ONTARIO TO PERMANENTLY ALLOW ALCOHOL WITH FOOD DELIVERY & TAKEOUT

The Ontario government is set to permanently allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol alongside food delivery and takeout. Ontario previously approved the change on a temporary basis as a way to support businesses as lockdown measures were put in place earlier this year. 

Here is a summary of new changes:

• Reduced minimum pricing of spirits consumed on-site to align with the reduced pricing for takeout
• Permitting alcohol service on docked boats by operators with a liquor licence
• Permitting the length of time for temporary patio extensions to be set out by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission
• Ensuring all third parties delivering from establishments have a delivery licence
• Allowing restaurants and bars to offer mixed cocktails and growlers as part of a takeout or delivery order
• Removing restrictive rules to allow for the delivery of alcoholic beverages in food boxes and meal kits

These new permanent changes are a welcome move for an industry struggling with the pandemic and the current second wave.

SUPPORTING TORONTO’S CULINARY COMMUNITY WITH TOGOTORONTO.COM

ToGoToronto continues to offer support for the city’s culinary community. To-date, the site has referred 11,700 leads to participating restaurants. ToGoToronto now includes more than 700 participating restaurants offering takeout and delivery this holiday season.

If you’re a participating restaurant, tell us what’s new for the holidays

We’re looking for any holiday offerings – whether a season feast, holiday takeout, festival meal or drink kits – that we can use to promote your business online and on social. We’ve created a form that can be filled in within minutes to tell us what’s new.

For all other tourism and hospitality stakeholders, consider visiting ToGoToronto.com and ordering takeout and delivery from a Toronto restaurant this week. The holidays are one of the city’s busiest seasons for Toronto’s restaurants and bars. Let’s get out there and support the community.

 APPLICATION DEADLINE TODAY:
SHOWLOVETO PARTNER ACTIVATION GRANT

The ShowLoveTO Partner Activation Grant Program is a partnership initiative designed to amplify, showcase and provide additional support to community organizations producing activations across Toronto. As a reminder, grant applications are due today at 5 p.m.

GOVERNMENT NEWS

Health Canada approves COVID-19 vaccine: The federal government has given the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, a key step toward launching the largest inoculation campaign in Canada's history. Health Canada announced the approval Wednesday after scientists finished a two-month review of the company's clinical trial data.

Canada Emergency Business Account Loans Program extended: Eligible businesses facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can now access a second Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan of up to $20,000—on top of the initial $40,000 that was available to small businesses. Half of this additional financing, up to $10,000, will be forgivable if the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022. The application deadline for CEBA has been extended to March 31, 2021.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ripley’s Aquarium welcomes new sting ray pup: Born just shy of two weeks ago, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is proud to announce the birth of a beautiful, healthy female spotted eagle ray pup (Aetobatus narinari).

Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place recognized as top convention centre: Hot on the heels of winning EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Centers of Excellence award in October, Enercare Centre has just been awarded EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Best Convention Center (500,000 – 1 million square feet of exhibit space). The winners were announced yesterday during a ceremony held in conjunction with IAEE’s Expo! Expo! Congratulations to the team on the tremendous recognition!

InterContinental Toronto Yorkville rebrands as Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto: Reservations are now available for stays starting December 15. Congratulations to the team on the rebranding efforts!