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COVID-19 & Legislation Updates | Weekly Workplace Recap from Feb 04 to Feb 10, 2022

Sarah Visca | Feb 10, 2022


Below are the key COVID-19 & legislation topics that touch on the workplace from Feb 04 to Feb 10, 2022.

Federal

Feds extend expanded access to Local Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit 

Using regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, the government intends to propose expanding access announced on December 22, 2021 by one month, until March 12, 2022:

  • Local Lockdown Program: Eligibility would continue to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more; and the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement would remain at 25%. Eligible employers would receive wage and rent subsidies from 25% up to a maximum of 75%, depending on their degree of revenue loss. The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support.
  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit: Eligibility would continue to include workers in regions where capacity-limiting restrictions of 50% or more are in place. This benefit provides $300 a week in income support to eligible workers affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown order, and who are either unable to work or have lost 50% or more of their income as a result.

News Release

Canada sheds more than 200,000 jobs in January

Canada’s labour market suffered a larger-than-expected setback last month after the country was hit with fresh lockdowns meant to contain the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The country shed 200,100 jobs in January, Statistics Canada reported Friday from Ottawa, ending a seven-month streak of gains. Economists in a Bloomberg survey were expecting a drop of 110,000. The unemployment rate rose to 6.5%, from 6% at the end of last year. 

The decrease, which was entirely among private sector employees, marks the largest drop since January 2021, when the economy shed 207,800 jobs.

News Release

Ontario

Ontario expands rapid test rollout, but sticking with COVID-19 mandates for now

Ontario is lifting a directive that ordered hospitals to halt non-urgent surgeries and announced Wednesday it will expand access to rapid tests, but has no plans to end its vaccine passport or masking rules ahead of schedule. 

The province says it will distribute COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at grocery stores, pharmacies and other settings starting Wednesday. The tests will also be available through online order or pickup at the 2,385 participating grocery stores and pharmacies listed on the province's website.

News Release

Alberta

Alberta lifts public health measures: Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) expires on Feb 09

Beginning Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m., Alberta will move into step one of it's three-step approach to phase out public health measures.

Effective Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m.:

  • Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) ends, along with most associated restrictions.
  • Entertainment venues will continue to have some specific rules in place:
    • Restrictions on sale of food and beverages and consumption while seated in audience settings will be removed.
    • Restrictions on closing times, alcohol service, table capacity in restaurants and interactive activities will remain in force.
  • For all businesses, venues and facilities – whether they were previously eligible for the REP or not – capacity limits are removed, except for:
    • Facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500.
    • Facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50%.

News Release

British Columbia

B.C. forecasts more than one million job openings in next decade

The latest Labour Market Outlook (LMO) from British Columbia is expecting over one million job openings over the next decade, where the majority will be for the replacement of retiring employees.

The LMO predicted a total of 1,004,000 job openings through 2031, where 63% are openings for people who will replace who are leaving the workforce and the remaining 37% for the new jobs created by economic growth.

News Release

B.C. expands health-care vaccine mandate to include doctors, dentists and other regulated professionals

As of March 24, 2022, all regulated healthcare professionals in British Columbia must be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to continue to work.

Regulated health professionals who are vaccinated with one dose before March 24, 2022, may continue to work as long as they receive a second dose 28 to 35 days after their first dose, and there is process in place for medical exemption requests that can be submitted, says Dr. Bonny Henry.

News Release

Sarah Visca
Sarah Visca is the Operations Manager at ConnectsUs HR, a company that provides tools & resources to quickly set up a Human Resources department.  
You can contact her here.