Ontario's Film and TV Industries Are Going Back to Work (but Not in Toronto)

Premier Doug Ford has announced the details of Phase 2 reopening

BY Alex HudsonPublished Jun 8, 2020

Parts of Canada are moving into the next phase of reopening following coronavirus lockdowns, and now Ontario is following suit. Premier Doug Ford has announced that parts of Ontario will be entering Phase 2 of reopening — and this has significant implications for the local film and TV industry.

Starting on Friday (June 12), restrictions will be lifted on film and television production, meaning that film sets will be back in business. There are still limitations, however, since physical distancing measures will be in place. Furthermore, the Toronto area will remain shut down, along with other select regions in Southern Ontario.

In some additional good news for Ontario's film industry, dive-in and drive-through theatres will be reopening. Drive-in concerts will also be allowed — something that's already in the planning stages, thanks to July Talk.

All told, these more lenient guidelines apply to 24 of the province's 34 health zones. This includes Ottawa, Peterborough, Waterloo and Thunder Bay.

As for the 10 regions that remain in Phase 1, they are: Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, Lambton, Niagara, Peel, Toronto, Windsor-Essex and York.

There's no word as to when those regions might open back up. Ford said during his press conference, "For the regions that must wait a little longer, I ask you: please remain patient. We will get there soon."

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