Marinas, boat clubs, and public boat launches can reopen starting Saturday, May 16, in time for the Victoria Day long weekend.
Private parks and campgrounds can also open to enable preparation for the season and to allow for access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract, the province announced on Thursday, May 14.
Parks Canada will also begin offering limited day-use access and services at select national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas starting June 1, the federal government announced Thursday, May 14. Camping will remain prohibited for at least three weeks after that.
Marinas were preparing
Marinas were among the seasonal businesses allowed to open starting May 4 to get ready for the season, but they could not open to the public. Many municipally-owned boat launches began re-opening late last week and earlier this week.
Some 635 provincial parks reopened this week for limited day-use access. Golf courses are also among the workplaces that can reopen Saturday, albeit with clubhouses open for washrooms and restaurants open only for takeout.
The province made the move as key public health indicators continue to show progress during the pandemic.
Cautious approach
“During the last several weeks, the people of Ontario have been called on to make incredible sacrifices to help us stop the spread of COVID-19, including staying home from work, closing down businesses and going without a regular paycheque,” Premier Doug Ford stated. “However, we are reopening even more of our businesses beginning this long weekend. We are taking a cautious, balanced approach to our economic reopening, to protect the health and safety of everyone.”
To ensure the first actions to reopen the province are a success, the public must continue to adhere to public health measures. This includes practising physical distancing or wearing a face covering when physical distancing is difficult or not possible, as well as regular hand-washing, and staying home when ill, officials stated.
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