COVID-19 Updates | Daily Workplace Round Up for June 5, 2020

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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Alberta and B.C. governments that touch on workplace issues for June 5, 2020. 

Federal

$14 Billion Offered to Provinces and Territories to Commit to "Safe-Restart Agreement"

Justin Trudeau stated today that he has offered provinces and territories up to $14 billion in new federal transfers if they work with Ottawa on a "safe-restart agreement" that will help Canadians return to more normal living without a massive surge in new COVID-19 cases.

The $14 billion is intended to roll out over the next six to eight months.  The offer will include protective gear for front-line health workers and businesses that need help keeping their employees safe, and money for childcare facilities to be able to reopen safely and municipal governments to help keep city services like transit running.

For more details, see this news release.

News! National unemployment rate hits a new record of 13.7% even as economy adds jobs

The Canadian unemployment rate rose to 13.7%, topping the previous high of 13.1% set in December 1982.

The increase in the unemployment rate came as more people started looking for work. Statistics Canada reported this record high unemployment rate as the economy added 289,600 jobs in May. 

For more information, check out this article. 

Alberta

$200 Million in New Grants to Ease Relaunch Costs faced by Small and Medium-sized Businesses

The Alberta government is committing up to $200 million in funding for eligible small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to access up to $5,000 to offset a portion of their relaunch costs.

The funds will help businesses implement measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission, (such as physical barriers, PPE and disinfecting supplies), rent, employee wages or replacement of inventory.

Program details are still to come, along with an online application which is expected to be available in the coming weeks. 

For more information, check out this news release.

$1 Million Support for Alberta's Beekeepers during COVID-19 

Alberta is the largest producer of honey in Canada. The province produces 41 million pounds annually and contributes $67 million to the economy.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made importing colony replacements from the usual, more affordable sources like New Zealand and Australia more difficult. 

In order to help Alberta’s beekeepers, Agriculture and Forestry is introducing a new Canadian Agricultural Partnership program with $1 million, that is anticipated to:

• Support 168 commercial beekeepers in Alberta and will help the sector adapt to emerging challenges and overcome over-wintering losses in a COVID-19 environment.
• be able to support about 13,000 replacement colonies.

For more information, check out this news release.

British Columbia

Closed Hospitality Businesses Permitted to Sell Liquor Stock

B.C. is providing temporary relief to hospitality licensees who have had to suspend their operations as a result of COVID-19. From now until July 15, 2020, closed hospitality licensees will be allowed to sell their existing liquor stock to other licensees who are still operating and/or to private liquor stores.

Since the pandemic is an evolving situation, Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) will review the expiry date of July 15, 2020 and other temporary authorizations as necessary.

Read LDB’s policy directive here.

For more information, check out this news release.

Additional $250,000 to Fund B.C. Farmers focused on E-Commerce 

Due to high demand from B.C. farmers and food companies, additional funding has been added to support more of the Buy BC e-commerce applications that were received after the initial funding was committed.

This funding is in addition to the first round of $250,000 given to support industry-led Buy BC activities focused on e-commerce, bringing the investment to a total of $550,000 under government’s Buy BC Partnership Program.

For more information, check out this news release.

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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. 

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