Research Guides: Canadian government information: COVID-19

COVID-19

"You cannot fight a fire blindfolded"*

Stay informed with government information on our battle with COVID-19

*Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus.

"Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019." (Q&A, WHO)

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Updates from Governments & IGOs

Federal
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Government of Canada)
Provincial
- Government of Ontario
- Provincial and territorial resources for COVID-19
Municipal
- City of Toronto
Roles and responsibilities of government during COVID-19 (Appendix A, Discussion Guide for Toronto's Community Agencies)
International
- WHO
- United Nations
- United States
- Europe

Public health & mental health services

Public Health Authorities
- Government of Canada 1-833-784-4397
- Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
- Toronto Public Health Hotline 416-338-7600
- Public Health Authorities contact information for each province and territory
Public Health Units (Ontario)
Mental health services
- Taking care of your mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic (Government of Canada)
- Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566
- Mental health, wellness and addictions support (Government of Ontario)
- Provincial/Territorial Emergency Phone Crisis Lines (Sheltersafe)
- Provincial and Territorial COVID-19 resources (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
Support for senior and people with disabilities (PWD) (Ontario)
- Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
- Ontario Caregiver Helpline: 1-833-416-2273 or connect to live chat online
Get help with problematic substance use (Government of Canada)
- Community, provincial, and, national support and services
Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre (Women and Gender Equality Canada)
- Crisis lines for those affected by gender-based violence
City of Toronto
- COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in Toronto
- Find local services
- COVID-19: mental health resources

Outbreak updates

World
- WHO
  - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation dashboard
  - Situation reports
- COVID-19 update (International Society for Infectious Disease)
Canada
- COVID-19 epidemiology update (Government of Canada)
- Public Health Infobase: Data on COVID-19 in Canada
Provincial and territorial reporting
Ontario
Toronto
- COVID-19: Pandemic Data

Timeline

December 2019

December 31: WHO China Country Office is informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China (Situation report, 21 January 2020, WHO)
December 31: Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN) alerts Canadian public health practitioners about the pneumonia outbreak in China [GPHIN] [Digital health and analytics]

January 2020

January 1: Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan city is closed
January 2: Incident management system is activated across the three levels of WHO (Situation report, 21 Jan. 2020, WHO)
January 3: Wuhan police punished eight medical personnel including Dr. Li Wenliang for "spreading rumours" on a new coronavirus
January 5: Fudan University in China submitted the complete genome of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1
- [MN908947.3]
January 12: "The (Chinese) government reports that there is no clear evidence that the virus passes easily from person to person"
January 12: China shares the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus
January 14: "There may have been limited human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus" (WHO)
January 19: Dr. Zhong Nanshan, China's renowned respiratory disease expert, declared that there was "human-to-human transmission"
January 23: Wuhan is put in lockdown
January 25: First presumptive confirmed case in Canada, related to travel in Wuhan
January 26: "There is no clear evidence that this virus is spread easily from person to person.The risk to Canadians remains low." [@CPHO_Canada]
January 27: "The incubation period of the virus range from 2-10 days" (Situation Report-7, WHO)
January 30: WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

February 2020 (Wave 1: February 26, 2020 to August 31, 2020)

February 6: Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower who was warned by the Wuhan police, died from the virus (WHO, Feb. 6, 2020)
February 7: Canadians are repatriated from Wuhan, to be quarantined at CFB Trenton
February 11: WHO announces a name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID-19
February 21: Canadians are repatriated on the Grand Princess cruise ship in Japan, to be quarantined at NAV Centre in Cornwall

March 2020 (Wave 1)

March 4: Prime Minister (PM) announces the creation of a new Cabinet committee on COVID-19
March 5: Canada's first known case of community transmission was reported in B.C.
March 6: Government of Canada (GC) invests $27M in coronavirus research [Details of the funded projects]
March 7: Canada's first long-term care facility outbreak is recorded in B.C.
March 9: Canada's first death related to COVID-19 confirmed in B.C.
March 11: WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic
March 11: PM announces a more than $1 billion Response Fund
March 12: Government of Ontario announces public schools would be closed from March 14 to April 5, 2020
March 13: Financial Administration Act amended [Bill C-12] to enable the government to request that the Governor General sign special warrants to approve spending while Parliament is not sitting
March 13: Parliament adjourned until April 20, 2020 pursuant to Standing Order 2 8(2) and 24(1)
March 13: Quebec declares a public health emergency [renewal: March 20, March 29, April 15, April 22, June 30, July 8, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 9, October 28, November 4, December 16]
March 16: GC advises Canadians to avoid non-essential travel and return to Canada asap
March 16: GC announces barring foreign nationals except the US from entering Canada
March 16: Prince Edward Island declares a public health emergency [April 16 renewal]
March 17: Ontario enacts a Declaration of emergency [renewal: March 30, April 11, April 23 May 6, May 12, June 24, November 20]
March 17: Alberta declares public health emergency
March 18: GC announces the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan [COVID-19 Economic Response Plan]
March 18: Declared public health emergencies:
- British Columbia [renewal: March 31, April 15, April 29, June 10, July 7, July 21, August 18, September 1, September 15, October 27, November 10]
- Newfoundland and Labrador, [April 16 renewal]
- Yukon announcement [Orders] (March 27) [renewal: June 12]
- Nunavut [renewal: July 23, August 6, August 21, October 2, October 15, November 12]
- Saskatchewan
March 19: GC funds 49 additional COVID-19 research projects [Details of the funded projects]
March 19: New Brunswick declares a state of emergency [renewal: March 25, April 1, April 16, April 30, May 14, May 28, June 11, October 15, October 30, November 6, November 13]
March 20: PM announces Canada's plan to mobilize industry to fight COVID-19 [New measures]
March 20: Ontario waives the three-month waiting period for OHIP
March 20: Ontario launches first phase of the Learn at Home Portal
March 20: Alberta appoints the Economic Recovery Council
March 22: Nova Scotia declares a state of emergency [Provincial State of Emergency]
March 23: Toronto mayor declares a State of Emergency; [one month check in]
March 23: Ontario orders the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces [List of essential workplaces]
March 23: Ontario provides $200 million to support municipalities, food banks, homeless shelters and individuals [Backgrounder]
March 24: Assembly of First Nations declares State of Emergency
March 24: Northwest Territories declares a State of Emergency [renewal: April 2, April 15, April 28, June 24, July 7, August 18, October 28, November 10, December 17]
March 24: PM solicited the views of premiers on the federal Emergency Act
March 24: Standing Order 17 suspended to allow only 32 (out of 338) MPs at the House of Commons to debate Bill C-13
- [House of Commons Debates. March 24, 2020]
- COVID-19 Emergency Response Act received Royal Assent [Bill C-13]
- Government introduces Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to help workers and businesses [CERB]
March 24: Ontario provides electricity relief [renewal: COVID-19 Recovery Rate, June 1 - Oct. 31, 2020]
March 25: GC issues a 14-days mandatory isolation order for people entering Canada effective March 25, 2020 [PC: 2020-0175]
- Prohibition on entry into Canada from elsewhere than US [PC: 2020-0184]
- Prohibition on entry into Canada from US [PC: 2020-0185]
March 25: Ontario's Action Plan outlines a $1.7 billion response package Economic and fiscal update, March 2020]
March 26: GC announces the details of the Indigenous Community Support Fund [Indigenous Community Support Fund]
March 27: Manitoba declares a state of emergency [renewal: April 20, May 15, June 15, July 14, August 12]
March 28: Ontario prohibits gatherings of more than five people

April 2020 (Wave 1)

April 3: Ontario reduces the list of essential businesses [list of essential businesses]
April 9: GC launches Canada Emergency Business Account. [CEBA]
April 11: COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No.2 received Royal Assent [Bill C-14]
- to help businesses keep Canadians in their jobs: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
April 13: Public Health Agency of Canada releases interim guidance for long-term care homes
April 14: GC issues Mandatory Isolation Order for people entering Canada, No. 2 [PC: 2020-0260]
April 14: GC announces that RCMP, local and provincial police forces can issue tickets to individuals who do not comply with orders under the Federal Quarantine Act
April 20: Canada Armed Forces are deployed to support long-term care facilities in Quebec
April 20: The High River meat-packing plant in Alberta closed temporarily as cases of COVID-19 spike
April 23: PM announces new support for COVID-19 medical research & vaccine development
- COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
- Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN)
- International Vaccine Center (VIDO-InterVac)
April 23: Saskatchewan announces Phase One To Re-Open Saskatchewan beginning May 4, 2020 [Re-open plan]
April 24: Prime Minister announces the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small business [CECRA]
April 24: Canada Armed Forces are deployed to support Ontario long-term care home [May 26 Key findings]
April 24: New Brunswick announces first phase recovery plan [Community Guidance]
April 26: Ontario extends school closures until at least May 31, 2020
April 27: GC launches applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
April 27: Quebec announces reopening plan [Gradual resumption of activities]
April 27: Ontario unveils guiding principles to reopen the province
April 28: Prince Edward Island announces phased reopening plan beginning May 1, 2020 [Renew PEI together]
April 28: Yukon announces lifting of restrictions and new guidelines for social gatherings
April 29: Manitoba announces a phased approach to reopen the economy beginning May 4, 2020
April 30: Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the federal budget deficit would increase to:
- $24.9 billion in 2019/20
- $252.1 billion in 2020/21
April 30: Alberta announces a phased relaunch beginning May 14, 2020 [Alberta's relaunch strategy]

May 2020 (Wave 1)

May 1: Canadian Emergency Student Benefits Act (Bill C-15) received Royal Assent [CESB]
May 1: Ontario allows certain business to reopen on May 4, 2020 [Framework for reopening]
May 1: Ontario provides support for industrial and commercial electricity consumers [renewal June 26]
May 1: Nova Scotia releases restriction updates
May 4: City of Toronto to begin opening community gardens and allotment gardens
May 4: Manitoba court confirms date (May 26) to reopen trials
May 5: PM announces support to farmers, food businesses, and food processors
- Emergency Processing Fund
- AgriRecovery Framework
May 5: Quebec relaxes COVID-19 restrictions on some seniors' homes
May 6: British Columbia outlines plan to restart B.C. safely [Restart Plan] [COVID-19 Go-Forward Management Strategy]
May 8: GC announcs new Industry Strategy Council
May 8: Ontario eases restrictions on professional sports training facilities
May 8: Newfoundland Labrador eases restrictions on provincial ferries [NFLD's Alert Level System]
May 8: Nova Scotia announces that students will finish school on June 5
May 8: City of Toronto announces plan to support retail stores' re-opening for pickup and delivery service [CurbTO]
May 11: Ontario retail stores open for curbside pickup and delivery
May 12: National Research Council & CanSino Biologics Inc. announces collaboration to advance vaccine [Ad5-nCoV]
May 12: Health Canada authorizes the first COVID-19 serological test for use in Canada [Testing devices]
May 13: FedNor launches Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to support local economies [RRRF]
May 14: PM announces new support for Canada's fish harvesters
May 14: Parks Canada will offer limited visitor access starting June 1 [Plan your visit]
May 14: Ontario announces additional workplaces that can reopen [Safety guidance] [Workplace PPE supplier directory]
May 16: GC works with the United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and the Community Foundations of Canada to disburse the $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund [ECSF]
May 19: Ontario announces Independent Commission into Long-Term Care
May 19: Ontario announces schools remain closed for the rest of the school year
May 19: Ontario announces collaboration with Med-Tech Innovation Hub in the Fight Against COVID-19 [MIX]
May 19: GC announces support to farmers (CEBA) [May 22 update]
May 20: GC announces support program for large employers is open for applications (LEEFF)
May 20: Ontario reopens: people urged to continue following Public Health advice which includes face covering recommendations
May 21: PM announces additional support for Indigenous people living in urban centres and off reserve
May 22: GC announces online tool [Find financial help during COVID-19]
May 22: Ontario announces new programs: focus on hospitality workers and apprentices
May 23: City of Toronto releases statement on Trinity Bellwoods Park
May 25: Ontario hospitals assume management of two long-term care homes
May 26: MPs voted on Motion for Closure: Standing Committee on the COVID-19 and Parliament [May 26, 2020 Journal]
May 26: Ontario outlines key findings from the Canadian Armed Forces report on the five long-term care homes
- [Report was written on May 14] (Oral Questions on May 26, 2020 HofC Hansard)
May 27: Ontario extends Emergency Orders until June 9, 2020
May 27: Quebec releases Canadian military report on long-term care facilities in Quebec
May 27: Minister of Health authorizes a few changes for clinical trials [list of approved clinical trials]
May 27: New Brunswick announces that Zone 5 transitioning back to Orange level
May 27: Ontario has deploys teams to conduct inspections at high-risk long-term care homes over the next 21 days
May 28: Ontario extendes Mandate of Incident Management System Long-term Care Table
May 29: City of Toronto opens applications for Community Crisis Response Fund with updated COVID-19 criteria
May 29: City of Toronto works with downtown employers to extend working from home efforts
- [Recovery & Rebuild]
May 30: Ontario increases the emergency payment to eligible retirement home residents
- Retirement Home Act, 2010 regulation

June 2020 (Wave 1)

June 1: Ontario announces the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave for non-unionized employees
- Bill 186
June 1: City of Toronto & United Way Greater Toronto announces a Shelter Interim Recovery Strategy for homelessness
June 2: Supplementary Estimates (A) 2020-21 account for $6 billion spending plans tabled in the House of Commons
- Supplementary Estimates (A), 2020 -21
- Main Estimates 2020-21
June 2: Ontario issues an order appointing new management at Kitchener long-term care home
June 3: Transport Canada announces new measures for the use of face coverings
June 3: Ontario announces plan to improve Broadband and Cell services for rural communities [Action plan]
June 4: PM announces special payment in July for seniors
June 4: Ontario appoints special advisor to develop the new Ontario Health Data Platform
June 4: City of Toronto launches CaféTO plan to help create more outdoor space for local restaurants and bars
June 4: Ontario Hospital assumes interim management of Woodbridge Vista Care Community in Vaughan
June 4: Ontario creates Council to advise government on challenges facing youth

June 5: PM announces a special one-time, tax-free payment to certificate holders of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) [Disability tax credit]
June 5: A new Canadian Agricultural Partnership program is introduced to support Alberta's Beekeepers
June 8: Canada Border Services announces changes to travel restrictions for immediate family members of Canadian citizens & permanent residents
June 8: Ontario announces Stage 2 of reopening effective June 12, 2020 [Stage 2 reopening Ontario]
June 8: Ontario will increase the limit on social gathering from five to 10 people effective June 12, 2020
June 8: Ontario will permit no more than 30% of the building capacity for all places of worship effective June 12, 2020
June 8: Albertans can access 20 million free, non-medical face masks from A&W, McDonald or Tim Hortons drive-thrus
June 8: GC announces new funding for Montreal's small business through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
June 9: GC launched a new web hub on buying and supplying PPE [Web hub]
June 9: GC announces the intention to provide up to $500,000 to support the safe reintegration of offenders
June 9: Ontario announces plans to reopen child care centres
June 10: GC announces financial support to the economy of Quebec's region [CED financial support for SADCs & CAEs]
June 11: FedDev Ontario and partners assist Ontario businesses in embracing online commerce [Digital Main St.]
June 11: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada highlights the Supplementary Estimate (A) support by the government
June 11: GC announces new funding of $133 million to support Indigenous business and Indigenous tourism industry
June 11: Ontario announces the resumption of visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes and other residential care settings
June 12: GC announces screening to be required for travellers at Canadian airports [Phased approach: Backgrounder]
June 13: WHO is following up with Chinese authorities about a new cluster of COVID-19 cases in Beijing, China
June 15: Ontario announces more regions move into Stage 2 on June 19, 2020 with the exception of Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex
June 15: City of Toronto releases a report on management of COVID-19 in its 10 long-term care homes [Full Report]
June 16: PM announces extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by eight weeks
June 16: Ontario extends emergency orders until June 30, 2020
June 17: GC and Ontario are investing up to $10 million in emergency assistance for beef and hog farmers
June 17: Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund (CSSF) will accept applications as of June 22, 2020 across the West [Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund]
June 17: Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund reopens for applications [Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund]
June 17: PM announces an economic and fiscal snapshot will be released on July 8
June 17: Ontario pauses Commercial Evictions [Bill 192, Protecting Small Business Act]
June 18: PM announces new mobile app to help notify Canadians of COVID-19 exposure [COVID Alert]
- [COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council]
June 18: Ontario enhances COVID-19 case and contact management including the Exposure Notification App
June 19: Ontario releases School Safety Plan for the 2020-21 school year [Approach to reopening schools]
June 21: WHO reports 183,020 new cases in the last 24 hours, the largest single-day increase
June 22: Ontario announces moving Toronto and Peel region into Stage 2 on June 24, 2020
June 23: GC announces extension of lay-off periods [Backgrounder]
June 23: City of Toronto announces funds for community services for vulnerable populations
June 24: Ontario announces reopening in Windsor-Essex with the exceptions of Leamington and Kingsville on June 25, 2020
June 24: Ontario unveils three-point plan to reduce the risk of transmission on farm
June 25: Canadian Institute for Health Information releases report: Long-term care and COVID-19: international comparisons
June 30: Canada extends mandatory requirements under the Quarantine Act for anyone entering Canada
June 30: GC announces extension of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) by one month for July
June 30: City of Toronto makes masks or face coverings mandatory in enclosed public spaces starting July 7 [By-law & Information]

July 2020 (Wave 1)

