Ontario finally lifts capacity limits for bars and restaurants - What that means for the industry and public at large

October 25, 2021 marks the first day in over 19 months dining inside a restaurant without physical distancing is permitted.

🕒 8 min read

Bars, restaurants, and other food and drink establishments across the province are transforming their spaces for the umpteenth time since the outset of the pandemic in March 2020, when restaurants were ordered to shut down indoor dining, permitted to remain open for only takeout and/or delivery.

As of Monday, October 25, 2021 at 12:01am, these businesses are permitted to open at full capacity indoors without previously required physical distancing for the first time in over 19 months. Large venues such as concert arenas, movie theatres, and racetracks were allowed to ditch enforced limits and operate at full capacity on October 8, 2021.

Patios reopened as part of Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen on June 11, followed by indoor dining with reduced capacity (no limits on number of patrons per table, however physical distancing and other restrictions were still in effect) introduced just three months ago n July 16, in accordance with Step 3.

Planning ahead

The first “milestone” in A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term, released by the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health on October 22, 2021, lifts capacity limits in most settings where proof of vaccination are required including restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments, and venues including gyms, casinos, event spaces, and certain outdoor settings.

The plan outlines the schedule of province’s “gradual approach to lifting remaining public health and workplace safety measures by March 2022,” including mask regulations.

Infographic of the plan outlined by the province illustrates abbreviated information with respect to food and drink businesses. For complete details, see A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term.

The plan also includes a statement by Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health: “We are now in a position where we can see the proposed plan for lifting the remaining public health and workplace safety measures in Ontario. The months ahead will require continued vigilance, as we don’t want to cause anymore unnecessary disruption to people’s everyday lives. We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the public health measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their shots. Ontario has the infrastructure in place to manage outbreaks, including a high-volume capacity for testing, and people to perform fast and effective case and contact management when needed.”

Proof of vaccination

Ontarians have been required to be fully vaccinated with proof of vaccination and government issued ID to dine indoors since September 22, 2021. According to the provincial government’s current schedule, the vaccination certificate program could end as soon as mid-January.

Due to vaccination requirements, some businesses have chosen not to offer indoor dining, such as The Goods and the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, while others are not currently accepting medical exemptions including Bistro on Avenue and Farside. Though not currently mandated by the province, some establishments - Godspeed Brewery, Osteria Rialto - require proof of vaccination for patio seating.

Individuals can now download enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificates.

Verify Ontario, the vaccine verification app for businesses, launched October 14 on Apple and Google. As of October 18, individuals can download enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificates with scannable QR codes.

Restaurants Canada, a national not-for-profit association representing Canada's foodservice industry, is asking the provincial government to provide “additional support for the hard-hit foodservice industry in light of the additional costs and revenue losses that restaurants have incurred from implementing the vaccine passport system.” In a recent survey conducted by the hospitality organization, 60 percent of restaurant operators reported a drop in revenue as a direct result of proof of vaccination requirements. “When combined with the higher staffing levels needed and other costs incurred from having to enforce the new rules,” the statement reads, “restaurants need additional support to continue providing jobs and growing the Ontario economy.”

The long road to recovery

Throughout the global crisis, restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments had to transform their spaces into fully operational takeout and delivery operations. Now they must operate all facets – takeout, delivery, patio if applicable, and indoor dining - while implementing strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

While the reintroduction of indoor dining is certainly good news for the industry, the road to recovery is long. With the recent end of government wage and rent subsidies, organizations such as Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reiterate the hardships facing the community. “COVID-19 is still hitting the small business community hard. Despite the economy reopening, many businesses are continuing to struggle – or shutter – without better relief from the federal government.”  the organization launched a petition asking the government for more support reporting 58 per cent of business owners having sales “well below normal levels.” and only 78 per cent of businesses “fully open.”

The hospitality industry has been dealt severe blows throughout the pandemic. In addition to reconfiguring their indoor spaces  countless times throughout the pandemic – blocking off dining areas, setting up and implementing systems and making room for takeout and delivery, installing plexiglass and other dividers, setting up procedures for disinfecting and contact tracing, building patios and furnishing them, numerous establishments have turned their dining room into a full production line - now they must reimagine spaces once again to welcome guests indoors. According to the schedule laid out by the province, that could mean vaccinated and unvaccinated guests dining side-by-side in as little as under three months from now.

Although increased capacity is a step forward for the industry, it doesn’t ensure “business as usual.” Hurdles continue with staffing shortages, local and global supply chain issues, inflation, and the recent end to federal wage and rent subsidies. The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), which has been rallying on behalf of Canada’s hardest hit businesses throughout the pandemic, has asked the government to launch “a new, tailored wage and fixed cost support program be established at the earliest opportunity” to ensure they survive these upcoming colder months.

Cooler weather signifies the end of patio season. which according to CaféTO is November 10, 2021,. And while there is a possibility of the CaféTO patio program becoming permanent (New York confirmed a year-round program last year), it won’t be anytime soon - the City of Toronto report recommends the return of temporary curb lane cafés “next year, with installation starting as early as May 2022 and under similar guidelines and requirements from 2021, it also includes a recommendation to develop criteria for the permanent, seasonal use of curb lane cafés by 2023,” as part of a “phased approach toward a permanent and streamlined CaféTO program.”

A step forward

As establishments continues to face a multitude of obstacles, lifting capacity limits for indoor dining as patio season comes to a close is a much needed boost and step forward in the industry’s recovery.

Further ways you can help: Pick up groceries, pantry items, prepared foods, meal kits, and libations at neighbourhood bars, restaurants, cafes, and bottle shops. Ordering in? Visit the establishment’s website to place your order. Better yet, pick up the phone. 

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