While a growing number of places have been closed due to the ongoing pandemic, Guelph’s representative at Queen’s Park is asking for something to reopen.

In a letter sent to Premier Doug Ford on Thursday, Guelph MPP and provincial Green Party leader Mike Schreiner says the province needs to rethink its decision to deem community gardens a recreational activity.

“While I am fully supportive of physical distancing and the restriction of all non-essential activities, business and services, growing food in a community garden is not a recreational activity,” he wrote in the letter.

“It is an essential service and should be included in the agricultural exemption.”

The reason behind reconsidering the closure of community gardens, Schreiner writes, is food insecurity.

“Many individuals and families use community gardens to feed themselves,” he wrote.

“Community gardens also supply fresh produce to support food banks and food security organizations. These are essential activities that should be able to continue with new measures to keep everyone safe.”

The provincial Greens have also launched an online petition calling on the Ford government to reopen the gardens, saying the decision “hurts tens of thousands of families as well as food banks who rely on gardens for fresh fruit and vegetables.”

Community gardens were among the locales listed by Ford on March 30, when public gatherings at outdoor venues were barred in order to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.