July 1: 10 million people were infected with COVID-19 and a half million lives lost worldwide [ WHO press conference]
July 2: Ontario provides $150 million to support municipalities and urban Indigenous communities
July 3: Ethics Commissioner launches an investigation over the government's decision to award the WE Charity [CSSG]
July 7: Service Canada begins the gradual and safe reopening of in-person locations across the country
July 7: Ontario introduces legislation to protect public health after the termination of the emergency declaration and orders
- Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020
July 8: Finance Minister presents an economic and fiscal snapshot [Economic and Fiscal Snapshot 2020]
July 8: Ontario partners with DriveCheck to make it easier for truck drivers to get tested
July 9: Ontario launches the $150-million Improving Connectivity for Ontario program to fund broadband and cellular infrastructure projects
- [Up to Speed: Ontario's Broadband and Cellular Action Plan]
July 9: WHO says airborne transmission "cannot be ruled out " in some indoor settings [Open letter by 239 scientists from 32 countries]
July 9: WHO announces Independent Panel to evaluate global COVID-19 response
July 9: GC invests $4.5 million to support Franco-Ontarian communities across southern Ontario
July 10: Ontario launches "Ontario Made" Program [Ontario Made website]
July 11: City of Toronto will launch a CaféTO to accelerate curb lane patio installations [CaféTO]
- [Zoning order allows expanded patio] [Map of CurbTO, ActiveTO & CaféTO Installations]
July 13: GC announces more than $16M in support for Quebec innovation
July 13: Ontario announces Stage 3 reopening for some regions on July 17, 2020 [Find out which stage your region is in]
- [A Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 3]
July 14: GC announces measures to support international students [changes to facilitate online learning]
July 14: Ontario supports development of Made-in-Ontario N95 respirators
July 14: City of Toronto releases update on financial impacts of COVID-19
July 15: GC releases statement about transmission at parties, nightclubs, bars and among young Canadians
July 15: GC announces $8.3 million through RRRF to support the Women's Enterprise Initiatives organizations across western Canada
July 15: GC announces approximately $2 million in funding to provide other forms of treatment for opioid use disorder
July 16: PM's remarks on the Safe Restart Agreement, supported by over $19 billion in federal investments
- [Safe Restart Agreement]
  - [Joint statement by First Ministers ]
  - [Priorities to safely restart Canada's economy]
July 16: Finance Committee meets on government spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant [CSSG] (meeting 41)
July 17: GC proposes changes to CEWS that will allow the extension of the CEWS until December 19, 2020 [Backgrounder]
July 17: GC announces a total of $2.1 million to support the relief and recovery of Francophone businesses across Western Canada.
July 17: Ontario appoints Humber River Hospital as interim manager at Villa Colombo in North York
July 20: Ontario announces to move more regions into Stage 3 on July 24, 2020
July 20: GC announces a new $3 million program to help agri-processors mitigate the spread of COVID-19
July 20: GC provides emergency COVID-19 funds to support women and children fleeing gender-based violence
July 21: GC announces $251,850 in funding to support urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations in Manitoba
- [Indigenous Community Support Fund]
July 21: GC announces creation of Essential Services Contingency Reserve (ESCR) through Safe Restart Agreement [ESCR]
July 21: Finance Committee meets on government spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant (meeting 42)
July 21: Ontario announces the Accelerated Build Pilot Programs that will enable the construction of two long-term care homes
July 22: Ontario Legislature adjourns
July 22: Ontario announces legislative changes to protect tenants [Backgrounder]
July 22: City of Toronto announces changes to visitor guidelines at City of Toronto’s long-term care homes
July 22: City of Toronto joins RBC-led Canada United to support local businesses and accelerate small business recovery [GoCanadaUnited.ca]
July 22: Toronto Mayor recommend apartment buildings and condos adopt mask policy for common areas [Guidance]
July 23: Ontario announces five new Ontario Health Teams to support Ontario's COVID-19 response [Backgrounder]
July 23: Ontario provides $110,000 to support Indigenous business during COVID-19
July 24: Ministers responsible for immigration meet to jointly plan for the future of immigration in Canada amid COVID-19
July 24: GC announces $625 million to child care sector to support parents' return to work
July 24: GC announces over $22 million in regional development in Quebec [backgrounder]
July 24: City of Toronto to address financial impacts of COVID-19 [Update on the City's Response to COVID-19 and financial impacts]
July 27: CRA announces an extension to the payment deadline and offers interest relief on outstanding tax debts
July 28: GC announces over $95 million in relief and recovery funds flow to businesses in Western Canada [Backgrounder] [RRRF]
July 28: Ontario announces Ontario Health Team in eastern Ottawa
July 28: Ontario fast-tracks long-term care home for Ajax
July 29: Ontario moving Toronto and Peel Region into Stage 3 on July 31, 2020
July 29: Toronto City Council approves mandatory masks or face coverings in apartments and condominiums [Guidance documents]
July 30: Ontario releases two long-term care reports [Reporting Back on the Gillese Inquiry] [Long-Term Care Staffing Study Report]
July 30: Ontario releases plan for safe reopening of schools in September [Backgrounder]
- [COVID-19: reopening schools] [Guide to reopening Ontario's schools]
July 30: Toronto Public Health releases new socio-demographic COVID-19 data
July 31: GC announces $58.6 million to boost protections for temporary foreign workers and address outbreaks on farms [Backgrounder]
July 31: GC announces the new extension of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent assistance (CECRA) by one month for August
July 31: PM announces a new national mobile app (COVID Alert) which helps notify users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19
July 31: Ontario implementing additional measures at bars and restaurants to help limit the spread of COVID-19
July 31: City of Toronto now in Stage 3 reopening
July 31: City of Toronto announces Family Well-Being Plan [toronto.ca/HereToHelpTO]

August 2020 (Wave 1)

August 3: WHO releases COVID-19 preparedness and response progress report: 1 February to 30 June 2020
August 5: GC announces major steps in treating and preventing COVID-19 through vaccines and therapies
- Unveils members of [COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force] [COVID-19 Therapeutics Task Force]
- Signs agreements with Pfizer and Moderna
August 5: GC announces over $3 billion COVID-19 Resilience funding to expands infrastructure program for communities [Backgrounder]
- [Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience]
- [Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program: COVID-19 Resilience stream]
August 6: GC announces new measures to support essential air access to remote communities
August 10: GC temporarily sets a minimum unemployment rate (13.1%) for the Employment Insurance program
August 11: GC launches updated Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator which will open for applications on Aug. 17, 2020
- [CEWS] [FAQ] [Statistics]
August 11: WHO announces that nearly 20 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded [WHO Situation Report - 204]
August 12: Ontario releases 2020-21 First Quarter Finances, projecting a deficit of $38.5 billion [2020-21 First Quarter Finances]
August 12: Ontario provides municipalities with up to $1.6 billion in first round of emergency funding [Agreement]
August 13: GC announces a new Canada Healthy Communities Initiative [Canada Healthy Communities Initiative]
August 14: GC provides a pathway to permanent residency for asylum claimants working in the health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic
August 17: Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigned [Statement by the Prime Minister]
August 17: GC opens applications for enhanced Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy [CEWS calculator]
August 17: GC offers online courses on returning to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic [e-Courses]
August 17: City of Toronto prepares for back to school, fall recreation programs and after-school care
August 18: Prime Minister announces that Chrystia Freeland becomes Minister of Finance and remains Deputy Prime Minister
August 18: PM prorogues Parliament until Sept. 23, 2020 [Prorogation]
[PM’s remarks on changes to the Ministry and an upcoming Speech from the Throne] [Speeches from the Throne]
August 20: GC announces plan to help support Canadians through the next phase of the recovery [Backgrounder]
- [CERB extended to 28 weeks]
- [Simplified EI program]
- Canada Recovery Benefit [CRB]
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit [CRSB]
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit [CRCB]
August 20: Ontario extends Orders under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020
August 21: GC extends Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) support for furloughed employees for four weeks
August 21: Ontario expands indoor capacity, eases contact information requirement for bars and restaurants
August 21: British Columbia introduces new measures to enforce COVID-19 public safety
August 24: Ontario supports retooling of local brewery to produce hand sanitizer
August 26: PM announces up to $2 billion in support for a safe return to school [Speech]
August 26: Ontario releases COVID-19 Management Plan for schools [Operational Guidance] [Additional funds]
August 26: US authorizes first diagnostic test where results can be read directly from testing card
August 27: GC launches a consultation on repurposing the 3800MHz spectrum band to support 5G services [Consultation]
August 31: GC announces greater flexibility and extension of Canada Emergency Business Account to October 31, 2020 [CEBA]
August 31: PM announces agreements with Novavax and Johnson & Johnson to ensure the supply of future vaccines [Speech]
- [Novavax] [Johnson & Johnson]
August 31: City of Toronto presents COVID-19 Resurgence Plan

September 2020 (Wave 2, Beta variant begins: September 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021)

September 3: Canada’s COVID-19 exposure notification app now available in Newfoundland and Labrador [COVID Alert]
September 3: Ontario extends support for employers and employees impacted by COVID-19
September 3: Ontario extends child care funding of nearly $147 million for 2020-21
September 4: GC announces up to $763.34 million in support for Ontario through the Safe Return to Class Fund
September 8: Ontario takes extraordinary steps to reopen schools safely [$1.3 billion investment to reopen schools safely]
September 8: City of Toronto update on COVID-19 enforcement
September 10: GC announces $11.5 million in mental health funding
September 11: GC and partners improve process to notify air travellers potentially exposed to COVID-19 on domestic flights
September 11: GC announces funding for new voluntary self-isolation centre in Toronto
September 11: GC announces that more than 180 businesses across Yukon have received over $7 million in support from the NBRF & RRRF
September 11: GC announces COVID-19 measures supporting young people this fall [COVID-19 measures for youth and students]
September 11: Ontario launches webpage to report COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres [Webpage]
September 14: Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets 2021 Employment Insurance Premium Rate and Maximum Insurable Earnings
September 14: GC announces policy statement on research security and COVID-19 [Safeguarding Your Research]
September 15: Ontario ramps up production of Ontario-made ventilators
September 16: PM announces next steps for Safe Restart Agreement
September 16: Ontario launches new COVID-19 screening tool to help protect students and staff [COVID-19 school screening]
September 17: Ontario lowers the social gathering limits to 10 people indoor and 25 people outdoor for Ottawa, Peel and Toronto [O. Reg. 364/20]
September 18: Canada-US extend temporary non-essential travel restriction until October 21, 2020
September 18: Canada’s COVID-19 exposure notification app now available in Saskatchewan
September 19: Ontario lowers the social gathering limits to 10 people indoor and 25 people outdoor across entire province [Backgrounder]
September 21: PM announces changes in the public services including the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada [Iain Stewart]
September 21: Ontario presses Ottawa to increase share of health funding
September 22: GC signs new agreements with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to secure additional vaccine candidate and treatment
- [Sanofi] [GlaxoSmithKline]
September 22: Ontario announces flu immunization campaign as part of the province's plan to prepare for a second wave of COVID-19
September 23: PM makes address to the nation following Throne Speech which officially opens the 2nd session of the 43^rd Parliament
- [The Speech from the Throne: A stronger and more resilient Canada]
  - [Testing Assistance Response Team]
- [Prime Minister’s remarks addressing Canadians on the COVID-19 situation]
  - Canada has entered a second wave of pandemic
September 23: Ontario expands COVID-19 testing to pharmacies starting Friday
September 23: City of Toronto extends cancellation of outdoor major events and provides $565,000 to support cultural festivals impacted by COVID-19
September 24: GC introduces legislation to support Canadians through Recovery Benefits and extend access to funds for emergency measures
- [Bill C-2]
September 24: Ontario invests more than $1 billion to expand testing and contact tracing
September 25: GC provides update on support for furloughed employees under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
September 25: GC provides more details of the EI program as about 2.8 million Canadians will transition to EI benefits starting September 27
September 25: GC announces temporary measure to compensate film sets in the audiovisual industry [Support for culture, heritage and sport sectors]
September 25: PM announces new agreements to secure additional vaccine candidates [AstraZeneca] [COVAX]
September 25: Ontario announces new public health measures to restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments
September 25: Ontario invests $741 million to reduce surgeries backlog and expand access to care
- [A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic]
September 28: Global death toll of COVID-19 is exceeding one million
September 28: Ontario launches recovery program for northern businesses impacted by COVID-19 [Stakeholder response]
- [Northern Ontario Recovery Program]
September 28: Ontario investing $52.5 million to recruit, retain and support more health care workers
September 29: GC signs agreement for COVID-19 rapid tests and analyzers [ID NOW tests]
September 29: PM announces an additional $400 million in international development funding this year to support the recovery of developing countries.
- [World leaders to focus on key actions to assist countries battered by the financial crisis caused by COVID-19]
September 29: Temperature screening for air travellers expanded to 11 additional Canadian airports
September 29: Ontario provides over half a billion to protect vulnerable senior against second wave of COVID-19
September 30: GC approved the ID NOW rapid testing device
September 30: GC provides over $63 million support for Atlantic Canadian business [Backgrounder] [RRRF]
September 30: Ontario releases updated COVID-19 modelling for second wave
September 30: Ontario delivers $2.8 billion COVID-19 Fall Preparedness Plan [Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Wave of COVID-19]
September 30: City of Toronto tightens rules on restaurants and bars
September 30: City of Toronto changes visitor policy at long-term care homes

October 2020 (Wave 2)

October 1: COVID Alert now available in Manitoba
October 1: Ontario provides $461 million to temporarily enhance wages for personal support workers
October 1: Ontario revises COVID-19 screening guidance for schools and child care
October 2: The COVID-19 Response Measures Act (Bill C-4) receives Royal Assent [Backgrounder]
October 2: GC expands Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to provide further support for businesses
October 2: GC introduces new border measures and provides update on travel restrictions
October 2: PM announces investments for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund and for women's organizations
October 2: GC and Canada's video game industry team up to #CRUSHCOVID
October 2: Ontario implements additional public health and testing measures, transitioning to appointment-based testing beginning Oct. 6th
October 5: GC launches applications for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit [CRSB] [CRCB]
October 5: Applications for the Emergency On-Fram Support Fund are now being accepted [Backgrounder] [Emergency on-farm Support Fund]
October 5: COVID Alert now available in Quebec
October 5: Ontario adding visitor restrictions at long-term care homes for City of Ottawa, Region of Peel, and City of Toronto
October 5: Ontario supports training for personal support workers in Niagara
October 5: Ontario releases $35 million to hire more staff, improve remote learning in targeted communities [Backgrounder]
October 6: Throne speech survives confidence vote of 177-152 [Journals, October 6, 2020]
October 6: GC signs agreement for COVID-19 rapid tests [Panbio COVID-19 Antigen]
October 6: GC announces up to $50 million to support people experiencing gender-based violence
October 7: GC announces $175,000 to support Lévis entrepreneurs [Regional Relief and Recovery Fund]
October 8: Canada hit the highest daily recorded cases
October 8: GC announces $137 million in federal support for Quebec's child care sector
October 9: GC announces new support to help businesses
- [New and top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)] [Extension and expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)]
October 9: GC announces supplemental top-up Safe Restart funding to [Nunavut] [Northwest Territories] [Yukon] [Backgrounder]
October 9: GC and provincial partners support research addressing mental health impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians [Backgrounder]
October 9: Ontario implementing additional public health measures in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto [Modified Stage 2 restrictions for the next 28 days]
October 12: "Never in the history of public health has herd immunity been used as a strategy for responding to an outbreak, let alone a pandemic." (WHO)
October 12: GC launches applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit [CRB]
October 13: GC investing $26.6 million to further protect Ontario Agri-Food workers [Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program]
October 13: Ontario announces $300 million to support restaurants and food services industry
October 13: Ontario invests over $1.4 million to expand production of COVID-19 testing supplies [Microbix]
October 13: Ontario issues a temporarily management order at Beeton long-term care home
October 14: GC confirmed its intention to extend the wage subsidy (CEWS) until June 2021 [Speech from the Throne]
October 14: GC announces that approximately $12 million to support SMEs in Newfoundland and Labrador
October 14: Ontario hiring up to 600 more contact tracers and case managers
October 15: GC announces $363,936 in support for child and youth victims of abuse and violence in response to the pandemic in Ontario
October 15: Québec International receives more than $800,000 from CED to support Capitale-Nationale businesses [RRRF]
October 15: GC invests more than $2.6 million to help Sault and Algoma businesses [Backgrounder]
October 15: GC announces up to $2.5 million support to Manitoba's cattle producers
- [2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program]
October 15: Ontario projects budget deficit of $37.2 billion in 2020-21
- [ Economic and Budget Outlook: an updated assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO]
October 16: PM's remarks on the measures taken to support Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic
October 16: GC concludes G7, G20, IMF, and World Bank meetings [IMF & WBG annual meetings]
October 16: York Region will join Ottawa, Peel and Toronto in a modified Stage 2 starting October 19, 2020
October 16: GC launches new COVID-19-related challenges to help reduce environmental impact of PPE in Canada
October 16: Organizations in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean receive funding to improve food security
- [AAFC Emergency Food Security Fund]
October 16: Ontario invests $2.5 million through the Ontario Together Fund in support of Greenfield Global's hand sanitizer business
October 17: Long-term care home visitor policy restrictions applied to York Region starting October 19, 2020
- [COVID-19: visiting long-term care homes]
October 19: Ontario released an action plan for government services [Ontario Onwards: action plan] [Digital Identity Project]
October 19: Ontario released guidelines for Halloween, traditional trick or treating is not recommended for Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region
October 20: GC announces an investment of $12 million in the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund [CUSBRF]
October 20: Ontario extends COVID-19 orders until November 21, 2020, dance classes with conditions allowed in areas under modified Stage 2 regulations
October 20: City of Toronto announces approximately $1.9 million in additional funding to help vulnerable populations
October 21: Ontario invests $24.3 million to support mental health services for children and youth
October 22: The Coutts land border crossing and the Calgary International Airport in Alberta will receive a COVID-19 test upon entry to reduce the mandatory quarantine period beginning November 2, 2020 as a pilot project [International border pilot project]
October 23: PM Prime Minister announces funding to advance the development of Canadian COVID‑19 vaccine technologies [PM's remarks]
- [Medicago] [Precision NanoSystems Incorporated (PNI)]
October 23: GC extends deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit to December 31, 2020 [Disability Tax Credit]
October 23: GC and Nova Scotia launch $1M Program to protect farm workers
October 25: Ontario reports 1,042 new cases, the highest number of daily confirmed infections since the beginning of the pandemic
- [Ontario COVID-19 case data: Daily new cases]
October 26: A Niagara-region dog first in Canada to test positive for COVID-19
- "there is no evidence to suggest that companion animals/ pets such as dogs or cats can spread COVID-19” [WHO: Myth busters]
October 26: Ontario to release 2020 Provincial Budget on November 5
October 26: City of Toronto reports 374 confirmed cases, the highest single-day number since the beginning of the pandemic
October 26: City of Toronto partnership with Ritual and DoorDash to support local business with free delivery until November 8
October 27: PM announces $1 billion to create 3,000 new homes across the country [Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)] [Speech]
October 27: Ontario provides $116.5 million to create 766 hospital beds [Previous investment in reducing surgical backlogs]
October 27: GC invests $4.9 million to protect British Columbia farm workers [Emergency On-Farm Support Fund]
October 27: City of Toronto approves extended winter patio program for curbside cafes and expanded private patios [COVID-19: CaféTO]
October 28: Canada's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 10,000
October 28: Chief Public Health Officer of Canada's annual report tabled in Parliament [Backgrounder]
- [From Risk to Resilience: an Equity Approach to COVID-19]
October 28: Ontario launching COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream
October 28: New management ordered at Niagara Falls, Ontario long-term care home
October 28: Toronto City Council unanimously approves motion to request the province to temporarily cap commissions for food service deliveries
October 29: GC invests $945,000 to further protect Prince Edward Island farm workers during COVID-19
October 30: PM announces new supports for Indigenous peoples and communities
- PM's remarks announcing new supports for Indigenous peoples and communities and new investments in COVID-19 research
October 30: GC extends international travel restrictions to November 30, 2020
October 30: GC announces plan to support economic recovery through immigration
October 30: Deputy PM and Minister of Finance's address to the Toronto Global Forum: Canada’s plan for a strong economic recovery from COVID-19
October 30: The Ottawa Hospital and Extendicare (Canada) Inc. enter into Management Agreement

