snow Clearing and Landscaping Services

Q: Are snow clearing and landscaping services permitted?

A: Yes, "snow clearing and landscaping services" are explicitly listed as permitted services on Page 19 of the "Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Provincewide Shutdown" document.

Garden Centres

Q: Are garden centres permitted to operate?

A: Garden centres are permitted to provide curbside pickup and delivery: "Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted with operating hours of 7 am to 8 pm. An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises." Refer to Page 18 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.

Construction
Q: Is construction permitted?

A: Residential construction projects are permitted under specific circumstances, including:

• Where the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021.

• Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure.

• Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety."

• Refer to Page 23 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.

Growers
Q: Are nursery growers permitted to operate?

A: Yes, "businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing," and "businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants" are permitted. Refer to& Page 23 of the "Enhancing Public Health" document.
 

Landscape Ontario’s Covid-19 Task Force
Dave Wright President, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Alan White Chair, Landscape Ontario Covid-19 Task Force
Tony DiGiovanni Executive Director, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association