Dear Premier Doug Ford,

We the undersigned residents of Ontario urge you and the Government of Ontario to provide clarity or include formal wording on small group (10 or less ~ based on current physical distancing guidelines) “outdoor” physical activities including but not limited to, fitness and excersise classes, dance instruction, and small non-contact group sports as part of your current Emergency Measures Act.

These types of activities can be done in parking lots, fields and other physically distanced locations. They would involve no physical contact between participants, but would still allow for the social aspect of these activities.

Organizers/instructors would be required to enforce all social distancing guidelines and ensure that all participants are kept 6ft or greater apart at all times. For example each parking spot on average is 8ft wide, which with would allow more then enough space for physical distancing.

These activities promote both physical and mental health and also support small businesses and “Gig” workers, whom have been suffering losses to their full time or part time income.

While we are fully aware that the virus is still a very real threat to public safety, there is also a very real threat to peoples physical and mental health the longer restrictions are in place. We believe that these activities, based on the current guidelines and responsible safety measures put in place by organizers/instructors, meet current recommendations by public health and Ontario’s top doctors.

We understand that the likelihood of these events continuing in their usual indoor settings for the foreseeable future is not plausible. However, we seek clarity to ensure that these events can proceed outdoors in a responsible manner in the meantime. Formal clarity on this matter would also ensure that private property owners and stakeholders have confidence in allowing these activities to take place. We also hope that organizers of these types of activities and their participants will support frontline workers through some sort of donation as part of their admission or fees.

We hope that you will provide clarity on these activities and our petition during one of your upcoming daily briefings, as we have yet to hear clarity on this subject thus far.