Quebec shutters schools reopening
MONTREAL — Even as much of Canada took steps Thursday toward resuming normal life, with the promise of reopened national parks and provincial economies, Quebec moved in the other direction by shelving plans to have students return to class in Montreal.
Ontario announced it would lift restrictions on some retailers, seasonal businesses and medical procedures next Tuesday, while Alberta began implementing the first phase of its own relaunch with the reopening of stores, day cares and museums.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault said that elementary schools in greater Montreal would remain closed for the rest of the school year, saying conditions had not been met to reopen as planned on May 25.
Day cares, which had been scheduled to open the same day, will now remain closed until at least June 1, while businesses will be allowed to open as scheduled only if conditions improve in the province’s largest city.
Quebec has more than half of the country’s COVID-19 cases, with over 40,000 infections and 3,351 deaths as of Thursday. The province has already opened elementary schools and stores outside Montreal, but Legault said the situation in the city remains risky.
“We know the situation remains under control outside Montreal, but it remains fragile here,” Legault said. “We’ve concluded that the conditions are not met to reopen elementary schools in the Montreal region.”
In Alberta, retail stores, hair salons, museums, daycares and day camps were allowed to open Thursday, with restrictions. Restaurants and cafes could reopen at half capacity.
The reopenings apply across the province, except in Calgary and Brooks, which will have to wait until May 25.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said some national parks and historic sites across the country would reopen June 1 for select activities, including trails, day use areas and green spaces.
At his daily briefing, Trudeau noted that the coming May long weekend would look different this year due to the ongoing shutdowns and distancing restrictions.
“But this isn’t forever,” he added.
Trudeau said the choice of which parks would be allowed to open would align with the decisions of provincial and local governments. The gradual reopenings are to be accompanied by measures designed to ensure the safety of visitors and workers, he said.
B.C. opened many of its provincial parks Thursday but kept several in and around the Vancouver area closed.
Meanwhile, Ontario revealed it is set to enter its first stage of reopening next Tuesday, including lifting restrictions on some seasonal businesses, low-risk workplaces and medical procedures.
The facilities that will be able to reopen include golf courses, tennis courts, most retail stores, dog groomers and construction, Premier Doug Ford announced.
Ford said that Ontarians would have to remain vigilant during the province’s first recovery stage, which also includes the resumption of some surgeries.