November 2020 (Wave 2)

November 2: GC announces new mandatory requirements for travellers to Canada effective November 21, 2020.
- All travellers are required to provide specific information upon and after entry to Canada [Mandatory Isolation Order, PC 2020-0840]
November 2: GC introduces legislation for new, targeted support to help business through pandemic [Bill C-9]
November 2: GC extends the Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP) until November 30, 2020 [MISTFWP]
November 2: GC announces support to essential air access to remote communities
- Agreement with Government of Nunavut
- Agreement with Government of Northwest Territories
November 2: Ontario increasing direct care for long-term care residents to four hours per day
November 3: GC releases Preliminary guidance on key populations for early COVID-19 vaccination
- Preliminary guidance on key populations for early COVID-19 immunization
November 3: Ontario will transition public health unit regions to the new colour-coded framework on November 7, 2020
- Toronto may be delayed entering Orange-Restrict level until November 14, 2020
- [Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework]
November 5: GC announces the results of combating unauthorized and counterfeit goods during the COVID-19 [Project Purify]
November 5: GC releases details on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Extension [Backgrounder]
November 5: Ontario's 2020 Budget projects $187 billion in expenditure, including $30 billion in pandemic spending and $38.5 billion deficit forecast
- [Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover]
November 6: GC joins Food Bank Canada in improving food security for rural and northern communities [Emergency Food Security Fund]
November 6: GC announces additional $155 million to extend the Innovation Assistance Program [NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program (IAP)]
November 6: First confirmed case in Nunavut
November 9: GC announces additional funding to help connect Canadians to high-speed Internet across the country [Universal Broadband Fund]
November 9: City of Toronto launches COVID-19 Immunization Task Force to prepare for arrival of COVID-19 vaccine
November 10: GC signs another agreement for COVID-19 antigen rapid tests
November 10: City of Toronto will be moved into the Red-controlled level of the Response Framework starting November 14, 2020 [Backgrounder]
November 12: "Invest in public health. Take a One Health Approach. And go beyond the health sector. These are the fundamental shifts I believe our world must make" (WHO)
November 12 &13: GC releases details of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Timmons-James Bay region
November 12: GC and Ontario invest in public transit infrastructure in Milton
November 13: PM's remarks on the COVID-19 situation (see also Second wave timeline)
- "This week, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all set new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
- Yesterday, Ontario reported over 1,500 new cases – a record high for the third day in a row. New projections are suggesting that the province could be on track for up to 6,500 cases a day by mid-December.
- We also set a new daily national record yesterday with nearly 5,000 new cases in Canada, and 83 more Canadians lost to this virus."
November 13: Ontario updates the COVID-19 Response Framework by lowering the threshold for each of the five levels
November 13: Toronto's Medical Officer of Health issues Section 22 order to strengthen COVID-19 protections in Toronto
November 14: City of Toronto launches the "Practice Safe 6ix" campaigns targeting Torontonians between the ages of 18 and 40 [Backgrounder]
November 16: GC announces $14 million to support for New Brunswick's child care sector [Safe Restart Agreement]
November 17: Ontario provides over $37 million to expand mobile crisis team for mental health services [Ontario's Action Plan]
November 17: Ontario accepts applications for the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream for municipalities
November 18: GC announces the Independent panel to review Global Public Health Surveillance System (GPHIN), an early warning system for potential public health threats worldwide
November 19: GC opens applications for the COVID-19 resilience Infrastructure Stream for Municipalities in Ontario

November 20: Toronto and Peel placed under lockdown effective November 23, 2020 for at least 28 days
November 20: City of Toronto supports provincial lockdown measures
November 22: The Chief Public Health Officer of Canada shares ways to celebrate the Holiday Season safely
November 22: City of Toronto services modified to adhere to provincial lockdown measures
November 23: GC opens applications for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy [Backgrounder] [CERS]
November 23: Ontario appoints new Ministers' COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
November 23: Ontario provides nearly $41 million to help 486 non-profit organizations to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
November 24: GC signs new agreement for a COVID-19 antibody therapy
November 24: Ontario deploys new rapid tests [ID NOW] [Panbio rapid antigen test]
November 24: PM blames lack of domestic production capacity for vaccine delay
November 25: Ontario provides preliminary guidance on how to celebrate the Holiday Season safely
November 25: "Ontario's COVID-19 response faced systemic issues and delays" (Auditor General Special Report) [Reflections]
- Special Report on Emergency Management in Ontario - Pandemic Response
- Special Report on Outbreak Planning and Decision-Making
- Special Report on Laboratory Testing, Case Management and Contact Tracing
November 25: City of Toronto launches Welcome T.O. Winter parks plan
November 26: GC announces funding for new COVID-19 safe voluntary isolation centre in Peel, Ontario
November 26: COVID Alert is available in the Northwest Territories
November 26: Ontario launches targeted voluntary testing of asymptomatic students and staff in regions of high number of active cases
- [voluntary test]
November 26: Ontario announces that effective November 23, 2020, all in-vehicle road tests in the City of Toronto and Peel Region will be cancelled
November 26: Ontario launches a new online application and streamlines process to apply for social assistance
November 27: The Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence are assisting the vaccine distribution planning
November 27: PM says that the majority of Canadians will be vaccinated by September 2021
November 27: Ontario moving five public health regions to new levels in COVID-19 Response Framework
November 27: Ontario calls on Ottawa to lay out its plan to allocate COVID-19 vaccines across the country
November 27: Ontario supports municipalities as they manage financial pressure from COVID-19
November 27: GC and the Government of Yukon invest $1 million in support of a Recovery Research Program
November 27: GC announces additional COVID-19 Emergency Funding to support the sport Community
November 27: City of Toronto updates on modified services to adhere to provincial lockdown measures
- [Lockdown guide for Toronto residents]
November 27: City of Toronto re-opens CurbTO registration for temporary pick-up zones
November 28: Ontario supports management agreements at two long-term care homes
November 29: GC announces extension of travel restrictions
November 29: Conservative Leader speaks on Fall economic statement, CanSino partnership, rapid test, and vaccine timeline
November 30: Ontario provides $380 million to support young learners [Support for Learners program]
November 30: GC releases Fall Economic Statement 2020 [Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19]

December 2020 (Wave 2)

December 1: PM's remarks on the COVID-19 situation and the Fall Economic Statement
December 2: Health Canada releases statement on UK’s authorization of its first COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech
December 2: Ontario invests more than $115 million to support patients with innovative home and community care services
December 4: Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer on COVID-19
- "An initial supply of vaccines is expected to become available in early 2021" [see also Vaccines]
- Latest guidance for the initial sequencing of key populations for early COVID-19 immunization
December 4: GC expands Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans
December 4: Ontario moving Middlesex-London, Thunder Bay and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Units to new levels in COVID-19 Response Framework
December 4: Toronto Public Health enhances school screening tool that if a students has even one COVID-19 symptom, they must stay home
December 7: GC announces that Canada will receive up to 249,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020, pending Health Canada approval [Prime Minister's remarks]
December 7: GC awards contract to FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. to distribute COVID-19
December 7: Ontario identifies key groups for distribution of initial COVID-19 vaccines
December 9: Health Canada authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. Pfizer is set to provide up to 249,000 doses during December [Statement]
December 10: GC announces pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program to ensure that Canadians have access to support when experiencing an adverse reaction to a vaccine
December 10: PM hosts First Ministers' meeting on fighting COVID-19
December 11: Ontario begins to vaccinate frontline health care workers on December 15, 2020 with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
December 11: Ontario moving seven public health regions to new levels of stronger public health measures including Windsor-Essex and York Region moving into Grey-Lockdown
December 13: PM announces that the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Canada [Details for Pfizer-BioNTech]
December 14: Ontario delivers first COVID-19 vaccine in the country
December 14: GC contributes of $230 million to procure COVID-19 treatments for developing countries [Backgrounder]
December 14: Ontario announces that effective December 11, 2020, individuals requesting a COVID-19 test for international travels are no longer publicly funded
December 14: Ontario orders temporary management at Etobicoke long-term care home
December 15: GC announces that Canada will be able to access 168,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020, pending on Health Canada's authorization of the vaccine
December 15: GC provides additional $50 million in relief to broadcasting sector
December 15: GC announces a contribution of up to $6.7 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund to Arch Biopartners to build domestic capabilities to fight future pandemics
December 15: Ontario provides an additional $120 million to help municipalities and Indigenous communities to protect the vulnerable
December 16: Ontario provides an additional $695 million to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry deficits into 2021
December 17: GC announces approval of first Universal Broadband Fund project
December 17: GC announces additional funding up to $50 million to over 1000 organizations serving women and children
December 17: GC announces Veterans Organizations Emergency Support Fund (VOESF) recipients. [VOESF]
December 17: Correctional Service of Canada announces that effective December 16, 2020, in-person visit are suspended at all of its Ontario Institutions
December 17: Ontario extends regulatory changes under the Employment Standards Act to July 2, 2021 to put non-unionized employees on job-protected leave [Employment Standards Act]
December 17: Ontario provides $77 million to help people who were laid off due to the impact of COVID-19 find in-demand jobs [Second Career]
December 17: Ontario provides over $147 million to expand access to mental health and addiction services
December 18: GC announces wage subsidy rate increase to 75 per cent for the period of December 20, 2020 to March 14, 2021
December 18: GC rolling out $100M in added support to food security organizations during COVID-19 pandemic
December 18: National Research Council of Canada supports development of 4 COVID-19 therapeutic candidates
December 18: GC releases statement on the U.S. authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
December 18: Ontario announces that Peel and Toronto will remain in the Grey-Lockdown to be re-assessed on January 4, 2021; five public health regions will be moved to levels with stronger public health measures including City of Hamilton to Grey-Lockdown
December 18: Ontario expands COVID-19 vaccine locations
December 18: A new Ontario law that caps food delivery fees to a limit of 15% on commission for restaurants effective December 19, 2020 [Supporting Local Restaurants Act, 2020]
December 18: Starting December 21, 2020, Ontario beef farmers can apply for funding to help cover costs due to COVID-19 delays [funding]
December 20: Canada suspends flights from the United Kingdom for 72 hours to monitor the genetic variant of the COVID-19
December 21: GC launches the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Registry
December 21: GC temporary adjusts the Automobile Standby Charge for the 2020 and 2021 taxation years due to COVID-19
December 21: GC develops a new regulation to address future large-scale flight cancellations
December 21: Ontario announces province-wide shutdown effective December 26, 2020 to Jan. 9 in northern Ontario and to Jan. 23 in southern Ontario [Summary information] [High Priority Communities Strategy]
December 21: Ontario announces new Ontario Small Business Support Grant up to $20,000
December 21: Ontario supports management agreement between Markham Stouffville Hospital and Faith Manor Nursing Home
December 22: Taxpayers' Ombudsperson releases statement regarding the service provided by the CRA on the emergency benefit programs
December 22: Ontario cancelling passenger road tests across Ontario
December 23: Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
December 23: PM announces that we're on track to have at least 1.2 million doses from both Pfizer and Moderna delivered by January 31
December 23: GC provides $70 million in additional funding to the Red Cross for ongoing COVID-19 response
December 23: City of Toronto announces approximately $3.12 million to support 33 community-based agencies [Scheinberg Relief Fund]
December 24: Health Canada releases statement on the variants of COVID-19 virus found in the United Kingdom and South Africa
- [COVID-19 variants]
December 26: Ontario confirms first cases of COVID-19 UK variant in Ontario
December 27: Ontario provides update on Ontario cases of COVID-19 UK variant
December 29: Ontario supports management agreement between St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Shalom Village Nursing Home
December 30: GC releases statement on the U.K. authorization of the AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine
December 30: Ontario releases ethical framework for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
December 30: The premier of Ontario comments on the Ontario finance minister's personal trip outside of Canada
December 31: GC announces pre-departure COVID-19 testing and negative results to be required for all air travellers coming to Canada [Backgrounder]
December 31: Ontario supports management agreement between Niagara Health System and Oakwood Park Lodge
December 31: City of Toronto approved 35 child care programs to provide emergency child care for essential workers
December 31: PM releases statement to wrap up the year and mark the New Year

January 2021 (Wave 2)

January 4: Ontario supports management agreement between University Health Network and St. George Care Community
January 4: City of Toronto releases new COVID-19 workplace outbreak data and announces new measures for COVID-19 related workplace safety
January 4: City of Toronto provides update on COVID-19 and vaccination rollout
January 5: PM announces that returning traveller for non essential purposes no longer eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
January 5: PM comments on the slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout
January 5: PM answers questions regarding two Liberal MPs who travelled abroad during the holidays
January 5: Ontario accelerates COVID-19 vaccinations for long-term care homes in priority regions
January 6: New pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements come into effect for all air travellers flying into Canada
January 6: Ontario launches testing program at Pearson airport for international travellers returning to Ontario [COVID-19 testing at Toronto Pearson]
January 6: Quebec announces additional public health measures which include a curfew between 8pm to 5am for the period from January 9, 2021 to February 8, 2021 [Confinement in Quebec] [Update on provincial curfew, January 7, 2021]
January 7: PM speaks with premiers on continued efforts to address the impacts of COVID-19
January 7: Ontario extends online learning until January 25, 2021 for elementary school students in the southern Ontario and extends the shutdown in northern Ontario for another 14 days
January 8: PM's provides update on the vaccination situation
January 11: GC to ensure that international travellers do not qualify for CRB, CRCB and CRSB
January 11: GC announces funding of $4.1 million for new COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation Centre in Waterloo, Ontario
January 11: City of Toronto launching first COVID-19 immunization clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
January 12: PM announces that an agreement to buy an additional 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccinate was reached, we're on track to have every Canadian who wants a vaccine receive one by September
January 12: GC and Prince Edward Island announce investment in COVID-19 resilience upgrade at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
January 12: Ontario declares a second provincial emergency, effective January 14, 2021, new enforcement measures includes ticketing to individuals who do not comply with the stay-at-home order [ Details ]
January 13: 22 cases of B.1.1.17 (United Kingdom) virus variant and one case of the 501Y.V2 (South Africa) virus variant have been reported in Canada
January 13: Ontario expands COVID-19 Immunization Program to seniors, frontline essential workers in phase two
January 13: Ontario supports management agreement between Unity Health Toronto and Copernicus Lodge
January 13: Ontario supports management agreement between North Wellington Health Care Corporation and Caressant Care Arthur Nursing Home
January 14: Ontario increasingly workplace inspections during COVID-19
January 15: COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel released their first report [Backgrounder]
- [Priority Strategies to Optimize Testing and Screening for COVID-19 in Canada]
January 15: Ontario's Small Business Support Grant opens for applications
January 15: PM's remarks updating Canadian on COVID-19, Pfizer's reduced vaccine production and it's impact on Canada
January 15: City of Toronto has completed the first round of vaccinations in all 87 long-term care homes
January 15: Toronto Public Health expands case and contact management work by adding more contact callers and case managers
January 16: 23 cases of the B.1.1.17 (United Kingdom) virus variant and 2 cases of the 501Y.V2 (South Africa) virus variant have been reported in Canada
January 16: Ontario extends Reopening Ontario Act Orders for another 30 days
January 17: City of Toronto announces that COVID-19 immunization clinic proof-of-concept site ready to open on Monday [Backgrounder]
January 18: Ontario temporarily transition Mackenzie Health's Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital into a COVID-19 hospital and adding over 500 critical care beds
January 18: Ontario announces that Francophone non-profit organizations can begin applying for the COVID-19 Relief Fund on January 25, 2021
January 18: Ontario supports management agreement between Mackenzie Health and Villa Leonardo Gambin
January 18: City of Toronto starts COVID-19 vaccination pilots for people experiencing homelessness and frontline workers in select shelters
January 19: PM's remark updating Canadians on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination efforts
January 19: City of Toronto’s proof-of-concept Immunization Clinic ordered to pause immediately due to vaccine shortage
January 20: GC announces to invests $6 million in national clinical trials network [Canadian Network of COVID-19 Clinical Trials Networks]
January 20: GC publishes draft legislative proposals to adjust certain deductions for employment insurance and COVID-19 benefits
January 20: The Chief Public Health Officer concerns that community transmission with the virus variant may already be occurring in Canada
January 20: Ontario announces additional measures to keep school safe as over 100,000 students return to class beginning next week
- [COVID-19: Guidance for School Operation during the Pandemic by SickKids]
January 20: City of Toronto outlines plan for CaféTO program in 2021 to help local restaurants
- [CaféTO and CurbTO - Pandemic Response Programs]
January 21: PM holds 25th call with premiers on COVID-19 response
January 21: Ontario opens COVID-19 Isolation Centres in hardest hit communities [High Priority Communities Strategy]
January 21: Toronto's Medical Officer of Health reported that for the first time in months, the effective COVID-19 reproductive number is below one - at 0.86
January 22: PM spoke with the CEO of Pfizer to assure that hundreds of thousands of Pfizer doses will be delivered the week of February 15th and in the weeks to follow
January 22: "The National Microbiology Laboratory reports 31 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom, and 3 cases of the B.1.351 variant that first identified in South Africa." [Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer on COVID-19]
January 22: GC invests $162.6 million to strength Canadian Food Inspection Agency [Backgrounder]
January 22: GC provides two Mobile Health Units to assist Ontario with COVID-19 response
January 22: City of Toronto traffic data shows more people staying home to fight COVID-19
January 23: "The latest national-level data indicate a recent downward trend in daily case counts (past 10 days), with a 7-day average of 6,079 new cases daily (Jan 15-21)" (Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on January 23, 2021)
January 24: Researchers are continuing to study whether or not COVID-19 vaccines prevent people from spreading the virus to others
January 25: Today marks the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Canada [First presumptive confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Canada, January 25, 2020]
January 25: Ontario expanding eligibility for emergency child care during extended remote learning period, take effect on January 27, 2021
January 25: GC announces the launch of the pre-budget consultations for Budget 2021 [Pre-Budget consultations 2021]
January 26: Ontario is calling on the federal government to take further action to protect the border
January 27: Ontario extends electricity relief until February 9, 2021
January 29: GC introduces further restrictions on international travel which include a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival and staying in a GC-approved hotel for three nights all at their own cost [Backgrounder] [PM's remarks]
January 29: PM announces the second instalment of up to $ 1 billion to the Safe Return to Class Fund. [Safe Return to Class Fund]
January 29: Ontario provides details of the six-point plan to stop the spread of COVID-19 variants

