Barrie’s mayor reacts as the province lifts more restrictions
Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman is calling the province's plan to manage COVID-19 "great news."
The plan will see capacity restrictions lifted for settings where proof of vaccine is required to enter.
This includes restaurants, bars and gyms, which have been the hardest hit since the beginning of the pandemic.
"They've waited for this day a long time," says Jeff Lehman. "I think a lot of people were asking themselves, why can you have the 20,000 people at a hockey game, and you can't have full capacity in a restaurant."
According to Lehman, several restaurants across the city have told him it didn't make sense financially to operate under strict capacity limits to support their cost base.
"Any business that depends on the number of customers that you're able to put through, they need the capacity," says Lehman.
The changes come into effect starting Mon., Oct. 25 at 12:01 a.m.
It will see capacity limits and physical distancing measures also lifted for personal care services, such as barbershops, salons and tattoo parlours, and indoor amusement parks and museums just as long as they choose to require proof of vaccination.
Capacity is also expected to increase at city-run recreational and fitness centres, such as the Holly Community Centre and Allandale Arena.
While Lehman says the city did get a sense the announcement from the province was coming, he says the city-run centres may not be ready when the changes go into effect.
"They can't pivot on one day," he said. "It may not be Monday that all the changes are made, but I'm quite confident that we'll be able to adjust next week," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.