Page - 132 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

VULNERABLE132 for deference to municipalities is reflected in enhanced local aid for the most vulnerable during COVID-19. Municipal Responses to COVID-19 Globally, COVID-19 was first felt in cities, which are home to over 50% of the world’s population and have dense populations living in close proximity to one another. In Canada, municipalities swiftly introduced strict measures to curb COVID-19’s expansion based on their spheres of authority, including closing playgrounds and increas- ing shelter beds. In contrast to the experience in the United States, Canadian cities have worked in partnership with federal and provin- cial governments, and with public health agencies, throughout the pandemic.18 Table A8.1 (p. 138) summarizes selected measures intro- duced by eight large municipalities in the country.19 The following observations can be drawn regarding municipal responses to COVID-19. First, most municipalities declared states of emergency at a similar time to those introduced by federal and pro- vincial governments.20 States of emergency permit governments at all levels to “prevent, reduce or mitigate a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to people or property” without the usual checks and balances of the political process.21 Municipalities must declare states of emergency within the limits prescribed by provincial limitations.22 Almost all local Ontario governments, regardless of size, have made declarations. In contrast, the Province of British Columbia suspended municipal states of emergency other than in Vancouver, Canada?” in Julian Agyeman et al, eds, Speaking  for  Ourselves:  Environmental  Justice in Canada (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2009) at 78. 18. Robert Schertzer & Mireille Paquet, “How Well Is Canada’s Intergovernmen- tal System Handling the Crisis?”, Policy  Options (8 April 2020), online: <https:// policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2020/how-well-is-canadas-intergovern- mental-system-handling-the-crisis/>; Gabriel Eidelman & Jack Lucas, “Munici- pal Leaders Happy with Team Canada Approach to COVID”, Policy  Options (1 May 2020), online: <https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2020/ municipal-leaders-happy-with-team-canada-response-to-covid/>. 19. Canadian Urban Institute, “City Watch Canada”  (last visited 1 May 2020), online: City  Watch  Canada <https://citywatchcanada.ca>. 20. Michael Watts, Susan Newell & Amanda Arella, “The Ontario State of Emergency– COVID-19” (3 April 2020), online: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP <https://www. osler.com/en/resources/critical-situations/2020/the-ontario-state-of-emergency- covid-19>. 21. Ibid. 22. Emergency  Management  and  Civil  Protection  Act, RSO 1990, c E9, s 4(1).