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‘Ontario is closed for business:’ Concert, theatre organizers face new COVID hurdles

‘Ontario is closed for business:’ Concert, theatre organizers face new COVID hurdles
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Concert, theatre organizers face new COVID hurdles

TORONTO — Advocates in Ontario’s live music industry say upcoming shows big and small hang in the balance as they face provincial restrictions that are tougher on concert and live theatre venues than other entertainment spaces.

Many in the province’s live music and performing arts industries say they’re being treated unfairly as new rules that go into effect on Jan. 31 hold many of their venues at 50-per cent capacity until at least mid-March.

Meanwhile, other entertainment spaces including cinemas, casinos and restaurants have been told to anticipate being allowed to host a full house by Feb. 21.

The outcry came as Billie Eilish became the latest major artist to postpone shows planned for Toronto and Montreal citing “local guidelines and an abundance of caution.”

The “Bad Guy” singer broke the news on Twitter, promising to offer up new dates for scuttled stops in Montreal on Feb. 15 and Toronto on Feb. 16.

Erin Benjamin, head of the Canadian Live Music Association, says live venues and their owners are confused by provincial policies that deem it safe to eat maskless in a packed restaurant but less safe to gather masked for a concert.

“The application of the policy announced by the premier (is) really hard to understand when you look at what is allowed to be open at 100 per cent and what is not,” she said.

“I think the growing sentiment is that Ontario is closed for business.”

Benjamin said she worries the ever-changing rules could squelch a raft of upcoming concerts, from big-ticket shows led by international superstars to smaller club events by U.S. artists who may decide it’s not worth the cost of entering Canada to play a half-full venue.

“The idea of doing business in Ontario is so uncertain that folks are just not interested in constantly trying to navigate the rules,” she said.