No Lockdown This Time for Car Dealers in Ontario

Ontario’s four-week stay-at-home order that begins today won’t affect car dealerships as showrooms will remain open.

The province has been hit pretty hard so far by the third wave of the pandemic. While it promised to start vaccinating people aged 18 and older living in COVID-19 hot spots, including teachers and essential workers, critics say more should be done to curb the spread of the virus.

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Non-essential retail stores can open only for curbside pickup or delivery. In the case of dealerships, they are allowed to operate for in-person retail by appointment only, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. There’s also a limit of 25 percent capacity in showrooms.

It’s a vote of confidence that buying (and servicing) a vehicle can be done in a safe manner.

“Automobiles are essential for the vast majority of Ontario families, and we are pleased to see the Ford Government recognize this. Ontario’s new-car dealers have gone above and beyond to ensure their dealerships are safe environments for customers and employees,” Frank Notte, director of government relations at the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association, said in a statement posted by Automotive News.  

Premier Doug Ford said that about 40 percent of Ontarians will have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the four-week stay-at-home order. Approximately 2.7 million people have received at least one dose so far.