Repository of Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Orders

Started: 19 March 2020 (Update: 8 June)

By Craig Forcese (with assistance from Hannah Diegel)

The INTREPID team will try to track COVID-19 related emergency orders. If we are missing any, let us know (cforcese@uottawa.ca). Thanks to the several people who have been emailing links — much appreciated.

Legal Instruments

I have created a series of charts showing the different sorts of powers the provinces possess under provincial emergency and public health laws. You may find those charts at this link.

Provincial and Territorial Emergency Orders

• British Columbia: Emergency Program Act Order (18 March); Public Health Act order (travellers) (17 March); Public Health Act order (gatherings) (16 March); Emergency Program Act declaration (18 March); Emergency Program Act Order (essential goods) (26 March); Emergency Program Act Order (bylaw enforcement officer) (26 March); Emergency Program Act Order (local government meetings) (26 March); Freedom of Information Act Order (26 March) (guidance document); Emergency Program Act Order (limitations periods) (26 March); Residential tenancies Order (30 March); State of emergency renewal (31 March); Order (compliance enforcement with Orders) (31 March); Order (pharmacists) (1 April); Order (liability) (2 April); Order (limitations periods) (8 April); Order (e-health issues) (9 April); Order (healthcare workers adjustment) (10 April); Extension of Emergence Order (14 April); Order (delegation of powers by provincial health officer) (14 April); Order (travellers to BC) (14 April); Order (electronic attendance at Strata Property meetings) (15 April); Order and Order (long term facility staff) (April 15) Motor Fees Regulation (16 April); Order (personal service businesses) (16 April); Order (vendors at markets) (17 April); Order (price-gouging) (17 April); Regulation and Regulation (enforcement) (18 April); Order (electronic participation in corporate meetings) (21 April); Health Profession Act Order (registration of psychologists) (21 April); Emergency Program Act Order (protection from liability) (22 April); Order (Supreme Court civil and family applications) (22 April); Order (protection against liability) (22 April); Order (industrial camps) (related delegation) (23 April); Order (encampment safety) (24 April); Order (extending emergency) (28 April); Order (attendance at credit union meeting) (30 April); Order (local government meetings) (1 May); Motor Vehicle Act Order (exemptions) (1 May); Child, Family and Community Service Act Order (4 May); Employment Standards Act Order (4 May); Health Professions Act Order (pharmacists) (5 May); Community Care and Assisted Living Act Order (7 May); Emergency Program Act Order (encampments) (8 May); Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Order (8 May); Employment and Assistance Act and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act Order (11 May); Order extending emergency (12 May); Order (personal services) (14 May); Order (workplace safety) (15 May); Order (Food services) (15 May); Local Government Finance (COVID-19) Order (OIC 159/2020)(15 May 15); Electronic Witnessing of Wills (COVID-19) Order (OIC 161/2020)(19 May); Electronic Witnessing of Enduring Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements (COVID-19) Order (OIC 162/2020)(19 May); Electronic Attendance at Statutory Meetings (COVID-19) Order (MO 167/2020) (20 May); Electronic Attendance at UBCM Convention (COVID-19) Order (MO 168/2020) (22 May); Order (Mass Gatherings) (22 May); Order (‘Food Service Establishments and Liquor Services’) (22 May); Extension of COVID-19 Emergency (OIC 264/2020) (26 May 26); Order, ‘Vending Merchandise at Markets’ (28 May); Order, ‘Overnight Camps for Children and Youth’ (29 May); Commercial Tenancy (COVID-19) Order (MO 179/2020) (29 May 29); School Act: By-election cancelled (MO 171/2020) (29 May); Residential Tenancy Act: Emergency shelter in relation to COVID-19 emergency (OIC 271/2020) (29 May); Strata Property Act: General meetings during state of emergency (OIC 270/2020) (29 May); Emergency Program Act: Extending state of COVID-19 emergency (OIC 310/2020) (June 9, 2020); Emergency Program Act: Protection Against Liability for Sports (COVID-19) Order (MO183/2020) (June 10, 2020).