February 2021 (Wave 2)

February 1: Canada's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 20,000
February 1: Ontario expands testing and announces additional $281 million to keep school safe [Backgrounder]
February 2: PM announces investment to support vaccine, therapeutic, and Biomanufacturing projects in Canada [Backgrounder]
February 4: The latest seroprevalence estimates indicate that 1.5% of healthy donors showed evidence of prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19 Seroprevalence Report]
February 4: GC announces ban for pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022
February 5: PM provides update on vaccine rollout including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Novavax, and COVAX
February 5: GC announces an expansion of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) by $500 million nationally, including over $250 million for Western Canada
February 5: GC invests $18 million to virtual health care services in British Columbia
February 6: The latest seroprevalence report indicates that the vast majority of Canadian remain susceptible to COVID-19
February 8: GC invests close to $3.5 million to virtual health care services in Prince Edward Island [Agreement]
February 8: Ontario extending Stay-at-Home Order to 28 public health regions until February 16, 2021. For Toronto, Peel and York regions until February 22, 2021 [Backgrounder on In-person shopping at retail stores]
February 9: Health Canada issues label change authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to six doses per vial
February 12: GC invests $53 million to address COVID-19 virus variants of concern
February 12: GC expands restrictions to international travel by land and by air [Backgrounder]
February 12: PM provides an update on vaccines
February 12: Most Ontario regions are moving out of the shutdown as of February 16, 2021. Toronto, Peel, York and North Bay Parry Sound will remain in the shutdown
February 16: GC is seeking Parliament's approval to spend roughly $9.9 billion (74% in voted expenditures) to support Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic [Supplementary Estimates 2020-21]
February 16: PM provides an update on vaccines
February 17: City of Toronto requests extension of Shutdown Zone and Stay-at-Home Order [Medical Officer of Health letter]
February 19: PM provides an update on vaccines:
- This Wednesday: 400,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine received
- Next week: expect to receive nearly half a million
- End of March: expect to receive 6 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in total
- September: expect to receive at least 84 million doses in total

February 19: GC proposes increase to number of weeks for recovery benefits (CRB, CRSB, CRCB) and EI regular benefits
February 19: IMF forecasts that Canadian economy will grow by 4.4% this year [IMF Mission Concluding Statement]
February 19: Stay-at-home Order extended in Toronto and Peel Public Health Region along with North Bay-Parry Sound
February 19: Ontario launches education campaign to help workplaces reopen safely
February 20: GC begins COVID-19 testing at land borders on February 22, 2021
February 20: City of Toronto providing financial relief for taxicab industry
February 22: GC and PEI announce funding for a permanent provincial pandemic - response warehouse and the storage of National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)
February 22: "Public Health Scotland has issued a study showing that, by the fourth week after receiving an initial dose, the Pfizer vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 by up to 85 per cent, with protection for those age 80 and over at 80 per cent. The study also found the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by up to 94 per cent." [City of Toronto update on COVID-19]
February 24: City of Toronto extends cancellation of in-person major events to July 1
February 25: GC introduces legislation to increase number of weeks for EI regular benefits and to prevent international travellers from qualifying for recovery benefits during mandatory quarantine [Bill C-24]
February 26: Health Canada authorizes AstraZeneca and Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc./Serum Institute of India COVID-19 vaccines
February 26: Canada to receive 2 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India
February 26: Nine Ontario Public Health Regions will be moving to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework on March 1, 2021
February 28: City of Toronto will begin vaccinating people experiencing homelessness in Toronto's shelter system starting this week

March 2021 (Wave 3, Gamma variant begins: March 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021)

March 1: "NACI recommends that in the context of limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, jurisdictions should maximize the number of individuals benefiting from the first dose of vaccine by extending the interval for the second dose of vaccine up to four months" [NACI rapid response]
March 1: City of Toronto provides updated details of City COVID-19 Vaccination Program and collaboration with health sector partners
March 3: GC announces Wage and Rent Subsidy amounts to remain unchanged through to June [Backgrounder]
March 3: Health Canada allows more flexible storage and transportation conditions for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine [COVID-19 vaccine and treatment portal]
March 5: Health Canada authorizes Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine
March 5: Ontario announces that Toronto, Peel and North Bay Parry Sound District public health regions out of the shutdown effective March 8, 2021 [COVID 19: Response Framework Zone changes]
March 5: Ontario ready to rollout Phase Two of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan [Populations eligible for Phase Two COVID-19 Vaccination]
March 7: Public Health Agency of Canada released statement regarding what we should know about Canada's two new COVID-19 vaccines
March 8: GC announces members of new Task Force on Women in the Economy [Task Force on Women in the Economy]
March 8: GC launches Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge to support increased vaccine confidence [Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge]
March 8: PM designates March 11, 2021 as a National Day of Observance to commemorate the people who lost their lives and the significant impacts we have all felt because of COVID-19 [Statement by the Prime Minister]
March 10: Ontario pharmacies and primary care settings to begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations
March 10: Ontario provides $255 million to protect homeless shelters during COVID-19
March 10: Ontario establishes Tourism Economic Recovery Task Force
March 10: City of Toronto announces the opening of online COVID-19 vaccination bookings for residents born in 1941 or earlier starting March 12, 2021
- Backgrounder
March 10: City of Toronto launches city-wide community mobilization vaccine campaign
March 11: Health Canada is aware of reports of adverse events in Europe following immunization with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
March 12: Ontario moving Lambton, Northwestern Health, and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health units to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework
March 12: Residents 80 years of age and older can now register online for COVID-19 vaccinations at a City of Toronto immunization clinic
March 15: Ontario's COVID-19 booking system is live on March 15, 2021 [Book vaccine appointment]
March 15: City of Toronto announces formation of a COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Working Group
March 16: NACI has expanded its recommendation on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to all adults, now including those 65 years of age and older
March 18: Health Canada confirms that the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for use in Canada [EMA] [MHRA]
March 18: Ontario Chief Medical Officer says that Ontario is entering a third wave of the pandemic (05:06)
March 18: Ontario is investing more than $12 million in a new initiative to detect COVID-19 in wastewater
March 19: "Health Canada has been working closely with international regulators to gather and assess the available information, and has determined that the AstraZeneca vaccine has not been associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots."
March 19: Ontario moving eight regions to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework and making adjustments to public health measures for indoor and outdoor dinning
March 19: Senior age 75 and older can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at City of Toronto clinics on March 22, 2021
March 20: The Minister of Health releases the interim report from the independent review panel of Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN)
March 21: AstraZeneca vaccine "may be associated with very rare but serious cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia, i.e. low levels of blood platelets, including cases involving of clots in the vessels draining blood from the brain (CVST) and/or blood clots in multiple blood vessels (disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)" [Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada]
March 21: Mayor Tory declared March 21 as a Day of Remembrance for Lives Lost to COVID-19 in Toronto [Proclamation] [Backgrounder]
March 22: GC announces extension of Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) from March 31 to June 30, 2021
March 22: PHAC has developed new computational tools for rapid screening and visualization of specific VOCs in complex sequence data from wastewater [Paper]
March 24: Health Canada issues label change and guidance on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine [Guidance]
March 25: GC announces a legislation to provide $7.2 billion in critical support to provinces, territories, municipalities, and First Nations communities across Canada [Bill C-25] [Speech]
March 26: Orders in council have been issued under the Financial Administration Act (FAA) approving the government’s 2021-2022 annual borrowing authority of $635 billion
March 26: Ontario adjusting public health measures for activities in grey-lockdown level
March 26: Ontario moving Hamilton and Eastern Ontario Health Unit to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework
March 26: City of Toronto COVID-19 immunization clinic appointments available to seniors age 70 and older staring March 27, 2021
March 29: GC announces $1.5 million for Safe Voluntary Isolation Site in Thunder Bay
March 28: City of Toronto to open Malvern Community Recreation Centre and Mitchell Field Arena COVID-19 vaccination clinics on March 29, 2021 for seniors with confirmed appointments
March 29: Health Canada will require the manufacturers of AstraZeneca vaccine to conduct a detailed assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccine by age and sex in the Canadian context
March 29: NACI recommends that AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used in adults under 55 years of age at this time
March 30: WHO releases its report on the origin of COVID [Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus]
March 31: GC announces an investment of $415 million to strengthen Canada’s biomanufacturing sector [Sanofi Pasteur Limited (Sanofi )]

April 2021 (Wave 3)

April 1: Ontario announces that all 34 public health unit regions to move into shutdown effective April 3, 2021 for at least four weeks
April 1: Ontario extends COVID-19 vaccination booking to more age groups. Torontonians age 60 or older can book the shot at City-operated immunization clinics
April 1: Ontario expanding pharmacy and primary care locations for COVID-19 vaccination
April 1: "Vaccination is not reaching the highest risk communities, delaying its impact as an effective strategy" (Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario)
April 2: Health Canada issues an advisory not to use face masks that contain graphene
April 6: Ontario moving to Phase Two of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan with a focus on individuals in "hot spot" communities
April 6: Toronto Public Health issues Section 22 order to move all Toronto schools to remote learning from April 7 to 18. Licensed child care programs will not be permitted to offer care to children whose schools are required to be closed, with the exception of emergency child care for those who qualify
April 7: Ontario declares a third provincial emergency and a provincewide Stay-at-Home Order effective April 8, 2021 for at least 28 days [Order in Council] [What this means]
April 9: To date, almost 25,000 variant of concern cases have been reported across Canada, with the B.1.1.7 variant continuing to account for over 90% [Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer on April 9, 2021]
April 9: City of Toronto reports highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases
April 11: There are 860 people with COVID-19 were being treated in intensive care units, which is 23% higher than last week
April 12: Ontario moves schools to remote learning following Spring break
April 13: Canada confirms first case of blood clot after AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
April 13: CDC and FDA have recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine in the United States
- The first shipments of this vaccine are scheduled to arrived in Canada at the end of April
April 14: Health Canada provides update on the AstraZeneca and COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccines [News releases]
April 14: GC establishes Critical Drug Reserve to bolster Canada’s supply of drugs used to treat COVID-19
- [Critical Drug Reserve during COVID-19]
April 16: Government of Canada announces funding for new COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation sites in Saskatchewan
April 16: Ontario strengthens enforcement of Stay-at-Home Order effective April 17, 2021, both the provincial declaration of emergency and Stay-at-Home order have been extended for an additional two weeks until May 5, 2021.
- Police officers will have the authority to require any individual to provide their home address and purpose for not being at their residence
- Close all outdoor recreational amenities, such as golf courses, basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds with limited exceptions
April 16: Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario provides update on COVID-19 projections
April 17: Ontario Solicitor General says police officers will no longer have the right to make random stops of pedestrians and motorists
April 17: Ontario government alters regulations to allow playgrounds, but gatherings outside will still be enforced
April 18: PM announces additional, emergency support to fight COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario
April 19: Finance Minister releases the first federal budget in two years: Budget 2021
- [A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience]
- Address by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
April 19: Ontario expands age eligibility for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to 40+ while NACI recommends that AstraZeneca vaccine should not be used in adults under 55
April 20: Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario recommends paid sick leave, closing non-essential workplaces and etc.
April 20: Toronto Public Health issues Section 22 Class Order to close workplaces to manage COVID-19 outbreaks effective April 23, 2021
April 21: This week marks the important milestone of over 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine having been administered in Canada
- Volunteer efforts such as VaccineHunters.ca, Pink Cars, and Vaxstat.ca are helpful in finding vaccine appointments
April 22: GC suspends flights from India and Pakistan
April 23: Ontario confirms first case of rare AstraZeneca-linked blood clotting
April 26: GC assists Ontario by deploying health human resources, providing support from the Canadian Armed Forces and funding the redeployment of the Canadian Red Cross
April 26: Under the Section 22 Class Order to address workplace COVID-19 risk, Toronto Public Health has directed four workplaces to fully close and seven to close partially
April 26: The first patient was transferred to the Sunnybrook's Mobile Health Unit (MHU)
April 27: Ontario expands COVID-19 vaccination booking to individuals 45 and over in hot spot communities, licensed child care workers are eligible to book vaccine appointments this week. [Hot spot postal codes]
April 27: Ontario proposed legislation to strengthen the health and supportive care workforce during COVID-19 and beyond [Bill 283]
April 27: Quebec confirmed first death related to rare AstraZeneca-linked blood clots
April 28: Ontario announces temporary emergency order which will provide hospital the flexibility to transfer patients whose doctors have determined no longer require hospital care to long-term care or retirement homes without obtaining the consent of the patient
April 28: Ontario announces that a legislation on paid sick leave will be introduced. The legislation, if passed, would require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the CRSB will expire.
April 28: "Lack of pandemic preparedness and poor infection control practices in long- term care contributed to COVID-19 impacts" (Auditor General of Ontario releases the COVID-19 Preparedness and Management Special Report) [Summary]
April 28: City of Toronto partners with Vaccine Hunters Canada to help residents quickly find available vaccine appointments at City-run clinics
April 29: Ontario introduced the paid sick leave legislation, Bill 284 received Royal Assent the same day. Employers are required to provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave related to COVID-19 [Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021]
April 30: Ontario's Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission releases its final report [About the Commission] [Response] [Minister Statement]

May 2021 (Wave 3)

May 1: 40% of Ontario adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
May 2: Ontario expands COVID-19 vaccination booking for individuals aged 18 and over in hotspots eligible to book as of May 3
May 3: the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines to include advice on the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. NACI recommends the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be offered to individuals 30 years of age or older
May 5: Health Canada authorizes use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 12 to 15 years of age
May 5: Ontario launches mobile vaccine units in hot spot workplaces
May 6: Toronto Public Health issues Section 22 Order to education providers limiting in-person attendances of school-aged children
May 7: To date, almost 15 million doses have been administered, providing almost 42% of Canadian adults with a first dose of protection
May 7: GC increases access to COVID-19 rapid testing for workers [Ontario's announcement]
May 10: Ontario's health care workers are eligible to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a shortened interval
May 10: Ontario expands booking eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines to individuals with at-risk health conditions and people who cannot work from home
May 11: Alberta pauses first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine due to supply issues
May 11: Ontario pauses the rollout and administration of first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine due to the increased reports of VITT
May 12: Over 50% of Ontario adults receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine
May 13: "PHAC has estimated the rate of VITT in Canada as 1 in 83,000 doses administered. As investigations continue for additional cases, pending PF4 antibody results, this rate could increase to 1 in 55,000" (Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer)
May 13: Ontario extending Stay-at-Home Order until June 2
May 14: Toronto extends cancellation of in-person major participatory events to Labour Day
May 17: Ontario expanding COVID-19 vaccine booking to individuals aged 18 and over
May 20: Ontario releases three-step roadmap which requires minimum vaccination rates for each phase of reopening [Roadmap to reopen] [Backgrounder]
May 21: Canada reached the milestone of 20 million people having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
May 21: GC extends the temporary travel measures restricting entry into Canada by foreign nationals until June 21, 2021
May 21: Ontario proceeding with second dose administration of AstraZeneca
May 21: Ontario expanding COVID-19 vaccine booking to youth 12+, starting May 23, 2021
May 24: GC assists Manitoba COVID-19 response
May 21: GC extends travel restrictions until June 21, 2021
May 28: Prime Minister announces that families entitled to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) will receive additional support
May 28: Ontario accelerates rollout of second shots targeting a two-dose summer [Anticipated schedule for 2nd doses]
May 31: WHO has established new simplified labels for variants of concern using letters of the Greek alphabet. (B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617, which includes B.1.617.2 (Delta))

June 2021 (Wave 3)

June 1: NACI releases guidance on interchangeable of authorized COVID-19 vaccine [Interchangeability of Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines (NACI)]
June 1: Ontario maintains COVID-19 restrictions as Stay-at-Home Order expires on June 2, 2021 [Roadmap to reopen at a glance]
June 2: Remote learning to continue across Ontario for the remainder of school year
June 3: Ontario updating AstraZeneca second dose guidance: first and second doses of different COVID-19 vaccine can be safely combined
June 4: Ontarian aged 70 and over and individuals who received their first dose of mRNA vaccine on or before April 18, 2021 can book a second dose appointment starting June 7, 2021
June 5: As of June 5th, 70% of the eligible population, aged 12 years or older, have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 9% have received two doses
June 7: Ontario to move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11 [Roadmap to Reopen]
June 9: Ontario shipped over 12 million Rapid Antigen Screening Test across the province
June 10: Ontario aged 70 and over and individuals who received their first dose of mRNA vaccine on or before May 9 can book a second dose appointment starting June 14, 2021
June 10: Ontario further accelerates second doses in Delta hot spots
June 12: Ontario accelerates second doses of AstraZeneca to eight weeks, with informed consent, from 12 weeks
June 17: Ontario accelerates second doses of mRNA vaccines ahead of schedule
June 21: GC announces the first phase to easing border measures for travellers entering Canada [Backgrounder]
June 22: With over 32 million vaccine doses given, Canada is among the top 10% of countries with the highest per capita number of vaccine doses given worldwide
June 22: "We have already surpassed our initial targets with over 75% of the population 12 years or older with at least one dose and over 20% fully vaccinated" (Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer)
June 22: Ontario releases report on confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection following vaccination [Report ]
June 23: GC launches $500 million Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) through Regional Development Agencies (RDA) to drive post-COVID-19 recovery
June 24: Ontario moving to Step Two of Roadmap to reopen on June 30 [Roadmap to Reopen]
June 25: Starting June 28, 2021, all Ontarians aged 18+ who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine will be eligible to book an appointment for their second dose
June 25: GC releases guidance on what you can safely do after fully vaccinated [Vaccinated Against COVID-19? What does it mean to me?]
June 27: Toronto Vaccine Day sets record with close to 27,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses given in one-day at a single clinic
June 30: Health Canada retired the Canada COVID-19 app

July 2021 (Wave 3)

