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Update for Car Wash Operators in Ontario

Premier Ford delivered remarks today (Friday, March 27th, 2020). Following his speech he was asked a questions regarding car detailing. Please see below for the video link. The audio quote can be found between 16:00 minutes and 18:00 minutes. 

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWCmf8CipsA

Video transcript between 16:00 minutes and 18:00 minutes. 

REPORTER: To give you a specific example, we've heard from someone who owns a small independent auto cleaning shop in Ontario, service private and corporate clients. When you brought out your essential services list, they weren't sure if they were allowed to open and they say their corporate and private clients are afraid. Since they aren't classed as a dealership or have ties, they were left hanging. When they contacted Minister McNaughton's office and the toll-free number, they received a lot of help. They're grateful for that. But the final answer was we can't advise you one way or another. You fall into a grey zone, so you have to use your discretion as to whether or not you open. People like this don't want to be fined. What's your advice for those in the grey zone?

PREMIER DOUG FORD: I appreciate that, Christina. What we're doing, again, we're reviewing the list. Let me tell you, if they're an essential service making sure that cars that, let's say, pick people up from the airport and they rely on a cleaning service to sanitize their car, I actually encourage that. No-one wants to get in a car that they don't feel has been sanitized. So, I think they would fall under essential service if it has to do with making sure we pick people up and transfer them from point A to point B. Everyone wants to make sure their car is disinfected. I think that would be -- fall under an essential service. Again, there are so many different businesses. There are thousands and thousands of businesses out there, and we're doing our best to make sure we answer all the calls. I think the first day, Christina, we had 53,000 calls and we have a whole team on it trying to return every single call, answer the emails. But there will be some areas that are a little grey for people, and I appreciate that. I think on that area that would be essential to make sure cars and vehicles that are picking up other passengers, they need to be cleaned and disinfected.

Wendy wrote:

This is the response we received this morning from Essential Workplaces Support/the Ministry of Transportation:

"I want to thank you again for your inquiry. I am sharing with you the information that was discussed on our call this morning. As noted over the phone, I will not be able to tell you whether or not you may choose to stay open. Nor can I provide advice or a formal statement of the Government's views.

Ultimately you must make this determination. Keeping the supply chain and its critical supports moving - in air, rail, marine and road transportation - is important to Ontario.

To help you make that decision, the Ontario government has provided guidance. First, I would recommend that you consult the list of essential services that was issued by the government that can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces 

Some business are not directly included on the list, but are included because of the role they play in relation to listed essential businesses. In this regard, other questions you can ask are:

• Does your business provide other essential businesses or essential services with the support, supplies, systems or services necessary to operate? (Coincides with bullet 1 in the list)
• Does your business provide motor vehicle, auto-supply, auto and motor-vehicle-repair services? (Coincides with bullet 6 in the list)
• Does your business provide materials and services for the operation, maintenance and safety of transportation systems (road, transit, rail, air and marine)? (Coincides with bullet 18 in the list"
  
  
  
  

It would be interesting to see what everyone has decided to do. Currently we have shut down all of our automatic and indoor/outdoor bays in hopes of getting a concrete response to if we are allowed to continue operating or not. As that clear answer may not become available in the next couple of days, we are considering re-opening with reduced hours and maintaining a safe workplace for our employees. Given the information provided, does the carwash association have a recommendation?

Hey everyone!

I managed to get ahold of the hotline yesterday and the first guy I spoke with had to ask his team for a more solid answer, and then I received a call back last night. The answer was very unsatisfactory...The girl told me that they cannot tell us whether we can remain open or closed (In our case we have carwashes, not attached to laundry, or gas/convenience store). It was up to our own judgement she said. I told her you can't tell us yes or no, but there is a $500,000 fine if we make the wrong call when there was no answer from the highest authority we have access to for making this decision?! She understood the frustration. She said the list is being updated daily...Basically, they are making decisions based on the list, hence why she personally couldn't give a yes or a no. But she said we should ask ourselves the following questions, as that would be the government's criteria:

Does your business provide other essential businesses support or supplies necessary to operate? Is there an essential business that relies on you?

Does your business provide materials or other services for the maintenance or safety of transportation on roads etc. 

Thats all I got. The best chance to justify your opening is if you can support operations of essential businesses, or ensure safety of transportation. 

I hope we all get a more solid answer going forward. We've personally closed our manual bays but automatics are operating until further notice. (There are no employees compromised and we have Tap so there is no more exposure than takeout or using a bank machine- but as the government's criteria is asking the questions above we still have to consider closing.) We will probably decide today, as we are hoping a determinant answer is provided.

It has been quite difficult to understand what the province has deemed as essential. Car washes seem to fall under a grey area. However, when it is a self serve I would be very cautious staying open and make sure you are doing everything possible to keep the public safe and prevent the spread. This may mean santizing the equipment customers use between each use or providing wipes and/or sanitizer for your customers to use in the bay. Staying open may run you the risk of being fined. If possible see if you can find out who will be enforcing the new ruling in your local area and ask them. We are waiting for the province to launch a hotline to ask them.