• Alberta: Public Health Act declaration (17 March); Order (23 March); Order (25 March); Order (increased fines) (26 March); Employment Standards (COVID-19 Leave) Regulations (17 March); Municipal Government Act Meeting Procedures (COVID-19 Suppression) Regulation; Provincial Offences Procedures Act (Public Health Act fines) regulation; Financial Administration Act emergency funding order; Order (self-isolation) (25 March); Residential Tenancies Act regulation (late rent) (27 March); Public Health Act Order and Order (rent control) (27 March); Public Lands Act Order Order (restricting access) (30 March); Public Health Act Order, Order (environmental reporting) (30 March); Order (limitations period) (30 March); Order (environment and parks) (31 March); Order (repealing earlier earlier order) (2 April); Order and Order (transportation safety) (2 April); Order (real estate document witnessing) (2 April); Order (homelessness) (4 April); Order (outdoor gatherings members of same family) (4 April); Order and Order (employment standards) (April 6) Order and Order (child care services) (7 April); Order (visitors to health care facilities) (7 April); Order (9 April) (modifying various statutory deadlines and timelines); Order and Order (staff members at health care facilities) (10 April); Order (exemptions from quarantine for people with minor children) (13 April); Order (long term care staff) (17 April); Income and Employment Supports Act Order (23 April); Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act Order (23 April); Public Health Act Order (employment in public health care facility) (24 April); Order (visitation at health care centres) (28 April); Order (Residential Addiction Treatment Service Facilities) (28 April); Order (Updated Operational and Outbreak Standards for additional facilities) (28 April); Order (golf) (1 May); Order (workplace safety) (3 May); Order (nurses) (4 May); Order (police access to health info) (4 May); Order (shooting range) (5 May); Order 18-2020 (‘Attendance at daycares, out-of-school care and post-secondary institutions, retail businesses, restaurants and museums’) (all of Alberta) (14 May); Order 19-2020 (‘Attendance at daycares, out-of-school care and post-secondary institutions, retail businesses and museums. May 25 for restaurants and hair salons’) (Calgary and Brooks) (14 May); Order 20-2020 (Gatherings of up to 50 people allowed –outdoor location) (15 May); Order, Exemption ‘Operation of indoor firearm gun ranges operated in recreational or entertainment businesses’ (25 May); Order 24-2020 (‘Modification – Preschool Programs’) (27 May); Order, Exemption ‘Operation of day camps operated in recreational or entertainment businesses’ (28 May)

  • Legislation: Bill 10 Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act 2020; Bill 11, Tenancies Statutes (Emergency Provisions) Amendment Act 2020

• Saskatchewan: Emergency Planning Act order (18 March); Updated Announcement (20 March); Public Health Act Order (26 March); Public Health Act order (operation of isolation centres for the homeless) (4 April); Order (long term care staff) (17 April); Order (restricting travel of northern Sask) (24 April); Additional Public Health Order (30 April); Public Health Order (3 May); Order (travel to northern Sask) (6 May); Order (‘Updated Travel Restrictions in Northwest Region’)  (20 May)

• Manitoba: Emergency Measures Act declaration (20 March); Public Health Act Order (27 March); Employment Standards Act regulations amendment (26 March); Public Health Act Order (social distancing) (30 March); Public Health Act Order (social distancing) (31 March); Regulated Health Professions Act Order (retired nurses) (2 April); Order (renewed order on eg closures) (13 April); Order (self-isolation) (16 April); Order (travel to remote communities) (16 April); Extension of emergency (17 April); Order (self-isolation) (20 April); Order (staff at care homes) (20 April); Order (self-isolation) (30 April); Order (extension of orders) (30 April); Order (travel to the north) (30 April); Public Health Act Order (5 May); ‘Order re Temporary Suspension of Corporate Meeting Provisions’ (14 May); ‘Order re Temporary Suspension of In-Person Commissioning and Witnessing Provisions’ (14 May); ‘Order re Temporary Suspension of Marriage Fee Provisions’ (14 May); Order (Gatherings of up to 25 people indoor and 50 people outside allowed) (21 May); ‘New Public Health Order’ (May 29); ‘Order Prohibiting Travel to Northern Manitoba and Remote Communities’  (29 May);

  • Legislation: Emergency Measures Amendment Act announcement (15 April)

