Small venues in Ottawa question COVID-19 capacity limits
As hockey fans celebrate full capacity for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators home openers this week, the rules around crowd capacity in other venues is drawing criticism.
Since Saturday, indoor venues like theatres, concert halls and arenas were given the green light by the provincial government to have a crowd up to 100 percent capacity.
But there’s a catch, it only applies if a venue has designated seating.
"When we first got the news last Friday we went, 'That’s too good to be true.' Of course it is too good to be true because there are stipulations,” said Danny Sivyer, the owner of the Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. “For venues like us we have two-third seating, one-third standing, we will be limited to our seats."
Sevyer says the Rainbow Bistro was already on the brink of closure due to the pandemic, but thanks to some financial help from community members he’s able to keep the doors open a little longer.
But his venue is still capped at 100 people and doesn’t understand why there’s a discrepancy.
"As many chairs we can put in the room," he said. "That’s how many people we can have in.”
Meantime, Ontario’s restaurant industry is fuming because it's still restricted to maintain two meters of distance between the table, which the industry says, effectively limits the number of diners. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is puzzled over the rationale.
"Show us the case why you can have tens of thousands of people in a sports arena yelling and cheering for their team and yet you can’t be around a table in a restaurant," said OCC President Rocco Rossi. "It’s difficult for us to accept."
Provincial health officials say bars, restaurants, and clubs are still a concern for outbreaks. However, in recent weeks, there have been fewer cases associated with the entertainment industry than in schools in Ontario.
The province says as public health indicators remain stable or improve, the chief medical officer of health will continue to re-evaluate restrictions.
Sevyer says the easing of capacity limits is a step in the right direction.
"Hopefully by from what we hear this is going to be this way next spring it will open up more," he said.
Sources told CTV News Toronto Wednesday night that Ontario is considering exiting Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan as early as next week, which would further ease pandemic restrictions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.