Ontario government refuses to let fully-vaccinated frontline workers into Leafs game

On Sunday, the Ontario provincial government rejected a proposal that would have opened in-person attendance at the Leafs-Habs Game 7 to fully-vaccinated healthcare workers.

"Given the fact that a large number of our essential workers and healthcare workers who have given so much over the last year are fully vaccinated, this would be a way to give the Maple Leafs a boost," said Brampton's mayor Patrick Brown, who initiated the proposal in Ontario.

In neighbouring Quebec, the provincial government had previously approved such a measure and, indeed, fully-vaccinated people working in the healthcare industry were allowed to watch Game 6 in-person at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal.

However, the same thing will now definitely not happen at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday night for the series-clinching Game 7 due to the provincial government handing down a very different decision on the matter.

The rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens (commonly referred to as the "Habs" after their previous name "Habitants") is decades-long and legendary, and any series that pits the two bitter rivals against each other on the ice has always been a popular favourite.

The CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, has recently released updated guidelines on COVID-19, claiming that fully-vaccinated individuals are not a transmission risk, even indoors. However, it appears that this new info has not swayed Ontario provincial authorities.

Dakota Braiser of the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Tourism, Culture and Sport said the following when interviewed:

"The province will continue to follow the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, other health experts and local public health to determine when and if it is safe for measures to be lifted based off the Roadmap to Reopen."

"The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health reviewed and approved the NHL’s return-to-play plan for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. The return-to-play plan includes rigorous health and safety protocols developed to ensure the safety of players, staff, their families, and the community. At this time, no spectators are allowed to attend games in-person," Braiser said.

"The province will continue to follow the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, other health experts and local public health to determine when and if it is safe for measures to be lifted based off the Roadmap to Reopen."