What Businesses/Workplaces are considered "Essential"?

In Ontario, businesses classified as essential can remain open during the Emergency Order. On April 3, 2020, Ontario updated the list of essential businesses that can remain open.[1]

The list of essential workplaces include:

• Supply chains, including businesses that supply other essential businesses or essential services in and outside of Ontario.
• Food, including businesses that primarily sell food, beverages and consumer products necessary to maintain households and businesses.
• Services, which include: pharmacies; gas stations and other fuel suppliers; laundromats and drycleaners; certain security services; vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services; funeral and related services; staffing services including providing temporary help; urgent veterinary services and other select businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals; home child care services of up to six children as permitted under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, and child care centres for essential workers authorized to operate in accordance with Ontario Regulation 51/20; hotels and restricted forms of accommodation; and cheque cashing services.
• Services to the public that are restricted to alternative methods of sale, such as curb side pick-up or delivery, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Certain businesses that provide financial services.
• Telecommunications and IT infrastructure/service providers.
• Maintenance services which are necessary to manage the safety, security, sanitation, and essential operation of properties and buildings.
• Transportation services, including 1) businesses and facilities that provide transportation services and 2) businesses that provide and support online retail.
• Manufacturing, including businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials.
• Agriculture and food production businesses.
• Construction for critical construction projects, including industrial projects, such as refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as infrastructure projects, such as new hospitals, roads, and bridges. New residential projects will stop, but residential construction that is near completion can continue.
• Resources and energy businesses.
• Community services that deliver or support the delivery of services.
• Research, including businesses and organizations that maintain research facilities, including medical research.
• Health care and social services.

Business-owners with questions concerning their essential business status can call the Stop the Spread hotline at 1-888-444-3659.

[1]     Ontario Government, “List of essential workplaces” (April 3, 2020), online: <https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces>.