We are responsible Ontario residents who want to reduce the COVID curve and help relieve the capacity pressures on Ontario hospitals.  The health of all Ontarians is at risk as the COVID statistics worsen.  The Government of Ontario needed stricter measures, and we agree with many of the Ford Government’s announcements on April 17, 2021. 

However, restricting almost all outdoor physical activities is one we strongly disagree with.  Responsible, outdoor and physically distant recreation options are necessary for the health and well being of Ontarians.

Outdoor activities pose very low risk of COVID transmission when physical distancing is practiced, such as camping, golf, disc golf, use of park fitness equipment, tennis, pickleball, among several others.

Blanket prohibition of most social and recreation activities will have the opposite effect the Government of Ontario is trying to achieve.

If not allowed to participate in safe outdoor recreation, people will instead participate in risky indoor activities out of public view, which will spread the COVID virus to new networks of people.  These are people who would NOT have been affected if the very low risk outdoor recreation had been permitted in the first place.

Restrictions such as physical distancing, group sizes, monitoring, and other harm reduction measures on outdoor recreation will further reduce the risk of COVID transmission.  Prohibition of low risk outdoor activities will just change behaviour to higher risk situations.

Responsible and safe outdoor recreation options are necessary right now to ensure the health and well being of Ontario.

 Sign this petition if you live in Ontario and agree.