Retailers urge Ontario to let stores reopen amid ‘economic carnage’ created by COVID-19 lockdowns Bookmark Please log in to listen to this story. Also available in French and Mandarin. Log In Create Free Account
Getting audio file . This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy. Full Disclaimer
Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Members of Ontario’s provincial Parliament received hundreds of letters in recent days from business owners and staff urging the government to lift lockdowns of non-essential stores.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to announce details of the province’s reopening plan as early as Monday, which could change retail rules. The letter-writing campaign is part of an increased lobbying effort by the Retail Council of Canada to encourage the provincial government to ease restrictions on the industry.
WINDSOR, ONT. According to Windsor pastor Aaron Rock and his lawyers, he is the first pastor in the province to be told by police he was being charged under the Ontario Reopening Act. He was charged for a service held at Harvest Bible Church on Dec. 20. While Rock still doesn’t have the paperwork, he says he is willing to fight it. “I really think it was the necessary next step in order for us to get our message out and be able to get ourselves in some point, before the judiciary to argue our case,” Rock said. Rock tells CTV News he was at the table with provincial leaders last spring negotiating a safe way to reopen churches.
KITCHENER Waterloo regional police say six members of a church in Woolwich Township are facing charges under the Ontario Reopening Act. Officers responded to the church on Lobsinger Line near Township Road 21 on Sunday. Police noted that there were breaches of the province-wide shutdown restrictions. Officials have confirmed the charges were laid at Trinity Bible Church. Police returned three days later and in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health issued a charge to six church members. The individuals were issued a Part III Summons under the Reopening Ontario Act for “the number of people in attendance exceeded the number permitted.”