The province is updating a few guidelines for the number of people at special ceremonies and at places of worship. Deputy Premier Gord Wyant says places of worship can allow up to one-third the seating capacity to a maximum of 150 people, which is a change from a maximum of 30 people. The guidelines also apply to celebrations of life, weddings and outdoor ceremonies.

Grade 12 graduation ceremonies can now be held outdoors with a limit of 30 grads and an overall attendance of 150. Larger classes would have to have more than one ceremony. Wyant emphasizes that all public health measures would still need to be followed in all cases.

A target date for Phase 4 will be announced early next week. The province says in the first part of Phase 4 child and youth day camps, outdoor pools and splash pads and outdoor sports and activities, both individual and group sports, will be allowed. The second part of Phase 4 will include indoor pools and rinks, libraries, museums, galleries, movie theatres, casinos and bingo halls.

There have been some questions about who will pay for the extra expenses incurred for sending children back to school in the fall while following all safety protocols. Education Minister, Gord Wyant says nothing has been officially worked out yet. The school divisions won’t be submitting their budgets until the end of this month so he doesn’t know what the circumstances are with each division. He says, “We’re going to be looking to school divisions as we approach September to determine what they might need in addition to that, having regard to the fact there would have been some savings to school divisions from the suspension of classes a few months ago.”