11-17-2020 - No. 9 - Covid 19 - Restaurants At1,1,
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The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Resolution
No. 9 November 17, 2020
Moved by: Councillor Mike Strange
Seconded by: Councillor Wayne Thomson
WHEREAS In relation to Section 22 of Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act
where the Acting Niagara Regional Public Health Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hirji ordered
that restaurants and bars enforce that people are only able to dine with those living in their
household (or those essential to their physical or mental health);
WHEREAS The Chief Medical Officer of Health indicated in his letter to Regional
Councillors, that "It must be emphasized that operators of [restaurant] establishments do
not seem to be responsible for infection spreading; rather, it is members of the public who
are misusing freedom to dine in restaurants [...];"
WHEREAS evidence has shown that the majority of COVID-19 cases in Niagara have not
occurred in restaurants;
WHEREAS restricting dining to family members only will have severe financial hardship on
restaurants and is not consistent with Provincial orders and guidelines;
WHEREAS restaurant and bar owners have spent a significant amount of money and
resources on making their employees and premises COVID safe;
WHEREAS the new section 22 issued by Niagara Regional Public Health are not
consistent with Provincial guidelines, leading to confusion amongst business across
Niagara. As it currently stands, the Provincial COVID-19 framework in ORANGE level
restricts diners to 4 diners per table and the Regional Medical Officer of Health's order
indicated that no more than 6 people be seated at a table;
WHEREAS many hospitality workers are laid off and financially struggling, along with
business owners in this industry; and
WHEREAS, the hospitality industry directly accounts for 13% of all jobs in Niagara;
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WHEREAS each level of restrictions has devastating ramifications for the people working in
these industries;
WHEREAS these restrictions will make the problem worse by driving people together in to
situations where no contact tracing, sanitization, face coverings or physical distancing is
enforced;
WHEREAS businesses and business leaders were not consulted on the best direction;
WHEREAS many other types of businesses are allowing significantly more people in to
their establishments in a safe way;
WHEREAS this approach didn't work in Peel and numbers continued to escalate;
WHEREAS there is no evidence that this type of measure will improve public safety;
WHEREAS restaurants are more than just eating and drinking places, they're places to
celebrate and enjoy family and friends and are an integral part of the fabric of our
communities,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Public Health Department step up inspections
and enforcement of Provincial COVID-19 protocols for those in non-compliance under
Provincial Orders, that compliance with the Provincial Framework be made the priority, and
that Public Health immediately halt the directive of dining only with those in the same
household, in order to avoid unnecessary business losses and casualties;
AND FURTHER that a copy of this resolution immediately be sent to all of the Members of
Niagara Regional Council, Senior Staff at the Region of Niagara and all Local Area
Municipalities.
CARO -
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AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed.
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' /ce/
WILLIAM G. MATSON JAMES M. DIODATI
CITY CLERK MAYOR
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