ONTARIO – The province of Ontario has extended all emergency orders until at least Tuesday, May 12.

This includes the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings of five or more people, and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home.

Premier Doug Ford says the province is making steady progress in its battle against this deadly virus, but is  not out of the woods by a long shot.

The following emergency orders have been extended until May 6:

• Closure of establishments
• Prohibiting public events and gatherings or more than five people
• Work deployment measures for health care workers
• Drinking water and sewage
• Electronic service of documents
• Work deployment for long-term care homes
• Off-peak electricity pricing
• Closure of places of non-essential businesses
• Traffic management
• Streamlining requirements for long-term care homes
• Prohibiting unfair pricing on necessary goods
• Closure of outdoor recreational amenities
• Enforcement of orders
• Work deployment for boards of health
• Work deployment measures in retirement homes
• Access to COVID-19 status information by specified persons
• Service agencies providing services and supports to adults with developmental disabilities
• Pick up and delivery of cannabis
• Signatures in wills and powers of attorney
• Use of force and firearms in policing services
• Child care fees
• Agreements between health service providers and retirement homes
• Temporary health or residential facilities
• Closure of public lands for recreational camping
• Work deployment measures for service agencies providing violence against women residential services and crisis line services
• Limiting work to a single long-term care home
• Work deployment for district social services administration boards
• Deployment of employees of service provider organizations
• Work deployment measures for municipalities
• Limiting work to a single retirement home

Ford says it’s absolutely necessary to extend these emergency orders to continue keeping all Ontarians safe and healthy. The Government of Ontario declared a provincial emergency on March 17 under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This declaration of emergency was last extended on April 14 and is currently in effect until May 12.

Pakenham boat launch opens

PAKENHAM – The Township of Mississippi Mills has opened its boat launches for the season.

Residents wishing to launch a boat are reminded of high spring levels and fast moving water. 

The following public boat launches in Mississippi Mills are open:

• Appleton Bay Park
• Metcalfe Geo Heritage Park
• Riverfront Estates (park by the water)
• Five Span Park (Pakenham)