The Ontario/Manitoba boundary will remain closed to non-essential travel for another couple of weeks.
The extension will also see the prohibition of recreational camping on public lands.
Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says the extension is until at least June 16.
Provincial Police have stated they continue to turn people away, especially cottage owners from Manitoba.
Rickford says the order may be extended in 14-day increments after June 16 but the public will be notified in advance.
He says the province appreciates the patience, support and respect of everyone on both sides of the boundary to restrict mobility to essential needs and stay safe.
In a Facebook post Rickford says:
“I want to thank residents of the Kenora-Rainy River districts, and those from outside our region in Manitoba and beyond, for your continued efforts to stay safe and reduce cases and risk at your home and across our region; as we work through this pandemic.
Respect and adherence to these restrictions on both sides of the border will be our best route to re-opening, towards a time when we can welcome back those from outside the region who make this place their seasonal home, and those who come to visit the region to enjoy our natural beauty and all that northwestern Ontario has to offer.”
Under the order:
No person shall travel into Ontario from Manitoba or Quebec unless,
(a) the person’s principal residence is in Ontario;
(b) the person is moving to Ontario in order to make their principal residence in Ontario;
(c) the person is travelling through Ontario without unnecessary stops to reach their principal residence in another jurisdiction;
(d) the person is travelling into or through Ontario by means of an international or interprovincial bus, train, ferry, or flight;
(e) the person is travelling to perform work in Ontario;
(f) the person is transporting goods into or through Ontario as part of the operation of a business that involves the transportation of goods;
(g) the person’s health makes it necessary to travel into Ontario to obtain health care or social services;
(h) the person is travelling in a vehicle that is transporting or that will transport a person in Ontario to or from a hospital or health care facility in Manitoba or Quebec;
(i) the person is being transported from a hospital or health care facility in Manitoba or Quebec, whether by ambulance or by any other means;
(j) the person is,
(i) in the care of a children’s aid society in Ontario pursuant to a court order or a written agreement,
(ii) in the care of a person subject to the supervision of a children’s aid society in Ontario pursuant to a court order or a written agreement, or
(iii) at least 16 years old and no more than 21 years old and receiving care, services or support pursuant to an agreement with a children’s aid society in Ontario;
(k) the person must enter Ontario to exercise custody or access rights contained in an agreement;
(l) the person must enter Ontario to comply with an order contained in a decision or judgment of a court or tribunal, or as otherwise required by law;
(m) the person is travelling into Ontario for the purpose of exercising an Aboriginal or treaty right as recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;
(n) the person is travelling into Ontario to respond to a critical incident, including travel for the purpose of,
(i) preventing injury or illness to persons,
(ii) preventing damage to property, or
(iii) performing a necessary action to respond to the critical incident; or
(o) the travel is necessary for a humanitarian or compassionate reason, such as,
(i) providing care or services to a person who requires them due to their state of health,
(ii) attending on a person who is dying, or
(iii) attending a funeral.
Enforcement official powers
(1) Every person entering Ontario from Manitoba or Quebec at any point along the border shall stop when instructed to do so by an enforcement official.
(2) The person entering Ontario shall provide any available identification or documentation requested by the enforcement official and answer any questions asked by the enforcement official to determine whether the person is complying with section 2.
(3) An enforcement official may direct a person to return to Manitoba or Quebec, as applicable, if the enforcement official reasonably believes that the person is contravening section 2.
(4) A person who is directed to return to Manitoba or Quebec under subsection (3) shall promptly comply with the direction of the enforcement official.
