Ontario extends state of emergency until at least May 19

Ontario officials announced today that all emergency orders currently in effect in the province under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act have been extended until at least May 19. 

The province first put the orders in place on March 17, and this move means all non-essential businesses, park amenities and recreational areas, as well as restaurants and bars will remain closed while restrictions on social gatherings will persist. 

The orders will remain in place for at least another two weeks instead of ending on May 12 as previously planned, meaning Victoria Day won't be the free-for-all some Ontarians were hoping for. 

To help stop the spread of #COVID19, emergency orders that have been put in place to-date have been extended until May 19. Protecting the health and safety of people across the province is our top priority.

Learn more: https://t.co/4lJQ1nho75 | @ONsafety pic.twitter.com/jFol2LmtJf

— Ontario Government (@ONgov) May 6, 2020

The province has also extended emergency electricity rate relief until the end of the month. 

As a result, all customers who pay time-of-use rates will continue to be billed at the lowest price (off-peak price) during all hours of the day. 

This electricity rate relief was initially provided for a 45-day period starting on March 24, and it has been extended by an emergency order for an additional 24 days. 

The Ontario government is extending emergency electricity rate relief to families, farms and small businesses until May 31, 2020. Customers who pay time-of-use electricity rates will continue to be billed at the lowest price (off-peak) 24/7.
https://t.co/hO00toFKxR

— Festival Hydro (@Festival_Hydro) May 6, 2020

"During this extraordinary period, many people are struggling to pay the bills as they do the right thing by staying at home, as well as our farmers and those whose businesses have closed or suffered reduced customer traffic," said Premier Doug Ford in a statement.

"Although we are making progress in our fight against this COVID-19 outbreak, we are not out of the woods yet. The extension of this electricity rate relief will leave more money in people's pockets until businesses can start to reopen and people can get back to work."