Whereas the Council of the Town of Kingsville recognizes that safety and well-being of residents across Windsor-Essex remain critically important with the current state of emergency and pandemic around Covid-19 and respects that appropriate safety protocols are needed to limit the exposure of the virus to citizens,
AND Whereas health and well-being of communities must include considerations for mental health and economic health for residents, schools, municipalities, and small business owners who have struggled through lockdowns,
AND Whereas these considerations currently allow for citizens to cross the border to attend sporting events, restaurants and concerts without capacity restrictions;
AND Whereas residents are also able to attend local sporting events, shop in big box stores locally and neighbouring Health Unit jurisdictions also allow for continuance of business in the service industry without introducing economically challenging capacity limits;
NOW Whereas the Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) issued an updated Letter of Instruction on December 5th, 2021 which addresses new limits on gatherings and specifically imposes a limit to the indoor capacity of bars and restaurants to be no greater than 50 percent of their total capacity;
AND Whereas Workplaces/businesses are currently required under the Reopening Ontario Act 2020 (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) to keep a list of attendees (visitors, patrons, clients) to the workplace including name and contact information must provide the list to the WECHU within immediately request from a WECHU official,
AND Whereas area restaurants and bars must ensure a process for proof of vaccination status is in place where applicable, as per instructions under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020.
AND Whereas Windsor- Essex residents have nearly an 80 per cent vaccination rate,
THEREFORE, the Town of Kingsvillle believes sufficient requirements are in place regarding gathering limitations and is greatly concerned for the creation of an unlevel playing field for restaurants and bars who represent the only targeted businesses in this reduction of capacity to 50% as it impairs their economic health at this critical time of year,
AND Furthermore, Kingsville Council supports that the WECHU immediately withdraw this instruction for restaurants and bars as their risk is arguably no greater than any other small business and likely less than larger businesses, and sporting venues.
AND Furthermore, Kingsville Council joins the call and voices from the restaurant sector that encourage WECHU to fully enforce the current requirements of their sector under the Reopening Ontario Act to ensure those who are not following the regulation are addressed without impacting the balance of the sector who are in compliance.
A copy of this resolution is hereby directed to be provided to the Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, the directors of the Windsor Essex County Health Unit Board, as well as circulated to all member municipalities in Windsor-Essex County including the County of Essex and City of Windsor, the Premier of Ontario, and each Windsor-Essex MPP.