.png)
Ontario Allows Beer, Wine & Spirits To Be Sold with Take-Out & Delivery Orders
When the provincial government declared a state of emergency in Ontario and ordered the immediate closure of bars and restaurants, except those offering take-out or delivery, ORHMA immediately advocated to enhance consumer choice to allow restaurants to sell beer, wine and spirits for home consumption as the mandated closures created a level of unfairness for restaurants and foodservice operators. Our voice was heard and the provincial government has announced that bars and restaurants who offer take-out or delivery services are temporarily permitted to include the sale of beer, wine and spirits with their orders. Effective immediately, licensed restaurants and bars in Ontario may sell alcohol with food take-out and delivery orders between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 pm. All active liquor licensees may immediately begin offering this service if they choose and there is no application process or fee required. Liquor may be sold for take-out or delivery through a third party, such as a food delivery service or ordering platform, provided they are acting on behalf of the licensee. Read more.
Ontario Announces 2020 Fiscal Update with First Stage of Relief for Businesses
On March 25th, 2020, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips released the province's 2020 economic and fiscal update. The contents of the fiscal update are focused mainly on the province's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ontario's economic update supports health funding and also offers relief for the people of Ontario, employers and employees. The provincial government has committed funding for the following initiatives:
- $17 billion to its COVID-19 response
- $10 billion in support for people and businesses through tax and other deferrals
- $3.3 billion to support the health care system
- $3.7 billion in direct support for people and jobs
On behalf of Ontario's hospitality industry, ORHMA lobbied for relief for businesses in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A $1.3 billion contingency fund has been included in the 2020 fiscal update for business support.
Read more.
ORHMA Submits List of Pandemic Relief Recommendations
ORHMA is turning to government and has prepared a list of recommended initiatives to support hospitality businesses both now and once this global pandemic has passed. We will continue to communicate with you, our members, with updates and outreach and will continue to advocate on your behalf. We recognize these are unsettling times and we want you to know that we care about your safety and business well-being. It is our first priority. For a full list of Pandemic Relief Recommendations, click here.
Federal Government Announces an $82 Billion Support Package
The Prime Minister also announced $82 billion in additional support measures. This includes $27 billion in direct support to workers and businesses, and $55 billion to meet liquidity needs of businesses and households to stabilize the economy through tax deferrals. To read Canada's full Economic Response Plan, click here.
ORHMA Launches COVID-19 Website for Hospitality Industry
ORHMA has been actively monitoring the coronavirus spread right from the beginning and we have provided safety measures to many organizations and we are committed to continuing to do so. We remain committed to continue providing resources for employers but also for employees and the guests who frequent our establishments. We are ready for you to lean on us and respond to your needs in these unprecedented times. This is why ORHMA has launched a dedicated website for our members in order to access information that will help your operations during this pandemic. This website includes information on the virus, its symptoms and treatments, employment law information, complimentary webinars and more. Click here to view ORHMA’s dedicated COVID-19 in the Hospitality Industry Resource Site.