July 2: NACI provides updated guidance on the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine [Advisory Committee Statement]
July 2: Youth aged 12- 17 across Ontario will be eligible for second dose starting July 5, 2021
July 5: Fully vaccinated travellers eligible to enter Canada can benefit from reduced public health measures starting July 5, 2021
July 5: GC funds three new projects to encourage COVID-19 vaccination in Canada [Backgrounder]
July 8: Quebec announces that vaccination passports will be introduced on September 1, 2021 for non-essential activities [COVID-19 vaccination passport]
July 9: Ontario moving to Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen on July 16 [Roadmap to Reopen]
July 9: City of Toronto announces that walk-in vaccination clinics will be available as of noon July 10, 2021
July 12: WHO says there's limited data on mix-and-match vaccines other than AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer [Ontario Q&A on mixed mRNA vaccines]
July 15: Toronto City Council repeals some COVID-19 bylaws [Report]
July 19: GC announces easing of border measures for fully vaccinated travellers [Backgrounder]
July 22: NACI has released updated guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines to recommended that people who were previously infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may receive a full series of COVID-19 vaccines [Advisory Committee Statement]
July 23: Over 80% of people aged 12 years or older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and over 60% are fully vaccinated across Canada
July 28: City of Toronto announces that City Hall and civic centres to begin reopening on August 9 [Reopening plan]
July 30: Government extends COVID-19 benefits and business supports to support stronger economic recovery [Backgrounder]
July 30: Two individuals fined for providing false information related to COVID-19 proof of vaccination credentials and pre-departure tests
July 30: 70% of eligible Toronto residents age 12 and older are fully vaccinated

August 2021 (Wave 4: August 1, 2021 to December 14, 2021)

August 3: Ontario releases back-to-school plan for September [COVID-19: Health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022)]
August 4: WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 booster jabs
August 9: Transport Canada extending restrictions on direct flights from India until September 21, 2021
August 11: GC announces a pan-Canadian proof of vaccination for international travel effective September 2021
August 12: Chief Public Health Officer says a fourth wave of COVID-19 is underway in Canada
August 15: PM seeks the dissolution of Parliament and launches a general election on September 20, 2021 [Election Canada]
August 17: Ontario makes COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory for high-risk settings which include hospitals, home and community care service providers, effective September 7, 2021
August 17: Ontario is the first province to give a third "booster" COVID-19 vaccine doses for immunocompromised
August 20: PHAC sums up the key infections and severe outcomes of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
August 22: 75 per cent of people 12 and older in Toronto are now fully vaccinated
August 24: Border services resume at a number of small Canadian marine vessel reporting sites, airports of entry and ferry terminals
August 27: The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released advice on the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age
August 28: Transport Canada suspending all direct commercial and private passenger flights from Morocco until September 29, 2021
August 31: Health Canada issues a recall for Ivermectin which is not authorized to prevent or treat COVID-19 and may cause serious health problems

September 2021 (Wave 4, Delta variant begins)

September 1: Ontario announces vaccine certificate and verification app which will be required in select settings starting September 22, 2021 [Backgrounder]
September 1: "Ontario is facing a "substantial" 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic", "vaccination needs to accelerate substantially about 85% of eligible population aged 12+" [Ontario Science Advisory Table projection]
September 3: "from December 14, 2020 to August 14, 2021, 0.04% of fully vaccinated people became infected" [Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada]
September 7: Beginning at 12:01 am on September 7, 2021, fully vaccinated foreign nationals will be eligible to enter Canada for discretionary reasons
September 7: Ontario students return to in-person learning with synchronous remote learning being an option
September 8: Data shows unvaccinated residents seven times more likely to become infected with COVID-19
September 10: National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released updated advice regarding an additional or third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for moderately or severely immunocompromised people [Rapid response] [Advisory Committee Statement]
September 14: Ontario releasing guidance to support proof of vaccination policy [Backgrounder]
September 15: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.1% on a year-over-year basis in August, the fastest pace since March 2003
September 21: Canada announces extension of flight ban from India until September 26, 2021
September 24: Ontario cautiously easing capacity limits in select settings where proof of vaccination is required
September 28: PHAC released updated advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) regarding booster dose in long-term care residents and seniors living in other congregate settings [NACI rapid response] [Statement]
September 28: "There is a wide range for case projections, reflecting the fragile situation and high degree of instability as cold weather approaches with more time indoors" (Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario)
September 29: Ontario recommends the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 18-24 years Old

October 2021 (Wave 4)

October 1: Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will deliver the Speech from the Throne to open the Fall Session of the 42nd Parliament of Ontario on October 4, 2021 [Speech from the Throne]
October 1: Toronto City Council approves extension of the City’s mask bylaw into 2022
October 2: Government of Canada to assist Alberta with COVID-19 response
October 6: GC announces mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federally regulated transportation employees and traveller starting October 30
October 6: GC outlines details of the new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for the federal workforce, federal public servants who are not fully vaccinated will be put on leave without pay as early as November 15 [News releases]
- [Policy on COVID-19 vaccination for the core public administration including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police]
October 8: Ontario cautiously lifting capacity limits in select settings effective October 9, 2021 [Order in Council]
October 13: Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness issues a statement on the re-opening of the U.S. land border for vaccinated Canadian travelers
October 14: New app provides remote access to COVID-19 resources for workplaces [CCOHS Safe Work app]
October 15: PM announces the swearing-in ceremony of the Cabinet will take place on October 26, 2021, and that Parliament will return on November 22, 2021
October 15: Enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate with QR code and Verify Ontario App available for download [download QR code] [FAQ]
October 16: Support for long-term care homes in Ontario extended to manage COVID-19 outbreaks
October 18: Health Canada receives submission from Pfizer-BioNTech to authorize the use of Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11 years of age
October 18: Government of Canada assists the Northwest Territories with COVID-19 response
October 19: Effective November 22, 2021, individuals must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed within the House of Commons Precinct
October 20: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.4% on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003
October 21: PM announces standardized Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination for travel [Backgrounder]
October 21: GC announces targeted COVID-19 support measures to create jobs and growth [Backgrounder] [The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit] [Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister, October 25, 2021]
October 22: PHAC released updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on recommendations on the use of the COVID-19 vaccines [Advisory Committee Statement]
October 22: Ontario releases plan to safely reopen Ontario and manage COVID-19 for the long-term [The Plan]
October 25: More than 800 Toronto public schools to have PCR tests on site by end of week
October 28: The Speaker of the Senate states that effective November 22, 2021, all senators must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in Senate proceedings in person
October 29: National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) releases Interim guidance on booster COVID-19 vaccine doses in Canada

November 2021 (Wave 4)

November 2: GC announces additional Canadian airports accepting international passenger flights
November 3: GC announces that 95% of public servants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 [Data]
November 3: Ontario expanding booster eligibility to more Ontarians
November 3: Ontario announces the decision on not mandating vaccinations for hospital workers
November 4: Minister of Finance released the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario [Build Ontario] [Backgrounder]
November 5: The Canada Border Services Agency reminds travellers about border measures when entering or returning to Canada from U.S.
November 6: City of Toronto announces that 40,000 COVID-19 third-dose appointments now available at City-run clinics
November 9: Health Canada authorizes the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot [Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine]
November 10: The President of the Treasury Board welcomes easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Government of Canada workplaces [New occupational health guidance]
November 10: Ontario pausing the lifting of capacity limits in remaining settings where proof of vaccination is required
November 11: Health Canada authorizes the use of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot [Interim guidance on booster COVID-19 vaccine doses in Canada]
November 13: GC to assist remote communities in Northern Ontario with COVID-19 response
November 17: StatCan announces that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.7% on a year-over-year basis in October 2021
November 18: Ontario announces additional options, resources and new safety protocols for winter testing
November 19: Health Canada authorizes use of Comirnaty (the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine) in children 5 to 11 years of age
November 19: GC announces adjustments to Canada's border measures [Backgrounder]
November 21: Government announces targeted COVID-19 support measures to create jobs and growth
November 22: PM welcomes the re-election of the Speaker of the House of Commons as part of the return of Parliament, the last Parliamentary meeting was on June 23rd, 2021
November 22: Ontario announces that COVID-19 vaccine bookings will be open on November 23, 2021 for all children aged Five to 11 [Backgrounder]
November 23: The Governor General deliveries the Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 44th Parliament [Speech from the Throne] [Statement by the Prime Minister]
November 24: GC introduces legislation to provide further support in response to COVID-19 [Speech] [Bill C-2]
November 25: GC releases statement on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Advance Payments [Backgrounder]
November 26: GC introduces new measures to address COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern including banning direct flights between Canada and southern African countries
November 26: The Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021–22 which propose $8.7 billion in voted budgetary spending was tabled [Supplementary Estimates (B )]
November 26: GC announces funding for COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation sites in British Columbia
November 26: GC introduces legislation to support workers with ten days of paid sick leave [Backgrounder] [Backgrounder] [Bill C-3]
November 28: Ontario confirms first two cases of Omicron variant [Statement] [Statement]
November 30: GC introduces additional measure to address COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern and expands the list of countries with entry prohibitions to include Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi

December 1 - 14 2021 (Wave 4)

December 1: First case of SARS-CoV-2 detected in Canadian wildlife
December 2: Ontario accelerating booster eligibility to adults aged 50+
December 3: NACI provides updated advice on COVID-19 mRNA vaccine booster doses and the use in adolescents and young adults [Guidance on booster COVID-19 vaccine doses] [Updated recommendation on the use of authorized COVID-19 vaccines in individuals aged 12 years and older]
December 3: GC signs agreements for COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments
December 7: GC will require employees in all federally regulated workplaces to be vaccinated against COVID-19
December 7: Ontario extending pause on lifting capacity limits in remaining settings where proof of vaccination is required
December 7: Ontario extending COVID-19 paid sick days until July 31, 2022
December 10: Ontario taking action to protect against Omicron variant [Backgrounder]
December 13: City of Toronto announces update on return to office plans
December 14: The Public Accounts of Canada 2021, which detail the government spending, were tabled in the House of Commons
December 14: GC releases Economic and Fiscal Update 2021 [Economic and Fiscal Update 2021] [Speech]

December 15 - December 31 (Wave 5, Omicron variant begins: December 15, 2021 to February 28, 2022)

December 15: All Ontario 18+ eligible for COVID-19 booster appointment at three-month interval starting December 20, 2021
December 15: Toronto City Council approves extension of COVID-19 bylaws until April 2022
December 16: PM releases new mandate letters for ministers [Mandate Letters]
December 16: President of the Treasury Board made statement further to the evolving public health situation and the COVID-19 Omicron variant
December 17: GC announces additional measures to contain the spread of the Omicron variant
December 17: GC announces that federal minimum wage to rise to $15 per hour on December 29
December 17: Legislation to provide ten days of paid sick leave and enhance protections for health care workers receives Royal Assent [Bill C-3] [Backgrounder] [Backgrounder]
December 17: Ontario further strengthening response to Omicron
December 17: City of Toronto fully reactivates Emergency Operations Centre in response to Omicron variant of concern
December 22: GC temporarily expands access to Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit [Backgrounder]
December 23: Canada welcomes the most immigrants in a single year in its history with 401,000 new permanent residents added in 2021
December 30: GC launches applications for the expanded Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit [Backgrounder]
December 30: GC announces funding for COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation sites in Manitoba
December 30: Ontario updating public health measures and guidance in response to Omicorn
- [Updated eligibility for PCR testing and case and contact management guidance in Ontario]
- Students returning to in-person learning on January 5, 2022
December 30: Ontario will stop reporting COVID-19 cases in schools and child-care settings [COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres]

January 2022 (Wave 5)

January 3: Ontario temporarily moving to modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen: moves schools online, closes gyms and indoor restaurant dining and more [Regulation]
January 5: Ontario reinstate Directive 2 for hospitals and regulated health professionals, instructing hospitals to pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures
January 11: Quebec to impose Health Tax on unvaccinated individuals [plan scrapped on February 1, 2022]
January 12: GC extends loan forgiveness repayment deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account
January 12: Fourth doses now being administered in all City of Toronto-run long-term care homes
January 13: Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics summons health minister on collecting anonymous location data
January 14: GC creates Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies [The Centre] [Backgrounder]
January 17: Health Canada authorizes PAXLOVID^TM for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at high risk of developing serious disease
January 17: GC receives first delivery of COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment
January 18: Applications now open for Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program [Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program]
January 18: Ontario is providing 21 days of electricity-rate relief to support families and workers spending more time at home
January 19: Parliamentary Budget Office recommends legislative amendments to improve fiscal transparency
January 19: StatCan announces that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.8% on a year-over-year basis in December
January 20: Ontario announces three-step plan to gradually lift restrictions starting with indoor dining January 31, 2022
January 21: Ontario set up 400 school-focused clinics to improve access to vaccines for school-aged children and education staff
January 21: Toronto vaccination milestone: 90 per cent of Toronto residents age 12 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
January 24: GC launches call for proposals for national funders to support charities and not-for-profits [Community Services Recovery Fund]
January 25: "Canada is currently facing a fifth wave of the pandemic, largely driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant" [Summary of NACI rapid response]
January 25: NACI updated recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children 5 to 11 years of age
January 28: NACI releases recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescent [Adolescents 12-17]
January 28: Toronto Public Health releases COVID-19 wastewater surveillance data [Wastewater Surveillance]
January 31: GC introduces legislation to increase access to rapid testing across the country [Bill C-10]
January 31: PM speaks at the Question period about the truckers who have been protesting vaccine mandates in Ottawa since January 29
- See also [Convey Protest]
- [Freedom convoy]
- [PM responds to ongoing protest in Ottawa]

February 2022 (Wave 5) See also [Convey Protest Timeline] [Emergencies Act]

February 1: "Hospitals are now caring for the highest number of people with COVID-19" [Update: Science Table COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario]
February 1: Ontario data shows that vaccination provides strong protection against serious illness [Update: Science Table COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario]
February 3: GC announces funding for COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation Sites in the Yukon
February 4: NACI released guidance on COVID-19 vaccination timing for individuals previously infected
February 6: City of Ottawa declares state of emergency as trucker protests continue
February 7: MPs hold emergency debate on COVID-19 convey protests [Emergency Debates (House of Commons procedure and practice)]
February 7: Joint Statement from Ministers Blair, LeBlanc, Fortier, Mendicino and Alghabra on the situation in Ottawa
February 8: GC introduces legislation to support low-income seniors who received pandemic benefits [C-12]
February 8: FAO projects that Ontario deficit would decline from $16.0 billion in 2021-22 to $2.8 billion in 2023-24 [Budget Outlook Update]
February 8: Toronto Public Health data show hospitalization and death are rare for individuals with three doses of COVID-19 vaccine
February 9: GC extends expanded access to Local Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit until March 12, 2022
February 9: Ontario expanding access to free Rapid Tests for general public
February 9: Ontario extending health card renewal until September 30, 2022
February 10: GC announces additional funding for COVID-19 Safe Voluntary Isolation Site Program across Canada
February 10: PM convenes the Incident Response Group on the ongoing illegal blockades
February 10: Ontario gradually resuming surgeries and procedures
February 11: PM spoke with the President of US to discuss the ongoing blockades taking place across Canada
February 11: Ontario declares state of emergency over trucker protests in Ottawa and at the border [Emergency information]
February 11: Ontario made an order prohibiting impeding or blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge [Court order CV-22-00030791-0000 ]
February 12: PM convened a meeting of the Incident Response Group
February 14: Ontario moving to next phase of reopening on February 17
February 14: Ontario releases 2021-22 Third Quarter Finances [2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario]
February 14: Alberta RCMP make arrests at Coutts Border Blockade [Update 1]
February 14: PM hosts a call with provincial and territorial premiers to consult with the Premiers before invoking the Emergencies Act
- See also [Emergencies Act]
February 14: GC declares a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act to end disruptions, blockades and the occupation of the city of Ottawa
- [Backgrounder]
- [Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]
- [Emergencies Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 22 (4th Supp.))]
- [House of Commons Debates on Emergencies Act]
February 15: GC declaration of a public order emergency
- [Proclamation Declaring a Public Order Emergency: SOR/2022-20, Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 156, Extra]
- [Emergency Measures Regulations: SOR/2022-21, Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 156, Extra]
- [Emergency Economic Measures Order: SOR/2022-22, Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 156, Extra]
February 15: Canada invokes the Emergencies Act to limit funding of illegal blockades and restore public order
February 15: PM was queried in the Question Period on the use of Emergencies Act
February 15: GC lightens border measures as part of transition of the pandemic response
February 15: Ontario issues notice of Court Order prohibiting breaches of Ottawa by-laws [Court order CV-22-88569]

February 16: PM was challenged in Question Period over the Emergencies Act
February 17: Health Canada authorizes Novavax's Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine
February 17: PM defends use of Emergencies Act in House of Commons
February 18: House of Commons cancels sitting as police confront protesters
February 19: MPs debate over the weekend about the invocation of the Emergencies Act
February 20: Debate over the Emergencies Act continues in the House of Commons on Sunday
February 21: Motion to authorize Emergencies Act approved in House of Commons [Vote #32: 185 to 151]
February 22: Motion to confirm the declaration of Emergencies Act debated in Senate
February 22: The House of Commons Finance Committee held a meeting on the use of financial powers under the Emergencies Act [Invocation of the Emergency Act and Related Measures]
February 23: PM announced that the federal emergency declaration would be revoked
- [Proclamation Revoking the Declaration of a Public Order Emergency, SOR/2022-26]
February 24: Health Canada authorizes Medicago COVID-19 vaccine for adults 18 to 64 years of age [Medicago Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine]

March 2022 (Wave 6: March 1, 2022 to June 18, 2022)

March 1: PBO projects a budget deficit of $139.8 billion in 2021-22 [PBO Economic and Fiscal Outlook, March 2022]
March 1: City of Toronto enter Roadmap Exit Step of provincial COVID-19 reopening
March 3: COVID-19: The CBSA adjusts services at select airports
March 9: Ontario lifting most mask requirement on March 21
- [Statement from Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health]
March 9: City of Toronto COVID-19 mask bylaw to expire on March 21
- [Supplementary Report on Response to COVID-19 - March 2022 Update to City Council]
March 11: Today marks the two-year anniversary of the WHO's declaration of COVID-19 a pandemic
March 11: NACI releases their recommendations for the use of Medicago COVID-19 vaccine (Covifenz) [Summary]
March 16: WHO says that there has been an 8% increase in COVID-19 cases globally and BA.2 is more transmissible
March 16: StatCan announces that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 5.7% on a year-over-year basis in February 2022
March 17: GC announces that effective April 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provided a pre-entry test result
March 17: NACI releases recommendations on the use of Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of age [Summary]
March 17: Health Canada authorizes use of the Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of age
March 17: Ontario Science Table indicates that "COVID-19 case numbers, hospital and ICU occupancy have stopped declining" and wastewater signal is increasing slightly
March 31: GC announces that Canada expands simplified renewal process for passports beginning March 31, 2022

April 2022 (Wave 6)

