‘BEYOND UNDERSTANDING’: Restaurants excluded as Ontario raises capacity limits for larger venues

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All Toronto restaurateur Celina Blanchard wants is a level playing field.

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The owner of Lambretta Pizzeria does not understand why the restaurants were left off the list when the province announced a return starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday at 100% capacity for certain large venues, including those for concerts, sports and films “due to shoot number limitations in these settings.”

“It’s very frustrating,” Blanchard said Saturday.

“First of all, when you go to a restaurant, you have to wear a mask until you get to your table,” he said. “When you go to the bathroom, you have to put on the mask. It’s the same as with the sands. “

“But as soon as you order your food or alcohol, a drink, whatever, you can take off the mask and you’ll be sitting next to someone, perhaps, that you don’t even know (in an arena). So tell me what’s the difference “

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In a statement, Restaurants Canada said it “is extremely disappointed that the Ontario government continues to hurt the worst-hit foodservice industry … It is beyond comprehension that 20,000 people can squeeze into a sand, scream and congregate. up close without masks, while restaurants must adhere to strict distancing regulations. “

Proof of vaccination and mask wear is still required where 100% capacity is allowed.

Blanchard said restaurants are currently required to have their seats six feet (two meters) apart and customers must show proof that they are doubly vaccinated with government identification and otherwise must sit outside.

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With barriers installed indoors, you can be close to 50% capacity, which means 35 of your 80 indoor seats can be filled and another 36 can be seated outside on your patio as part of CafeTO, which will likely conclude by mid-November.

“I don’t understand this hatred right now where there is a double standard towards restaurants,” said Blanchard, who has owned Lambretta Pizzeria for six years.

“Most people, when they want to celebrate, they want to go to a restaurant,” he said. “It’s part of life. It is part of our society. And now you are punishing us. Why are you punishing us? Has no sense “.

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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is also outraged, saying that only 37% of Ontario’s small businesses (including restaurants) are doing the same or better commercially than before the pandemic and closer to just 20% in Toronto

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“I am not going to sit here and say that sports facilities should not have full capacity; it definitely shows that we are going in the right direction.” said Ryan Mallough, CFIB’s senior director of provincial affairs for Ontario.

“That said, this is not the first time that it has happened where we have seen an uneven playing field mandated by the government between the largest and smallest companies,” he said. “This happened last year in Toronto during the holiday season, where Walmart and Costco were allowed to open, but smaller retailers were not.”

“It is a point of immense frustration for small businesses, especially in the restaurant business, which have been absolutely hit,” added Mallough.

In a statement to the Sun, Health Ministry spokeswoman Alexandra Hilkene explained why the restaurants were left off the list.

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“That’s because they are higher risk environments – prolonged close contact in enclosed spaces where face covers are removed at all times when sitting,” Hilkene said, adding that Ontario’s Medical Director of Health continues to monitor the situation. .

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The province reported 654 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths on Saturday.

Also left off Friday’s list were gyms, personal training facilities for martial arts or dance, indoor meeting and event spaces.

Restaurants Canada says it is “calling on the government to immediately lift all additional restrictions on the industry.”

Blanchard joins that chorus.

“I feel like restaurants have been hit the hardest since day one (of the pandemic),” he said.

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Reference-torontosun.com

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