GTHA Mayors and Chairs support continued reopening

HAMILTON, ON – Today, Mayors and Chairs from the 11 largest municipal governments across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area held their regular meeting to discuss the ongoing response to COVID-19 across the region.

The Mayors and Chairs support the province's move effective today to lift capacity limits in restaurants and gyms and the further reopening plan outlined last week. This is a sign of the progress we have made across the GTHA and the entire province combatting COVID-19 and getting residents vaccinated.

We are determined to keep moving forward and out of the pandemic – we do not want to go backwards and we know residents and businesses also want our progress to continue. The best way to protect our progress is for all residents to get vaccinated and we are continuing to urge residents who haven't been vaccinated yet to get their two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

We also strongly urge residents to continue to support local businesses including restaurants. Despite the re-opening which is a positive development, many businesses have a COVID hangover from the earlier stages of the pandemic and need our support by shopping, eating and drinking local.

We also discussed the importance of substantive discussions with the other orders of government with respect to a backstop for municipal financial shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Budget preparations in GTHA cities are well advanced and greater certainty is required.

“We are excited to be advancing to the next phase of the reopening plan. It is important for cities across the GTHA to move together to safely reopen businesses and communities. A unified, phased approach will protect the progress made and continue to lead everyone down the path of recovery. As businesses open up, let’s all show our support by shopping and dining local.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger