Ontario accelerates return-to-play plans for professional, elite-amateur sports

Ontario says it has accelerated its return-to-play plan for professional and elite amateur leagues as the province loosens COVID-19 restrictions.

Sports Minister Lisa MacLeod says that high-level teams can now hold non-contact practice and dry-land training in Ontario.

Teams and leagues will be allowed to resume games as soon as August, although there is currently no plan to allow spectators.

The Canadian Football League and Ontario Hockey League are the most impacted by the decision, having missed an entire season because of the pandemic.

“The idea today was really to accelerate a return to play for those leagues so that they could have some certainty in their planning,” said MacLeod.

“I’m very mindful of the fact that we want to host the Grey Cup in Ontario and the Ticats in Hamilton are getting ready for that so this provides a lot more certainty and clarity for them.”

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, and Ottawa Redblacks all have training camps scheduled to begin in early July.

MacLeod says that as long as the CFL teams meet provincial safety standards and have the approval of their local public health officials they may begin to train.

https://youtu.be/ZRzL-ccjnRU

This decision also includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto FC, although their ability to play teams in the United States is a federal responsibility.