April 1: PHAC's statement indicates that daily average case counts have increased by 28% nationally, indicating a resurgence is underway at the national level (March 25 - 31, 2022)
April 4: GC launches second cycle of national survey to assess the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic [CCAHS – Cycle 2]
April 5: NACI releases initial guidance on a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Canada [Summary]
April 6: Ontario is expanding fourth-dose eligibility to individuals aged 60 and over
April 7: GC releases Budget 2022 [A Plan to Grow our Economy and Make Life more Affordable]
- Speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
April 11: Ontario released plans to manage the ongoing sixth wave of the pandemic
April 11: Ontario expanding access to COVID-19 antivirals and PCR testing to more high-risk individuals
April 12: NACI updated guidance on a first booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Canada [Summary]
April 14: Health Canada authorizes Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 in immune compromised adults and children [Treatments for COVID-19]
April 20: StatCan announces that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 6.7% on a year-over-year basis in March 2022
April 22: GC announces additional easing of border measures effective April 25
April 22: PHAC's statement indicates that laboratory test positivity during the latest 7-day period (April 13-19, 2022) remains elevated at 18% and there are early signs that transmission may be nearing a peak in some jurisdictions
April 22: Ontario announces that masking requirements continue in select indoor settings until June 11, 2022 [Class order]
April 25: PM announces the Public Order Emergency Commission following the invocation of the Emergencies Act [Order In Council: PC: 2022-0392]

May 2022 (Wave 6)

June 1, 2022 - June 18, 2022 (Wave 6)

June 3: NACI updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccine in Canada [Summary]
June 11: Ontario announces that most masking requirements to be lifted on June 11
June 11: City of Toronto update on upcoming changes to provincial mask requirements
June 14: GC announces that, as of June 20, it will suspend vaccination requirements for domestic and outbound travel, federally regulated transportation sectors and federal government employees

June 19, 2022 - June 30, 2022 (Wave 7: June 19, 2022 +)

June 17: GC decommissioning COVID Alert
June 21: NACI updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccine in Canada [Summary]
June 25: PM announces new task force to improve government services for Canadians
June 29: NACI released interim guidance on planning considerations for a fall 2022 COVID-19 vaccine booster program in Canada [Summary]

July 2022 (Wave 7)

July 6: COVID-19 Immunity Task Force suggests that over 17 million Canadians were infected with Omicron in only 5 months
July 7: Ontario's 7th wave of COVID-19 is here, top doctor confirms amid exponential growth
July 13: Health Canada authorizes use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months to 5 years of age
July 13: Ontario expands eligibility for second booster doses to Ontarians aged 18 and over starting July 14
July 15: "Nationally, both COVID-19 disease activity and severity indicators have increased in recent weeks, as the BA.5 sub-lineage of Omicron predominates in more areas across Canada. Compared to prior weeks, all indicators are increasing nationally, from weekly case counts and laboratory test positivity to average daily numbers of people with COVID-19 in hospitals in Canada." (Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada)
July 21: Ontario to open COVID-19 vaccine bookings for children aged six months to under five years. Immunocompromised youth aged 12 to 17 will also become eligible to schedule their second booster dose (fifth dose) if at least six months have passed since their first booster (fourth dose).
July 21: Ontario extends paid-sick days to March 31, 2023 to ensure workers do not lose pay if they miss work due to COVID-19. [Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit]
July 21: Widespread hospital closures demand urgent attention (Ontario Council of Hospital Unions) [letter to Premier Ford] [letter to OHA]
July 29: Staff shortages force 14 Ontario hospitals to reduce capacity (CBC)

August 2022 (Wave 7)

August 9: Lieutenant Governor of Ontario delivers Speech from the Throne [Together, Let's Build Ontario]
August 18: Ontario introduces a plan to hire up to 6,000 additional health care workers, frees up 2,500 more hospital beds and temporarily covers cost of examination, application and registration fees for retired and internationally trained nurses [Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery]
August 19: Health Canada authorized the 10 mcg Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for use as a booster dose in children aged 5 to 11 years [NACI's recommendations] [Summary of Statement]
August 23: GC announces Chief Nursing Officer for Canada [Chief Nursing Officer of Canada biography]
August 26: Ontario Science Table was told by the Public Health Ontario that its working groups will be dissolved as of September 6, 2022
August 31: Ontario announced that children aged five and over eligible for first booster shot
August 31: Ontario Chief Medical Officer said that those who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to isolated for five days

September 2022 (Wave 7)

September 1: Health Canada authorizes first bivalent COVID-19 booster for adults 18 years and older [Moderna vaccine product page]
September 1: Public Health Ontario released updated term of reference for the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table which will be operated under a new name - The Ontario Public Health Emergencies Science Advisory Committee (OPHESAC)
September 12: Ontarians Aged 18+ Eligible for Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Dose starting September 26
September 13: PM announces legislation which would make life more affordable for Canadians who need it most
- [The Goods and Services Tax Credit] [The Canada Dental Benefit] [One-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit program]
September 20: GC introduces legislation to make life more affordable for Canadians
- [Bill C-30, the Cost of Living Relief Act, No, 1] [Bill C-31, the Cost of Living Relief Act, No. 2]
September 25: GC to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1 [Backgrounder]
September 26: PHAC announced that COVID-19 weekly case counts have increased slightly over the past week, which may be an early sign of resurgence [Remarks from the Deputy Chief Public Health Officer of Canada]

October 2022 (Wave 7)

October 7: Health Canada authorizes a second bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster targeting the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants (Pfizer)
October 21: The battle against COVID-19 continues 1,000 days following Toronto’s first case

November 2022 (Wave 7)

November 3: Health Canada authorizes second bivalent COVID-19 booster targeting the Omicron BA.4/5 variants (Moderna)
November 7: Competition Bureau rescinds temporary guidance on competitor collaborations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
November 9: WHO reported that almost 90% less COVID-19 deaths than in February of this year
November 10: SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission continues across the country, including with increased growth of emerging Omicron variants BQ1.1 and BF.7 (Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer)

December 2022

December 14: "In recent weeks, genetic sequencing data on SARS-CoV-2 viruses shows continuing increases in immune evasive variants, notably BQ.1 and BQ1.1" [Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer]
December 15: Ontario announces that all Ontarians Aged 5+ are eligible for Bivalent Booster
December 16: GC announces record transfers ($94.6 billion) to provinces and territories in 2023-24
December 31: GC announces a temporary negative COVID-19 test requirement for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao

January 2023

January 6: GC announces the opening of the application process for the Community Services Recovery Fund to support pandemic recovery
January 20: "We are seeing an increase in the proportion of sequence detections associated with the XBB.1.5 variant" [Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer]
January 20: NACI published the Guidance on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses: Initial considerations for 2023
January 26: "Key indicators are showing signs of improvement after a rise over the holiday period due to the BQ.1 variant and its sub-lineages" [Statement from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health]
January 30: COIVD-19 pandemic "continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)" and "is probably at a transition point" [Statement on the fourteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, WHO]
January 30: Public Health Agency of Canada issues an update on the COVID-19 situation in Canada

February 2023

February 2: Public Health Agency of Canada issues an update to COVID-19 border measures for travellers arriving from the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao
February 7: PM announces that health funding to provinces and territories will be increased by $196.1 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding [Backgrounder- Working together to improve health care for Canadians]
February 17: "The report of the Public Order Emergency Commission states that the very high threshold to invoke the Emergencies Act was met" [Statement by the Prime Minister on the report] [Report]

March 2023

March 3: Countries begin negotiations on global agreement to protect world from future pandemic emergencies [WHO News release]
March 7: Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario releases 2022 Annual Report [Being Ready: Ensuring Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Outbreaks and Pandemics]
- Executive summary
- News release
March 10: "COVID-19 activity has reached a relatively steady state" [Remarks from the Chief Public Health Officer]
March 11: Minister of Health issued statement marking the third National Day of Observance for COVID-19 [Statement]
March 16: GC will remove COVID-19 testing requirement for air travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao on March 17, 2023
March 22: Ontario to end paid sick days program on March 31, 2023
March 27: The CBSA is resuming regular hours of service at 42 ports of entry across Canada
March 27: Between April and August 2022, 98% of Canadians had antibodies against COVID-19 and 54% had antibodies from a previous infection (Statistics Canada)

May 2023

May 5: WHO declares COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency international concern (PHEIC)

Agriculture & Food

Armed forces / veterans & RCMP

National Defence
News releases

Major-General Dany Fortin assisting Government of Canada’s vaccine distribution planning (November 27, 2020)
Government of Canada assists Ontario with COVID-19 response by providing support from the Canadian Armed Forces (April 26, 2021)
Veterans continue to serve through emergency response and community ties (May 5, 2021)
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie will assume the role of the Vice President of Vaccine Logistics and Operations (May 17, 2021)
Government of Canada to assist remote communities in Northern Ontario with COVID-19 response (November 13, 2021)
Statement from Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (on ongoing protests in Ottawa) (February 13, 2022)

House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian armed forces operations

Veterans Affairs Canada

COVID-19 information and assistance for Veterans

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP))

Blockades news

Canadian and global military responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (HillNotes, Library of Parliament)

Arts, culture & tourism

Audits & analysis

COVID-19 Pandemic (Office of the Auditor General of Canada)
- COVID-19 impact on government operations
- COVID-19 Spending
- COVID-19 Impact on the OAG
- Performance audits related to COVID-19
- Reports to Parliament
- House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- News Release
ArriveCAN app
- House of Commons Hansard
- House of Commons Committees
- House of Commons Motion
- Anticipated Performance Audits of Government Services and Programs (2023)
Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
- Questions of Conflict of Interest and Lobbying in relation to Pandemic Spending
Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
- Outsourcing of Contracts
PBO's COVID-19 Analysis (Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer)
WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG)
- Government Spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant (Standing Committee on Finance)
- Questions of Conflict of Interest and Lobbing in relation to Pandemic Spending (Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, ETHI)
- Morneau II report (May 13, 2021, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner)
Open Government and COVID-19
- Open data on CERB, CEWS, CESB
- Search Government contracts over $10,000
- Search Government grants and contributions
Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
- Special reports: COVID-19 Preparedness and Management Special Report (November 25, 2020)
- Annual Report 2021:includes Value-for-Money Audit:
COVID-19 (Financial Accountability Office of Ontario)
- Spending Plan Analysis: 2020-2021
- Federal and Provincial COVID-19 Response Measures
- Ministry of Health: Spending Plan Review
- Ministry of Long-Term Care: Spending Plan Review
- Ministry of Education: Spending Plan Review
Independent review of the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN)
- Interim report
- Final report
Special task force prepared for the Chief Science Advisor of Canada
- Long-term care and COVID-19
Summary of evidence supporting COVID-19 public health measures
Office of the Correctional Investigator Annual Report 2020-2021
StatCan
- Analysis on COVID-19 data
- Workers receiving payments from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program in 2020 (June 2, 2021)
- A closer look at the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: a rural lens March 15 to October 24, 2020 (June 7, 2021)
- The contribution of pandemic relief benefits to the incomes of Canadians in 2020 (August 2, 2022)
Canadian Red Cross
- Closing the Gaps:Advancing Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Older Adults (December 2020)
National Citizens Inquiry (NCI): Canada's Response to COVID-19
The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (WHO)
- The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
- One Health High-Level Expert Panel
Canada: Mission Concluding Statement (IMF)
- 2021
- 2022
Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Canada’s response to the initial 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison with peer countries (June 27, 2022)
Canada Communicable Disease report
- Effects of vaccination and public health measures on COVID-19 cases in Canada (July/August 2022)
Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel (Alberta)
Comprehensive Review of the COVID-19 Response (Advisory committee under Bill C-293)
The Lancet COVID-19 Commission (September 14, 2022)

Business, workers & workplace

Business & workplace
- Government of Canada
- Government of Ontario
- City of Toronto
StatCan
- Canadian Survey on Business Conditions
- Impact of COVID-19 on small businesses in Canada, third quarter of 2021 (September 2, 2021)
- Impact of COVID-19 on businesses in retail trade, third quarter of 2021 (September 9, 2021)
- Impact of COVID-19 on small businesses in Canada, fourth quarter of 2021 (January 6, 2022)
Workers
- Government of Canada
- Government of Ontario
COVID-19 Spring 2020 notices (Employment and Social Development Canada)
Canadian Business Resilience Network (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)
- Business continuity
  - Provincial and territorial regulations apply to businesses, legal issues, payroll, cash management and more
- Support for business

Convoy protests

Freedom Convey
- See also Emergencies Act
- Integrated Command Centre
- Ottawa Police Service
- Transport Canada
- Legislative & other measures
- Parliamentary Committee
- Parliamentary debates

Timeline (2022) see also [Timeline of Certain Key Events (Public Order Emergency Commission)] [The convoy crisis in Ottawa: a timeline of key events (CBC)] [ Emergencies Act Timeline ]

Jan. 13: GC announces that unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers entering Canada will need to meet requirements for pre-entry as of January 15, 2022
Jan. 23: Participants assembled in various locations across Canada travelling to Ottawa to protest against vaccine mandate for truckers [Convoy timeline, CBC]
Jan. 29: (Day 1) Protest in Ottawa against vaccine mandates
Jan. 29: Ottawa Police Service provides update on weekend demonstrations
- [Update 2]
Jan. 30: (Day 2) Ottawa Police Service provides Update 3 on weekend demonstrations
- [Update 4]
- [Update 5]
Jan. 31: (Day 3) Ottawa Police Chief provides remarks during media availability
Jan. 31: PM speaks at the Question Period
Jan. 31: PM responds to ongoing protest in Ottawa
Jan. 31: Ombudsman releases message about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and respect for Canada's veterans
Feb. 1: (Day 4) Ottawa Police Service made 2 arrests in demonstration-related investigations
Feb. 1: Alberta RCMP releases statement regarding Coutts border assembly
Feb. 2: (Day 5) Ottawa Police Service made the third arrest in demonstration-related investigations
Feb. 2: Ottawa Police Service identified a suspect for the National War Memorial investigation
Feb. 2: Alberta RCMP releases statement regarding Coutts border assembly - Update#1
Feb. 3: (Day 6) House of Commons' Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security passed a motion inviting GoFundMe to give testimony on crowdfunding to prevent extremism
Feb. 3: City of Ottawa announces the traffic enforcement in downtown neighbourhoods
Feb. 3: Winnipeg Police Service issues a public advisory regarding to a planned demonstration around the Legislative Buildings
Feb. 4: (Day 7) Ottawa Police Service implements increased measures to protect downtown neighbourhoods
Feb. 4: Toronto Police prepares for Convey for Freedom protests on February 5
Feb. 5: (Day 8) Ottawa Police Service enforce Perimeter Containment Measures, charges laid and announce new RCMP resources
Feb. 5: Vancouver police arrest five during day-long protests
Feb. 5: Trail RCMP were notified that there would be a blockade of Paterson Border Crossing on February 6, 2022
Feb. 6: (Day 9) City of Ottawa declares state of emergency as trucker protests continue
Feb. 6: Ottawa Police Service made 7 arrests and issued 100 tickets
Feb. 6: Ottawa Police Service reports that over 450 tickets issued since Saturday morning
Feb. 7: (Day 10) MPs hold emergency debate on convey protests
Feb. 7: Joint Statement from Ministers Blair, LeBlanc, Fortier, Mendicino and Alghabra on the situation in Ottawa
Feb. 8: (Day 11) Enforcement of Court Order in downtown Ottawa core
Feb. 8: Ottawa Police Service made 23 arrests and issued 1,300 tickets
Feb. 8: Windsor Police Service provides update in relation to the Ambassador bridge
Feb. 8: Winnipeg Police Service provide a statement regarding vaccine mandate protest
Feb. 9: (Day 12) Ottawa Police Service issues message to demonstrators
Feb. 9: Ottawa Police Service will work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and youth at the demonstration
Feb. 10: (Day 13) Witnesses from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) were testified at the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on crowdfunding platforms and extremism financing
Feb. 10: PM convenes the Incident Response Group on the ongoing illegal blockades
Feb. 10: Ontario court freezes convoy's access to funds raised on GiveSendGo platform
Feb. 10: Ottawa Police Service issued 1,775 tickets
Feb. 11: (Day 14) PM spoke with the President of US to discuss the ongoing blockades taking place across Canada
Feb. 11: Ontario declares state of emergency over trucker protests in Ottawa and at the border [Emergency information]
Feb. 11: Ontario made an order prohibiting impeding or blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge [Court order]
Feb 11: RCMP provides an update on the blockade of Canada/United States border at Emerson
Feb. 11: Windsor Police Service issues message to demonstrators at the Ambassador Bridge
Feb. 11: Trail RCMP were notified that there would be a blockade of Paterson Border Crossing on February 12, 2022
Feb. 11: Toronto Police Service provides an update on Operational Plan for weekend protests [Video]
Feb. 11: Winnipeg Police Service provides a statement regarding vaccine mandate protests
Feb. 11: Fredericton Police Service provides an update on the protest
Feb. 11: Edmonton Police Service issues a statement and traffic advisory regarding the February 12 convoy
Feb 12: (Day 15) PM convened the second meeting of the Incident Response Group
Feb. 12: RCMP provides update #2 on the blockade of Emerson border
Feb. 12: Ottawa Police Service provides an update on Ottawa blockades
Feb. 12: Ottawa Police Service established Integrated Command Centre (ICC) to coordinate enforcement
Feb. 12: Surrey RCMP reports traffic congestion surrounding Pacific Highway Border protest
Feb. 12: Winnipeg Police Service provides a statement regarding vaccine mandate protests
Feb. 12: Fredericton Police Service confirms two arrests and multiple tickets issued
Feb. 13: (Day 16) PM convenes the third Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades and occupations
Feb. 13: RCMP provides update #3 on the blockade of Emerson border
Feb. 13: Windsor Police Service issues a demonstration update on Ambassador Bridge
Feb. 13: Surrey RCMP provides an update on situation near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing
Feb. 13: Four people have been arrested at the protests taking place near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing
Feb.13: Fredericton Police Service provides an update on the protest
Feb. 13: Commander of the Canadian Special Operation Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) releases statement on its member supporting the protests
Feb. 14: (Day 17) Alberta RCMP make arrests at Coutts Border Blockade, multiple weapons were seized [Update 1]
Feb. 14: Windsor Police Service issues a Police Road Closure Update on Ambassador Bridge
Feb. 14: Halifax Regional Police provides a police respond to protests in Halifax
Feb. 14: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada releases statement on the impacts of border blockages on Canada's supply chain
Feb. 14: Federal government declares a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act to end disruptions, blockades and the occupation of the city of Ottawa. See also [Emergencies Act]
- [Backgrounder]
- [Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]
- [Emergencies Act]
Feb. 15: (Day 18) Ontario issues notice of Court Order prohibiting breaches of Ottawa by-laws [Court order CV-22-88569]
Feb. 15: Demonstrations on Ambassador Bridge have achieved peaceful resolution
- [Windsor Police Service provides police enforcement results since the onset of the demonstration]
Feb. 15: Ottawa police chief resigns amid protest blockade
Feb. 15: Alberta RCMP made arrests at Coutts Border Blockade – Update 2
- Update 3
- The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed to CBC News around 11am that the port of Coutts had reopened
Feb. 15: Manitoba RCMP officers have worked peacefully resolve the situation at the Emerson border crossing [Update #4]
Feb. 15: Surrey RCMP provide update on arrests at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing
Feb. 15: Winnipeg Police Service provides a protest update on the Manitoba Legislature
Feb. 16: (Day 19) PM convenes the fourth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 16: Blockade at Emerson Border Crossing now cleared [Update #5]
Feb. 16: The enhanced Integrated Command Centre (ICC) under a Unified Command has developed a plan to end to the unlawful protests in Ottawa
Feb. 16: Ottawa Police Service provides a briefing on the plan of action to end the unlawful protest to City Council
Feb. 16: Ottawa Police Service issues a further notice to demonstrators
Feb. 16: Man arrested for blocking highway at Paterson Border Crossing in Rossland, BC
Feb. 17: (Day 20) PM convenes the fifth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 17: PM defends use of Emergencies Act in House of Commons
Feb. 17: The Unified Command in control of policing in Ottawa has established a Secured Area in Ottawa
Feb. 17: Canadian Civil Liberties Association announces that it plans to sue the federal government over its decision to invoke the Emergencies Act
Feb. 18: (Day 21) House of Commons cancels sitting as police confront protesters
Feb. 18: PM convenes the sixth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 18: Deputy PM & Minister of Finance provides brief update on the financial measures regarding the Emergencies Act
Feb. 18: Notice of continuation of Court Order prohibiting breach of City of Windsor By-Laws issued [Court order]
Feb. 18: Ottawa Police Service arrested and charged Tamara Lich in relation to unlawful protests in Ottawa
Feb. 18: Ottawa Police Service arrested and charged Christopher John Barber in relation to unlawful protests in Ottawa
Feb. 18: Edmonton Police Service issues a statement and traffic advisory on February 19 convoy demonstration
Feb. 19: (Day 22) MPs debate over the weekend about the implementation of the Emergencies Act
Feb. 19: PM convenes the seventh Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 19: Government of Canada invests up to $20 million to support downtown Ottawa businesses impacted by demonstrations
Feb. 19: Ottawa Police Services arrested and charged Patrick James King in relation to unlawful protests in Ottawa
Feb. 19: Surrey RCMP provides update: protesters depart and roads re-open near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing
Feb. 19: RCMP releases a backgrounder on Law Enforcement Actions under the Economic Emergency Measure Order (Emergencies Act)
Feb. 20: (Day 23) PM convenes the eighth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 20: Debate over the Emergency Act continues in the House of Commons on Sunday
Feb. 20: Ottawa Police Service arrested and charged Tyson George Billing in relation to unlawful protests in Ottawa
Feb. 20: Halifax Regional Police issues a statement on the weekend protests
Feb. 21: Motion to confirm the declaration of Emergencies Act approved in House of Commons [Vote #32: 185 to 151]
Feb. 21: PM convenes the ninth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 21: RCMP releases a statement on enforcement under the Emergencies Act
Feb. 21: RCMP releases a statement on freezing of financial accounts
Feb. 21: Ottawa Police Service releases an update on police operations to remove unlawful protesters
Feb. 22: Motion to confirm the declaration of Emergencies Act debated in Senate
Feb. 22: The House of Commons Finance Committee held a meeting on the use of financial powers under the Emergencies Act
- [Invocation of the Emergency Act and Related Measures]
Feb. 22: PM convenes the tenth Incident Response Group meeting on the illegal blockades
Feb. 22: Ottawa convoy protest organizer Tamara Lich denied bail
Feb. 22: Winnipeg Police Service delivered a letter to protest organizers
Feb. 23: RCMP releases a statement on unfreezing of financial accounts
Feb. 23: Federal government ending use of Emergencies Act
Feb. 23: RCMP releases a statement on the Integrated Command Centre which will remain activated for an indeterminate amount of time
Feb. 24: Coutts arrests: new details on the men and women charged in border blockade
Feb. 25: Officials from departments including the Department of Public Safety, FINTRAC and RCMP testified before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Occupation of Ottawa and the Federal Government's Response to Convoy Blockades
Feb. 27: The Ottawa Police Service charged Steeve Charland in relation to the unlawful protest in Ottawa
March 3: GoFundMe president testified before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on crowdfunding and extremism financing
March 7: Convoy protest organizer makes bail and abide by several conditions in Alberta
March 11: Downtown Ottawa businesses impacted by demonstrations can apply for Government of Canada support as of March 15
- [Downtown Ottawa Business Relief Fund]
March 25: Freedom Convoy leaders face new criminal charges
May 4: PM says the surveillance plane circling Ottawa during convoy protests was military training exercise [Question Period in the House of Commons]
July 21: Two charged in connection to Freedom Convoy [Windsor Police Service]
Sept. 7: RCMP used wiretaps and undercover operatives to target border blockade in Coutts: court records
Dec. 29: Government of Canada to support City of Windsor in covering extraordinary costs related to Ambassador Bridge blockade