• Ontario: Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Order in Council 518/2020; 519/2020; 520/2020 (17 March); Emergency declaration Order (18 March); Gatherings of over 50 people Order (18 March); Limitations period Order (20 March); Health care workers Order (21 March); School closure Order (23 March); Workplace closure Order, and announcement and announcement (23 March); Long-term care homes Order (23 March); Electronic service Order (23 March); Water service and sewage Order (24 March); Electricity rate Order (24 March); Traffic management Order (26 March); Order (delegation of closure powers) (26 March); Supply Chain Management Act regulation and announcement (27 March); Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act Order (long term care home) (27 March); Order and announcement (price gouging) (27 March); Order and announcement (limiting gatherings to 5 or fewer people) (28 March); Extension of Emergency Order (30 March); Education Act Order (School closures) (30 March); Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act Renewal of Orders (30 March); Order (closure of outdoor recreational amenities) (30 March); Order (meetings of corporations) (30 March); Order (enforcement of orders) (31 March); Order (healthcare staffing) (1 April); Order (2 April) (retirement home staffing); Order (non-essential business closure) (3 April); Order (staffing for services providing supports to adults with disabilities) (3 April); Order (access to information) (3 April); Order (cannabis) (7 April); Order (audiovisual witnessing of wills and powers of attorney) (7 April); Order (force and firearm use by police) (8 April); Order (child care fees) (9 April); Order and Order (health care and retirement homes) (9 April); Order (residential lands and camping) (9 April); Regulation (essential businesses) (9 April); Order (employment measures in crisis services) (14 April); Order (working in long-term care homes) (14 April); Order and Order (work deployment in social services) (16 April); Order (working in retirement home) (16 April); Order (municipal work deployment) (16 April); Order (deployment of employees of service provider organizations) (16 April); Order (work deployment for district social services administration boards) (16 April); Order (congregate care settings) (24 April); Order (essential businesses) (1 May); Order (access to health information) (1 May); Order (electricity rates) (1 May); Order (medical certificates of death) (1 May); Order (hospital credentialing) (1 May); Order (essential worker pay) (1 May); Order (child care) (8 May); Order (congregate sector and school boards) (8 May); Order ‘Prohibiting events and gatherings of more than five people’ (amended) (16 May); ‘Amendment of Extensions and Renewals of Orders’ (19 May); ‘Amendment of Closure of Establishments’  (19 May); ‘Amendment of Closure of All Outdoor Recreational Amenities’ (19 May); ‘Extensions and Renewals of Orders’ Amended June 5 (257/20); Amended June 5 (259/20); ‘Limitation Periods’ Amended June 5 (258/20)  (5 June)

  ‘244/20 Amendment’ (29 May); ‘247/20 Amendment’ (May 29); ‘246/20 Amendment’ (29 May); ‘238/20 Amendment’  (May 29); ‘239/20 Amendment’ (May 29); ‘243/20 Amendment’ (May 29); ‘245/20 Amendment’ (29 May)

• Legislation: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act, 2020; Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020; Municipal Emergency Act, 2020

  1. Other: Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of health is encouraging local officers of health to use s.22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to issue binding quarantine orders on infected persons. (Doubt we’ll be able to track orders directed at specific individuals, but I assume any class orders under section 22 (5.0.1) will be public.)

• Quebec: Loi sur la santé publique declaration of emergency (13 March) (renewal, 20 March); Order (17 March); Loi sur la santé publique order (18 March); Order (19 March); Order (20 March); Order (21 March); Order (22 March); Order (23 March); Order (24 March); Order (considering signing of notary documents) (27 March); Code of Civil Procedure Order (service of documents) (27 March); Regional travel Public Health Act Order and announcement (28 March); Public Health Act emergency renewal (29 March); Order (essential business hours) (30 March); Financial Assistance for Education Expenses Act, Order (assistance for borrowers) (1 April); Order (essential business hours, revised) (2 April); Order (assorted issues, including ordering self-isolation) (4 April); Order (regional travel) (7 April); Order (renewal of public health emergency) (7 April); Order (medical service provider salaries) (8 April); Order (regional travel restrictions) (9 April); Order (redeployment of health services personnel) (10 April); Order (assorted employment/child custody issues) (10 April); Order (amendments to prior orders on business closures) (14 April); Order (visits to long-term care homes) (15 April); Order (renewal of public health emergency) (15 April); Order (long term care home staff salaries) (17 April); Order (construction services) (19 April); Order (assorted things) (20 April); Renewal of Public Health Emergency (22 April); Order (amending assorted earlier orders) (22 April); Order (collective agreement and employment issues) (22 April); Order (assorted issues) (26 April); Renewal of public health emergency (29 April); Order (health services procurement) (29 April); Order (nursing rules) (29 April); Order (business reopenings) (1 May); Order (regional travel) (3 May); Public health emergency renewal (6 May); Order (schools) (6 May); Order (municipal referendums) (7 May); Order (long term care centres) (9 May); ‘Order No. 2020-035’ (10 May); ‘Order No. 2020-037’ (14 May); ‘Order No. 2020-038’ (15 May); ‘Order No. 2020-039’ (Minister of Health and Social Services)  (22 May); ‘Order in Council no. 544-2020, Renewal of Public Health Emergency’ (27 May);‘Order in Council no. 566-2020, Ordering of measures to protect the health…’  (27 May);  ‘Order No. 2020-041’ (30 May); ‘Renewal of Public Health Emergency’ (3 June); ‘Order in Council no. 588-2020’

