Regional Councillor Perrelli attempted to move the following motion:
“Whereas many restaurants have a seating capacity that numbers into the hundreds; and
Whereas the accepted COVID-19 safety standard for physical distancing is 2 meters; and
Whereas many restaurants have to maintain large staff complements to open their doors which is cost prohibitive with a seating limit as a result of the Orange - Restrict and Red - Control zone measures; and
Whereas the pictures attached to this motion make it clear that limiting the seating capacity using these parameters are woefully inadequate; and
Whereas restaurants are already subject to all other safety measures and have an excellent record of compliance; and
Whereas a number of restaurants have already closed permanently with many more facing the same fate through no fault of their own;
Therefore be it resolved:
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- That York Region Council request that, in York Region, the Provincial Government immediately remove the following clause “Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors is 50” from the Orange - Restrict zone and “Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors is 10” from the Red - Control zone; and
- That York Region Council request that, in York Region, the Provincial Government immediately remove the following clauses “Establishments must be closed from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.” “Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.” and “No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.” from the Yellow- Protect zone; and “Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” “Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.” and “No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.” from the Orange- Restrict zone and the Red -Control zone.
- That York Region Council request that the Provincial Government return York Region to the Red-Control zone as modified in i) and ii) as of December 23rd at 12:01AM.”
Regional Chair Emmerson ruled that Regional Councillor Perrelli’s motion was substantially similar to the one that was voted on and defeated at the December 17, 2020 Regional Council meeting. Accordingly, a motion to reconsider would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority vote as stipulated in Section 17.16 of the Region’s Procedural Bylaw.
Regional Councillor Perrelli challenged the ruling of the Chair and requested a recorded vote.
A recorded vote to uphold the ruling of the Chair on the need for the reconsideration was as follows:
For: Barrow, Bevilacqua, DiPaola, Emmerson, Ferri, Grossi, Hackson, Hamilton, Heath, Jackson, Jones, Li, Lovatt, Mrakas, Pellegrini, Quirk, Rosati, Scarpitti, Taylor, Vegh (20)
Against: Perrelli (1)
Carried
No motion to reconsider came forward, and no further action was taken on Regional Councillor Perrelli’s proposed motion.