Data, publications & ATI requests

Outbreak data
Government of Canada
- Mathematical modelling and COVID-19
- Publications & completed Access to Information requests
COVID-19: a data perspective (Statistics Canada)
Government of Ontario
- COVID-19 Datasets
- COVID-19 Data and Surveillance (Public Health Ontario)
- Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario
- COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres
COVID-19: Pandemic Data (City of Toronto)
COVID-19 in Canada (COVID-19 Canada Open Data Working Group)
- Data on cases, vaccines, mortality, recovered, testing, travel and more
COVID-19 Resources: Research outputs and open science (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
- Compilations of COVID-19 research publications and pre-prints
- COVID-19 open science and data sharing resources
- COVID-19 computing, artificial intelligence, and data analysis resources
COVID-19 resources (Canadian Institute for Health Information)
- CIHI's data and information
Pandemic Threat Response (PANTHR) (Ontario)
- new data platform in development
OHRC statement: Demographic data necessary to fight COVID-19 (Ontario Human Rights Commission)
#HowsMyFlattening: A centralized data analytics and visualization hub monitoring Ontario's response to COVID-19
International
- Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19): Our World in Data
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Case, Data, and Surveillance (CDC)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) related datasets (World Bank)
COVID-19 Resources (Esri Canada)
- Canadian outbreak at-a-glance, daily case trends, cases by province and more
COVID-19 Data Resources (Map & Data Library, University of Toronto)
- Includes data & statistics sources, maps & GIS, and visualizations

Economics & finance

Department of Finance Canada & Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Fall Economic Statement 2022
- Economic and Fiscal Update 2021
- Supplementary Estimates 2020-21
- Fall Economic Statement 2020: Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19
- Economic and fiscal snapshot 2020
- Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow our Economy and Make Life more Affordable
- Budget 2021: a Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience
- Fiscal Monitor
- Extraordinary Borrowing Report to Parliament (October 22, 2020)
- Canada’s plan for a strong economic recovery from COVID-19 (Speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to the Toronto Global Forum, October 30, 2020)
- Statement on Canada’s economic and job recovery (January 8, 2021)
- "For 2021-2022, an annual borrowing authority of $635 billion is required in order for the federal government to support Canadians and meet anticipated financial needs." (March 26, 2021)
- Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on support for Canadians and Canadian businesses in the face of the Omicron variant (January 5, 2022)
House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
- Government's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19 spending and programs
- Investing in tomorrow: Canadian priorities for economic growth and recovery
- Report of the Bank of Canada on monetary policy
- Government spending, WE charity and the Canada Student Service Grant
- "So far, for every $10 spent in Canada to fight COVID-19 and support Canadians, $8 has been spent by the federal government" (Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, March 11, 2021)
- Inflation in the current Canadian economy
House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
Bank of Canada
Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO)
- "provides independent analysis on the state of the nation's finance, the government's estimates and trends in the Canadian economy"
- Economic and Fiscal Outlook (March 2022)
COVID-19: a data perspective (Statistics Canada)
- Economic impacts of COVID-19
- Canadian Economic Dashboard and COVID-19
- Canadian Economic News (March 2020 special edition)
- Coronavirus : key indicators
- Social-economic impacts
COVID-19 benefits and your taxes (Canada Revenue Agency)
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 -- Economic aspects (Government of Canada Publications)
Public Accounts of Canada 2021
- Detail the government spending
- Include the audited consolidated financial statements of the Government of Canada (Volume I, Section 2)
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA)
- ACOA 2020: exceptional support in an exceptional year
FedNor
Canadian Income Survey, 2020
- "Between 2019 and 2020, the overall poverty rate fell by more than one third, from 10.3% to 6.4%, representing over 1.4 million fewer Canadians living in poverty" (March 23, 2022)
- Canada's first property reduction strategy
Ontario
- Budget, Economic and Budget Outlook
- COVID-19: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO)
- Economic impacts related to public health measures in response and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic (Evidence Brief, Public Health Ontario, March 11, 2021)
City of Toronto: Updates on financial impacts of COVID-19
- Updates on financial impacts of COVID-19
- Operating Variance Report for the five months ended May 31, 2020 (July 7, 2020)
- Capital Variance Report for the five months ended May 31, 2020
- Update on the City's response to COVID-19 and financial impact (July 28, 2020)
- City Council votes to adopt recommendations to address financial impacts of COVID-19 (July 29, 2020)
StatCan
- Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on productivity growth in Canada
COVID-19 Resources (Ontario Legislative Library and Legislative Research)
The Conference Board of Canada
- COVID-19 Implications for Canada and the economic impact
- Sharp Deep Unprecedented: Provincial Outlook Spring 2020 Preliminary Forecast
C.D. Howe
- Complete Policy Analysis
- COVID-19 Economic Dashboard
Economic Survey of Canada (March 6, 2023, OECD)
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2022 Article IV Consultation with Canada
IMF
World Bank
OECD
- Tackling coronavirus (COVID-19): Contributing to a global effort
- OECD Economic Outlook Volume 2020
Coronavirus Hub (The Economist Intelligence Unit)
- Responding to the economic and business impacts of COVID-19
- Q2 global forecast 2020: Coronavirus sinks global growth forecasts for 2020
COVID-19 Action Platform (World Economic Forum)
Economic and National Security Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic Through 2026 (US National Intelligence Council)

Education: Children, parents & teachers

Learn at home resources
- Learn at home (Government of Ontario)
- Science at Home (Ontario Science Centre)
- Science at Home (Science North)
- Impactful resources for students in grade 1-8 (TvoLearn)
- IDELLO’s apprendre à la maison (TFO)
- Free online learning resources (National Film Board of Canada)
Government of Canada
Ontario
- Government support and guidance
- COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service (SickKids)
- Impacts
- COVID-19: reopening schools
- Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario
- COVID-19: reopening child care centres
- Ontario’s Learning Recovery and Renewal Plan for Students (May 4, 2021)
- Statistics
- News releases
City of Toronto
- COVID-19 Guidance: Elementary & Secondary Schools
- COVID-19 Guidance for Outdoor Playgrounds and Fitness Equipment (January 20, 2022)
- COVID-19: Children & Vaccines
- Toronto District School Board)
- Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Youth (March 30, 2022)
- News releases
StatCan
Advice for parents and families (UNICEF)
- Tips and guidance for families
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents temporally related to COVID-19 (WHO)

Education: Post-secondary education & young people

COVID-19 measures for youth and students (Government of Canada)
Contact North: Ontario's community-based bilingual distance education and training network
eCampus Ontario: Developing innovation and collaboration in Ontario's postsecondary institutions
International students (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
News releases
- Removing barriers for international students working in essential services to fight COVID-19 (April 22, 2020)
- Flexibility in post-graduation work permit rules to help international students and Canadian post-secondary institutions (May 14, 2020)
- New interest relief measure to provide much-needed help to Canada Student Loan borrowers on medical or parental leave (October 7, 2020)
- Ontario invests in virtual learning strategy (December 11, 2020)
- The province is expanding the Support for Learners program to include secondary school students and lowering electricity prices to a discounted off-peak rate 24/7 for all time-of-use and tiered customers (December 22, 2020)
- Ontario increases mental health funding for postsecondary students (February 9, 2021)
- The Ontario government is providing $106.4 million to help publicly assisted colleges and universities address the financial impacts of COVID-19 (March 19, 2021) [Backgrounder]
- Investing in young Canadians (April 28, 2021, Prime Minister of Canada)
- Ontario extends freeze on college and university tuitions (April 30, 2021)
- The Ontario government is transforming virtual learning by supporting nearly 400 innovative projects at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes (May 17, 2021)
- The Ontario government is providing $2.39 million to help improve mental health supports and services for postsecondary students (May 28, 2021)
- Ontario expanding mental health services for children and youth (June 1, 2021)
- Ontario training students for medical technology careers (June 1, 2021)
- Ontario announces over $62 million in funding for summer learning programming (June 24, 2021)
- Canada Summer Jobs: Opportunities now available for young Canadians in the Quebec City region (July 2, 2021)
- Toronto Public Health continues to expand youth COVID-19 vaccination opportunities (August 12, 2021)
- Toronto Public Health launches #VaxTOCampus campaign to promote vaccination in post-secondary settings (August 17, 2021)
- Ontario expanding high-quality, accessible virtual learning (October 28, 2021)
- Government of Canada expands volunteer service opportunities for young Canadians (February 8, 2022)
- Ontario extends freeze on college and university tuition (March 23, 2022)
- Government of Canada invests nearly $4 million to OCAD University to support mental health of students (February 21, 2023)

Emergencies Act

Emergencies Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 22 (4th Supp.)
- See also Convoy protests
- Emergencies measures, orders, and regulations
- Consultations on the Emergencies Act with the First Ministers
- Confirmation of the declaration of emergency
- Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency
- Public Order Emergency Commission: an independent public inquiry following the invocation of the Emergencies Act
- House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance
- House of Commons debates on Emergencies Act
- Research
- Timeline (2022) see also [Convoy protests timeline]

Environment

Frauds & scams / mis- & disinformation

COVID-19: Frauds and scams (Government of Canada)
- Listing of known COVID-19 scams
Staying cyber-healthy during COVID-19
Project Purify (Canada Border Services Agency)
Equipping ourselves against mis- and disinformation during COVID-19 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic (StatCan)
Mythbusters (WHO)
Verified (United Nations)
- "Verified is an initiative of the United Nations, in collaboration with Purpose, to cut through the noise to deliver life-saving information on COVID-19."

Government responses / operations

Federal, Provincial, Territorial Public Health Response Plan for Ongoing Management of COVID-19 (March 31, 2022)

Canada
- House of Commons Committees
Ontario
Toronto
- City Response to COVID-19
- City of Toronto reflects on pandemic response three years after Toronto’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 (January 25, 2023)
- COVID-19 update and response (City Council)
- COVID-19: Economic Support & Recovery
- City of Toronto key summer accomplishments in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 (September 4, 2020)
- City of Toronto highlights key accomplishments over the last year in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 (March 10, 2021)
- City of Toronto facilities supporting COVID-19 response (November 2, 2020)
- COVID-19: Business & Sector Resources
- ActiveTO report
- TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan (November 30, 2020)
- City of Toronto continuing to roll out Toronto Omicron Action Plan to fight COVID-19 (December 23, 2021)
Financial & social support (Canada, Ontario & Toronto)
Economic support & recovery for businesses (Canada, Ontario & Toronto)
Support for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19 (Ontario Legislative Library and Research Services)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Government operations (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)

Guidance documents & statements

Canada
- Guidance documents: for communities, health professionals, business and industry
- COVID-19: Managing financial health in challenging times (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada)
- COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide
- Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Public Safety Canada)
- COVID-19 Guidance for High-Risk and Essential Workplaces (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) (April 16, 2020)
- Interim national surveillance guidelines for human infection with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- COVID-19: Workplace Health and Safety Guide (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) (October 13, 2020)
- Guidance on the use of influenza vaccine in the presence of COVID-19 (September 29, 2020)
- Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community (Government of Canada)
- Guidance to Canadians planning gatherings or events during the colder months (September 15, 2020)
- Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada (Last updated: October 15, 2020)
- Interim guidance: Sending food export certificates to foreign countries during COVID-19
- Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Long Term Care Homes
- Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Home Care Settings
- Risk mitigation tool for workplaces/businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Risk mitigation tool for outdoor recreation spaces and activities operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance issued by Transport Canada
- COVID-19: Guidance Material for Air Operators Managing Travellers during the Check-In Procedure for Flights Departing from an Aerodrome in Canada
- Action Committee on Court Operations in Response to COVID-19
- OSH Answers Fact Sheets: (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): CFIA Information for industry (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
- Update on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Correctional Service Canada)
- Information for Government of Canada employees: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- Statements
  - Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
  - Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH)
  - Canada Border Services Agency
  - Prime Minister
  - Competition Bureau statement on competitor collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 8, 2022)
  - Prime Minister releases joint statement by First Ministers for restarting the economy (April 28, 2020)
  - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Joint Statement by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Privacy Commissioners on contact tracing apps
- Statement on Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Promoting Gender-Responsiveness in the COVID-19 Crisis (Global Affairs Canada)
- Statement on COVID-19 and the multilateral trading system by ministers responsible for the WTO
- Statement on COVID-19 by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade
- Statement by the Prime Minister for World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2021)
- Statement by the Prime Minister on Small Business Week (October 17, 2021)
Ontario
- COVID-19 public health measures and advice
- Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace
- Guidance documents
- COVID-19: Health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022) (August 3, 2021)
- Restaurant and food services health and safety during COVID-19
- Ontario Offers Emergency Child Care to More Frontline Staff (April 17, 2020)
- Public Required to Identify Themselves if Charged with Breaching an Emergency Order During the COVID-19 Outbreak March 31, 2020
- Statement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health March 30, 2020
- Statement by Ontario Ombudsman on COVID-19 and Ontario's correctional facilities (March 26, 2020)
- Ontario Enhancing Public Reporting about COVID-19 March 30, 2020
- Mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective as of Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59p.m., 2020
- Ontario Human Rights Commission
- COVID-19: Guidance for individuals experiencing abuse (York Region)
Toronto
International
- Technical guidance by topic (WHO)
- EPI-WIN: WHO information network for epidemics
- COVID-19: information from the UN system: Aviation, shipping, human rights, humanitarian assistance, refugees and more