  (3 June); ‘Order No. 2020-041’ (4 June); ‘Order No. 2020-043’  (6 June)

• New Brunswick: Emergency Measures Act (19 March); Renewed and revised order (25 March); Renewed and revised order (2 April); Renewed and revised order (16 April); Renewed and revised order (24 April); Renewed and revised order (30 April); ‘Renewed and Revised Mandatory Order’ (15 May); ‘Renewed and Revise Mandatory Order’ (22 May); ‘Renewed and Revised Mandatory Order’ (29 May)

  • Legislation: Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act; An Act to Amend the Emergency Measures Act

• PEI: Public Health Act (16 March); Order (22 March); Declaration of emergency and renewal of public health emergency, Announcement (16 April); Order (8 May); ‘Revised Public Health Order’  (21 May)

• Nova Scotia: Emergency Management Act order (22 March); order (22 March); Health Protection Act announcement (22 March); Order (23 March); Order (25 March); Emergency Management Act order (municipal meetings) (22 March); Emergency Management Act order (public transit) (26 March); order (beach and park closures) (27 March); Police Act directive (enforcement of emergency orders) (30 March); Extension of state of emergency Order and announcement (2 April); Health Protection Act Order (revised self-isolation order) (6 April); Order (self-isolation) (17 April); Order (redeployment of health staff) (19 April); Order (self-isolation) (23 April); Order (revised self-isolation order) (1 May); State of emergency renewal (3 May); ‘Health Protection Act Order by the Medical Officer of Health’ (15 May); ‘Direction of Minister to Partially Lift Earlier Direction’  (15 May); ‘Direction of Minister – Village Elections’ (26 May); ‘Renewal of Provincial State of Emergency’ (31 May); ‘Health Protection Act Order by the Medical Officer of Health’ (5 June)

• Newfoundland: Public Health Protection and Promotion Act order (18 March); Order (20 March); Revised Order (23 March); Revised Exemption Order (25 March); Order (exemption for employees and members of the legislative assembly) (25 March); Revised order (31 March); Revised order (14 April); Extension of public health emergency (16 April); Order (campsites) (17 April); Revised Exemption Order (22 April); Extension of emergency (29 April); Order (House of Assembly exemption) (4 May); Order (travel exemption) (5 May); ‘Special Measures Order (General)’ (11 May); ‘Public Health Emergency Extension Declaration’ (14 May); ‘Special Measures Order (Travel)’ (15 May); ‘Self-Isolation Exemption Order’ (16 May); ‘Declaration Exemption Order’ (16 May); ‘Extension of Public Health Emergency’ (1 June); ‘Extension of Public Health Emergency’ (June 1)

• Northwest Territories: Public Health Act order (18 March); Announcement (prohibiting travel to NWT) (21 March); Emergency Management Act declaration (24 March); Public Health Act emergency extension (2 April); Order (mineral and petroleum industry) (10 April); Order (large gatherings) (11 April); Renewal of public health emergency and declaration of emergence, Announcement (15 April); Order (travel and self-isolation) (27 April)

• Yukon: Civil Emergency Measures Act Order and Announcement (27 March); Order (enforcement) (2 April); Order (self-isolation) (2 April); Order (self-isolation) (7 April); Order (education) (7 April); Order (restrictions on travel to Yukon) (17 April); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Pharmacists Authorization (COVID-19) Order’ (13 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures School Council Elections (COVID-19) Order’ (13 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Enforcement (COVID-19) Order’ (13 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Medical Practitioners Provisional Licensing’ (13 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Telephone and Electronic Meetings (COVID-19) Order’ (13 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Social Assistance Regulation Override (COVID-19) Order’ (14 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Health Protection’ (22 May); ‘Civil Emergency Measures Remote Cannabis Sales’ (28 May); ‘Waiver of Airport Fees No. 2’ (28 May); ‘Waiver of Airport Fees No. 3’ (28 May)