Health care systems & health workers & health

Government of Canada
- COVID-19: For health professional
- Remarks from the Minister of Health on Backlogs Top-Up & Five Areas of Priority for the Future of Federal Provincial Relations on Health Care (March 25, 2022)
- Strong Public Health Care [Budget 2022, Chapter 6]
- Federal, Provincial, Territorial Health Ministers’ Meeting
Government of Ontario
Standing Committee on Health (House of Commons)
- Briefing on the Canadian response to the outbreak of the coronavirus
- Emergency situation facing Canadian in light of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Canada's health workforce
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Moving forward from the COVID-19 pandemic : 10 opportunities for strengthening Canada's public health systems
COVID-19 resources (Canadian Institute for Health Information, CIHI))
- COVID-19 data and Information
- Impact of COVID-19 on Canada's health care systems (February 24, 2022)
- Health workforce in Canada: In focus (including nurses and physicians)
Health Services backlog
- "The FAO estimates that it will take 3.5 years to clear the surgery backlog and over three years to clear the diagnostic procedure backlog" (May 10, 2021, Financial Accountability Office of Ontario) [Full report]
- Estimating Planned Surgical Cancellations Due to COVID-19 Using Historical Data (CIHI, May 21, 2020)
- Wait times for priority procedures in Canada (CIHI, June 15, 2021)
- Colorectal cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact of paused screening and evaluation of strategies to reduce delays (StatCan June 17, 2021)
- Ontario launching new $30 million Surgical Innovation Fund to reduce the health service backlog due to the COVID-19 pandemic (June 23, 2021)
- Ontario is investing up to $324 million and planning to operate at 110 to 115 per cent capacity to reduce surgical wait times (July 28, 2021)
- Over half a million fewer surgeries have been performed in Canada since the start of the pandemic (December 9, 2021, CIHI)
- Canada commits $2 billion in additional health care funding to clear backlogs and support hundreds of thousands of additional surgeries (March 25, 2022)
- The Ontario government is funding the implementation of a new, innovative software across hospitals in Eastern Ontario that will help reduce surgical backlogs in the region (November 25, 2022)
- Ontario Reducing Wait Times for Publicly Funded Surgeries and Diagnostics (February 21, 2023) [Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023]
- Long wait times persist as Canada tries to reduce surgical backlog (CIHI, March 23, 2023) [Surgeries impacted by COVID-19: An update on volumes and wait times]
Hospital crisis
- A Preliminary Review of the Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Hospital Capacity (April 2020, Financial Accountability Office of Ontario)
- COVID-19’s impact on emergency departments (CIHI, December 9, 2021)
- Widespread hospital closures demand urgent attention and real accountability (July 21, 2022, Ontario council of Hospital Unions)
- Staffing "crisis" in Ontario hospitals (CBC, August 2, 2022)
- Ontario introduce a plan to stay open (August 18, 2022) [Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery]
- Ontario used its majority to pass Bill 7, More Beds, Better Care Act, 2022, a controversial legislation that could force hospital patients awaiting long-term care to nursing homes not of their choice (August 31, 2022)
- COVID-19 hospitalization and emergency department statistics (CIHI, February 2, 2023)
Long-term care
- See also Long-term care, retirement home and senior under Vulnerable people & congregate living
- COVID-19’s impact on long-term care (CIHI, December 9, 2021)
- Bill 7, 2022 (Ontario) More Beds, Better Care Act, 2022: An Act to amend the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 with respect to patients requiring an alternate level of care and other matters and to make a consequential amendment to the Health Care Consent Act, 1996
- The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Long-Term Care Homes: Five Lessons Learned (April 28, 2022, Science Table: COVID -19 Advisory for Ontario)
- Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian nursing homes and seniors’ homes in 2021 (StatCan, September 13, 2022)
- Statement by Ministers Duclos and Khera on Long-Term Care Standards (January 31, 2023)
- Ontario doubles the number of long-term care inspectors (February 24, 2023)
Health care spending
Health & well being
- Canadians' health and COVID-19, by region, age, gender and other characteristics (StatCan)
- Indirect health impacts of COVID-19 (StatCan)
- Seeking health care during the pandemic (StatCan)
- Toronto’s Population Health Profile: Insight on the Health of Our City (February 2023)
Mental health
- See also Mental health under Vulnerable people
- Canadians report lower self-perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic (April. 2020, StatCan)
- Mental health among health care workers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic (StatCan)
Emergency Standard of Care (ESoC) & Critical Care Triage Protocol (CCTP)
- Maximizing care through an Emergency Standard of Care (Ontario Critical Care COVID-19 Command Centre, OCCCCC)
- Triage protocols and end-of-life care (The Canadian Medical Protective Association)
- Ontario’s Life-and-Death Emergency Triage Protocol remains a work In progress (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, February 8, 2021)
- New letter to Minister of Health on critical care triage protocol (Ontario Human Rights Commission, March 1, 2021)
Health workforce
- Health workforce (Government of Canada)
- Canada's health workforce (Standing Committee on Health, House of Commons)
- Health workforce in Canada: Highlights of the impact of COVID-19 (CIHI, August 19, 2021)
- COVID-19 cases and deaths in health care workers in Canada (CIHI, August 19, 2021)
- Ontario Expanding Mental Health and Addictions Supports for Frontline Health Care Workers (November 9, 2021)
- Legislation to provide ten days of paid sick leave and enhance protections for health care workers receives Royal Assent (December 17, 2021) [Bill C-3] [Backgrounder] [Backgrounder]
- Ontario helping people start healthcare careers in Northern Ontario (January 6, 2022)
- Physician burnout nearly doubles during pandemic (March 23, 2022, Canadian Medical Association
- COVID-19 cases and deaths in health care workers in Canada (CIHI, March 31, 2022)
- Easier access to permanent residence for physicians in Canada to help address doctor shortages (September 23, 2022)
- Number of family doctors stopping practice in Ontario doubled early in pandemic, study shows (September 27, 2022, Unity Health Toronto)
- Health Canada announces Coalition for Action for Health Workers (November 1, 2022) [Backgrounder]
- Health workforce in Canada: In focus (including nurses and physicians) (CIHI, November 17, 2022)
- Statement from the Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health on the Coalition for Action for Health Workers (March 20, 2023)
Primary care
- Brief on Primary Care (Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario)
Virtual health care
- COVID-19 response: Digital health and analytics (National Research Council Canada)
- The state of virtual care in Canada as of wave three of the COVID-19 pandemic : an early diagnostique and policy recommendations (June 29, 2021, Health Canada)
- Virtual care: Policy framework (Federal, Provincial and Territorial Virtual Care / Digital Table, July 7, 2021)
- Virtual Care during the pandemic (October 25, 2021, Making Ontario a top place to work)
- Virtual care: Impact of COVID-19 on patients receiving physician services (CIHI, March 24, 2022)
- Virtual care: Impact of COVID-19 on physician practice patterns (CIHI, March 24, 2022)
- Effective Modalities of Virtual Care to Deliver Mental Health and Addictions Services in Canada (September 19, 2022, Science Table: COVID-19 Advisory for Ontario)
- Improving health care through pro-competitive procurement policy (October 5, 2022, Competition Bureau Canada)
- Empowering health care providers in the digital era (November 24, 2022, Competition Bureau Canada)
Mobile Health Units (MHU)
Dedicated COVID-19 hospital
- Ontario Mackenzie Health’s New Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital: new hospital temporarily transition into COVID-19 facility (January 18, 2021)
COVID, Cold and Flu (CCF) Care Clinic
- "In Ontario Health's Central Region alone, there are 26 such cold, cough and flu clinics. They had 73,360 patient visits from March 18, 2020 to Oct. 31, 2022. When patients were surveyed, 19.8 per cent said they would have gone to an emergency department had they not be able to access one of these clinics, the equivalent of diverting 14,525 ED visits." (February 2023, Ontario Medical Association)
- North York Family Health Team
Chief Nursing Officer for Canada
- Government of Canada announces Chief Nursing Officer for Canada (August 23, 2022)
Pharmacies
- Ontario Expands COVID-19 Testing to Pharmacies (September 23, 2020)
- Ontario Pharmacies and Primary Care Settings to Begin Offering COVID-19 Vaccinations (March 10, 2021)
- Ontarians Can Now Visit Local Pharmacies for Paxlovid Prescriptions (December 8, 2022)
- Local pharmacies now a one-stop-shop for thirteen common ailments including COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid (December 28, 2022)
Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
- Prescription for Ontario: Doctor's 5-Point Plan for Better Health Care (October 26, 2021)
- OMA proposes three immediate solutions for Ontario’s health-care system (September 15, 2022)
Updates on the novel coronavirus (Ontario Hospital Association)
Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network
Ad-hoc COVID-19 Clinical Pharmacology Task Group
- Statements

News releases:

Health information & advice

Housing

Housing
- See also Homelessness under Vulnerable people & congregate living
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
  - Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
  - Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)
- City of Toronto
- StatCan
- Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Ontario introduces legislation to freeze residential rent in 2021 (September 17, 2020)
- City of Toronto announces the next two affordable supportive housing sites as part of Phase Two of its Modular Housing Initiative (February 23, 2021)
- Ontario Helps Create Safe and Affordable Housing in York Region (March 17, 2021)
- Effective June 1, 2021, a new minimum qualifying rate for all uninsured mortgages will be implemented (Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on the Canadian housing market, May 20, 2021)
- Housing resources during the COVID-19 pandemic (Legislative Library and Research Services)
The Impact of COVID-19 on Municipal Community Infrastructure (Legislative Library & Legislative Research Publications)

How you can help

Human rights & equity

Immigration & refugee

Impact of COVID-19 on the immigration system (House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Practice notice – Special measures due to covid-19 (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada)
Employment and Social Development Canada
- Government of Canada announces support for skilled newcomers to enter the job market (March 9, 2022) [List of successful projects]
- Government of Canada helps skilled newcomers access jobs in the healthcare sector (March 23, 2022) [List of successful projects]
Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ontario)
- Ontario helping immigrants prepare for good jobs (June 29, 2021)
- Ontario helping more immigrants start and grow businesses (December 14, 2021)
StatCan
- The social and economic concerns of immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 1, 2020)
- COVID-19 deaths among immigrants: Evidence from the early months of the pandemic (June 9, 2021)
Temporary immigration measures in response to COVID-19 (HillNotes, Library of Parliament)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
COVID-19 Situation (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- Refugee resettlement numbers fall to lowest in two decades (November 19, 2020)

Indigenous communities

International engagements & efforts

Health Canada’s regulatory response to COVID-19: International engagement
Canada’s aid and development assistance in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic
Canada’s international vaccine donations
COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility
- "COVAX is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO, alongside key delivery partner UNICEF. "
- COVAX: the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator
- COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (Procuring vaccine for COVID-19)
- Canada announces additional support for equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines (December 14, 2020)
- Statement by International Development Minister on Appointment to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group (January 15, 2021)
- Prime Minister announces additional support for equitable access to new COVID-19 medical solutions (May 7, 2021)
- " We are also donating 13 million doses, procured by Canada, to other countries through COVAX" (June 13, 2021)
- Canada donating 17.7 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses to COVAX (July 12, 2021)
Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator
- "Canada’s $1.3 billion contribution to the ACT Accelerator, as part of the $2.5 billion that we have contributed to the global fight against the virus, is helping provide 87 million vaccine doses to developing countries" (G7 Leaders' Summit in United Kingdom, June, 13, 2021)
- Prime Minister attends second Global COVID-19 Summit to contribute to a global solution (May 12, 2022)
Vaccine Equity (NYC Health)
- Toronto Medical Officer of Health joins public health call to equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines (March 14, 20220
Intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines
- Statement by Minister Ng
Vulnerabilities created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic (Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development)
COVID-19: CIHR’s International engagement
WTO
- Minister Ng concludes successful Canada-led Ottawa Group meeting on World Trade Organization reform and COVID-19 (June 15, 2021)
- June 2020 Statement of the Ottawa Group: Focusing Action on COVID-19
OECD
- Minister Ng meets with international counterparts at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ministerial meeting (October 7, 2021)
- Canada endorses OECD joint statement on supporting global economic recovery from COVID-19 (October 6, 2021)
G7 Foreign Ministers Meetings
- Leader's Statement (February 19, 2021)
- Foreign and Development Ministers Communiqué (May 5, 2021)
- G7 United Kingdom 2021
- Prime Minister concludes productive G7 Leaders’ Summit in United Kingdom (June 13, 2021)
G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting
- Canada’s support of G20 world trade and investment response to COVID‑19
- G20 Ministerial statement on Trade and Investment (October 12, 2021)
APEC Economic Leaders
- Prime Minister meets with APEC Economic Leaders (July 16, 2021)
- APEC Economic Leaders’ Statement Overcoming COVID-19 and Accelerating Economic Recovery
- Prime Minister concludes participation at 2021 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (November 12, 2021)
2021 APEC Ministerial meeting
News releases
- Canada’s support for international efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic (April 5, 2020)
- Canada’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in response to COVID-19 pandemic (June 15, 2020)
- Canadian Armed Forces airlift support to the United Nations for COVID-19 concludes (August 4, 2020)
- Canada announces funding support in response to COVID-19 in India (April 27, 2021)
- Ontario Donating Critical Lifesaving Medical Equipment to India (April 30, 2021)
- Canada sending medical supplies to support COVID-19 response in India (May 5, 2021)
- Ontario Donating an Additional 2,000 Ventilators to Support COVID-19 Response in India (May 15, 2021)
- Prime Minister Trudeau announces additional support for hard-hit African economies (May 18, 2021)
- Canada announces emergency support to respond to global food crises (August 13, 2021) [Backgrounder]
- Canada announces financial contribution for projects to improve nutrition for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable (December 7, 2021) [Backgrounder]
- Canada announces a $40-million contribution to ensure all women, adolescents and children can access essential health services today and in a post-pandemic world (April 22, 2022)

Justice & courts

Labour / employment

StatCan
Impacts of COVID-19 on employment in Canada by sector (HillNotes, Library of Parliament)
COVID-19: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO)
- Ontario's Job Market Results for March 2020 and the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 16, 2020)
- Ontario's Job Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 15, 2020)
- Ontario’s Regional Labour Markets During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 23, 2020)
- Ontario’s Labour Market in 2020 (February 18, 2021)
Ontario sees job recovery (July 9, 2021)
Federal, provincial and territorial labour ministers discuss common goals and collaboration as Canada emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic (February 25, 2022)
Labour shortages
- Government of Canada takes further action to address labour shortages in Quebec (April 1, 2022)
- International students to help address Canada’s labour shortage (October 7, 2022
International students to help address Canada’s labour shortage (October 7, 2022)
See also
- Workers under the section Business, Workers and Workplace
Minister Qualtrough highlights investments to support the skilled trades in Budget 2022
- Backgrounder: Creating good middle class jobs (April 7, 2022)

Legislative & other measures

COVID-19: Emergency Measures Tracker (McCarthy Tétrault)
- Federal, provincial and territorial emergency measures
Canada
- Legislative and other measures: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) (Department of Justice)
- Bills passed in:
- 44th Parliament, 1st session (November 22, 2021 to present)
- 43rd Parliament, 2nd session (September 23, 2020 - August 15, 2021)
- 43rd Parliament, 1st session (December 3, 2019 - August 18, 2020)
- Quarantine Act (Canada)
- Contraventions Act
  - Regulations Amending the Application of Provincial Laws Regulations: SOR/2020-87 (April 11, 2020)
- Time Limits and Other Periods in Circumstances Due to COVID-19
- Responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Government of Canada proposes changes to the Criminal Code and other related laws to improve effectiveness of criminal justice system (February 24, 2021)
- Department of Finance Releases Draft Legislation to Increase Accessibility of Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (February 24, 2021) [Backgrounder]
Ontario
- Bills passed by the Ontario Legislature
- Ontario Extending Emergency Orders During COVID-19 Outbreak (May 27, 2020)
- Ontario marks three months since Declaration of Emergency (June 17, 2020)
- Ontario passes historic legislation during unprecedented times (Backgrounder, July 22, 2020)
- Revoked COVID-19 emergency orders
- Report on Ontario's Provincial Emergency
- Emergency order announcements (2020)
Health Protection and Promotion Act (Ontario)
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (Ontario)

Click to the tab "Regulations under this Act" for orders regarding non-essential businesses, long-term care homes and others
Set Fines (Ontario Court of Justice)

Supply Chain Management Act (Government, Broader Public Sector and Health Sector Entities)
Long-Term Care Homes Act

Retirement Home Act

O. Reg. 166/11: General

Legislative changes to meetings and business operations
Bill 186, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020
Bill 187, Municipal Emergency Act, 2020
Bill 188, Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020
- "The government's first steps in its response to COVID-19 were set out in the March economic and fiscal update, which included $7 billion in additional resources for the health care system and direct support for students, families and seniors, and made available $10 billion for people and businesses through interest and penalty relief measures and other deferrals to improve their cash flow, protecting jobs and household budgets."
Bill 189, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act, 2020
- "The second phase of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included temporary relief for repayment of student loans, extending expiring development charge by-laws, suspending time limits for planning matters, and extending deadlines for municipal Community Safety Plans."
Bill 190, COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020

Bill 191, Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act (Presumption Respecting COVID-19), 2020
Bill 192, Protecting Small Business Act, 2020

This Act temporarily halting or reversing evictions of commercial tenants and protecting them from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19
Applies to businesses that are eligible for federal/provincial rent assistance for evictions from May 1, 2020 until August 31, 2020.

Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (a flexible response to COVID-19) Act, 2020
- Formerly under Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act
- Regulations under this Act (e-Laws)
Bill 196, Seniors' Advocate Act, 2020
Bill 197, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020
Bill 204, Helping Tenants and Small Businesses Act, 2020
Bill 222, Ontario Rebuilding and Recovery Act
Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures)
Bill 236, Supporting Local Restaurants Act
Bill 269, Protecting the People of Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2021
Bill 283, Advancing Oversight and Planning in Ontario's Health System Act, 2021
Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021

Toronto

COVID-19: Orders, Directives & Bylaws
Emergency Management (City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 59)
Physical distancing (By-Law No. 322-2020)
Supplementary report on further extensions for bylaws necessary for COVID-19 response
Physical distancing within parks and public squares (Emergency Order No. 1)
Emergency Order No. 2
CLASS ORDER made pursuant to Section 22(5.0.1) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act

Isolation Class Order (November 6, 2020)
Class Order for Workplaces Experiencing a COVID-19 Outbreak (March 3, 2021)
Class Order to Close Workplaces to Manage COVID-19 Outbreaks (April 22, 2021)

Statement (April 24, 2021)

Repository of Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Orders (INTREPID)

Federal, provincial and territorial, Indigenous communities and municipal emergency orders

Forcese, Craig and West, Leah, Ch 8 -- Emergencies (March 14, 2020)

"This chapter discusses the law of emergencies in Canada, focusing on issues such as the federal Quarantine Act, provincial public health laws, and the federal Emergencies Act."