• Nunavut: Announcement (18 March); Public Health Act declaration (20 March); Order (gatherings) (20 March); Order (air carriers) (20 March); Order (mandatory isolation) (20 March); Order (travel restriction) (20 March); Public Health Act extension of emergency (2 April); Renewal of public health emergency (15 April); Order (travel restriction) (17 April); Order (extension of emergency) (29 April); ‘Public Health Order: Order Extending State of Public Health Emergency’ (13 May); ‘Order Extending State of Public Health Emergency’ (26 May); ‘Travel Restriction Order #4’ (26 May); ‘Order Respecting Social Distancing and Gatherings #2’ (1 June)

Municipal

• Calgary, Alberta: Announcement (19 March)

• Brampton, Ontario: Emergency Social Distancing by-law (31 March)

• Cornwall, Ontario: Announcement (26 March)

• Edmonton, Alberta: Declaration (26 March)

• Guelph, Ontario: Declaration (26 March)

• Kingston, Ontario: Announcement (26 March)

• London, Ontario: Announcement (20 March)

• Montreal, Quebec: Announcement (27 March)

• Ottawa, Ontario: Announcement (25 March)

• Red Deer, Alberta: Announcement (16 March)

• Toronto, Ontario: Announcement (23 March)

• Winnipeg, Manitoba: Announcement (3 March)

• Vancouver, BC: Announcement (19 March)

First Nations

• March 24th: Assembly of First Nations

• March 27th: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek border restrictions                    

• March 29th: Six Nations of the Grand River border restrictions

• March 23rd: Haida Gwaii declares State of Emergency

• March 18th: Haida Gwaii ‘Non-Resident Travel Restriction for Haida Gwaii’

• March 30th: Chapleau Cree First Nation state of emergency

• March 27th: Bearskin Lake First Nation lockdown notice

• March 16th: Siksika Nation state of emergency

Federal Measures

• Aeronautics Act: Interim Order #6 (17 April); Interim Order #5 (9 April) (repealed); Interim Order #4 (6 April) (repealed); Interim Order (boarding domestic flights with COVID-19 symptoms) (27 March) (repealed); Interim Order #3 (24 March) (repealed); Interim Order #2 (20 March) (repealed); Interim Order (repealed) (18 March)

• Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act: Regulations SOR/2020-90;

• Canada Shipping Act: Interim Order (pleasure craft) (30 May); Interim Order #2 (20 April); Interim Order (passenger vessels that maintain essential services as ferries) (4 April)

• Canada Marine Act: Regulations SOR/2020-0054

• Contraventions Act: Regulations (provincial laws), SOR/2020-0087; Regulations (Quarantine Act offences), SOR/2020-0086

• Employment Insurance Act: Interim Order #3 (16 April); Interim Order #2 (16 April); Interim Order #1 (31 March)

• Food and Drug Act: Interim Order (23 May); Interim Order (on medical devices) (18 March)

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: Regulations SOR/2020-0091; Regulations SOR/2020-0055

• Indian Act: Order in Council (election postponement) (7 April)

• Quarantine Act: Order in Council (8 June) (modifying border closure, non-US border); Order in Council (8 June) (modifying border closure, US); Order in Council (extending border closure) (20 April); Order in Council (Mandatory Isolation) (14 April); Order in Council (Prohibition on Entry from US) (26 March); Order in Council (Prohibition on entry into Canada from elsewhere than US) (26 March); Order in Council (Mandatory isolation for people entering Canada) (26 March); Order in Council (Entry into Canada from countries other than US) (22 March); Order in Council (20 March) (Entry into Canada from US); Order in Council (18 March); Order in Council (19 Feb); Order in Council (17 Feb); Order in Council (3 Feb)

• Railway Safety Act: Order (health checks) (June 1); Order (bar on travelling with COVID-19 symptoms) (27 March)

Other transportation listed changes and exemptions to regular rules available here.

Special Federal Legislation:

• COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2

• COVID-19 Emergency Response Act

• An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (special warrant)

Canadian Armed Forces: Op LASER

Public Safety Canada: Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Justice Canada has now created a legal tracking site for federal measures, here.

Other Resources:

For our 19 March podcast on relevant emergency and public health laws, click here. For our updated podcast on emergency measures and also issues around parliamentary governance, 26 March, click here. For primer on Canadian emergency law, click here.

See also McCarthy’s tracking website.

For “Policing the Pandemic” tracking police activity in response to COVID-19, by Alex Luscombe & Alexander McClelland, please follow this link.