COVID-19 Updates | Daily Workplace Round Up for May 15, 2020

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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Alberta and B.C. governments that touch on workplace issues for May 15, 2020. 

Federal

CEWS Extended an Additional 12 Weeks to August 29

The Government of Canada is extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau also announced the approval of regulations to extend eligibility for the CEWS to the following groups:

• Partnerships that are up to 50-per-cent owned by non-eligible members;
• Indigenous government-owned corporations that are carrying on a business, as well as partnerships where the partners are Indigenous governments and eligible employers;  
• Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Associations;
• Registered Journalism Organizations; and
• Non-public colleges and schools, including institutions that offer specialized services, such as arts schools, driving schools, language schools or flight schools.

The government also intends to propose legislative amendments to ensure that the CEWS continues to meet its objectives. These proposed amendments would:

• Provide flexibility for employers of existing employees who were not regularly employed in early 2020, such as seasonal employees.

• Ensure that the CEWS applies appropriately to corporations formed on the amalgamation of two predecessor corporations.

• Better align the treatment of trusts and corporations for the purpose of determining CEWS eligibility.

For more information, check out this news release and backgrounder. 

$450 Million Invested in Canada's Academic Research Community 

Justin Trudeau announced $450 million in funding to help Canada’s academic research community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment will:

• Provide wage supports to universities and health research institutes, so they can retain research staff who are funded from industry or philanthropic sources and are unable to access some of the government’s existing COVID-19 support measures. This would apply even if their work has been temporarily suspended. The government will provide up to 75% per individual, with a maximum of $847 per week.
• Support universities and health research institutes to maintain essential research-related activities during the crisis, and to ramp back up to full research operations once physical distancing measures are lifted. This will cover up to 75% of total eligible costs, and will support activities such as the safe storage of dangerous substances, and restarting data sets that were interrupted during the pandemic.

For more information, check out this news release. 

$469.4 Million Invested in Canada's Fish Harvesters

Justin Trudeau has announced up to $469.4 million in new measures to support Canada’s fish harvesters, who are economically impacted by the pandemic but cannot access existing federal measures. This investment builds on the $62.5 million for the new Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund announced last month to help Canada’s fish and seafood processing sector.

The Government of Canada will:

• Launch the Fish Harvester Benefit, a program worth up to $267.6 million, to help provide income support for this year’s fishing seasons to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who cannot access the CEWS.

• Launch the Fish Harvester Grant, a program worth up to $201.8 million, to provide grants to help fish harvesters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who are ineligible for the CEBA or equivalent measures.

• Propose measures or changes to Employment Insurance (EI) that would allow self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons to access EI benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims).

For more information, check out this news release. 

News! Canada Summer Jobs posts thousands of opportunities now available on the Job Bank website

Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, kicked off the hiring period for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2020.

Starting today, thousands of opportunities are being posted to the Job Bank website for jobs available across the country. Thousands more will be posted over the coming weeks and months, with a target of approximately 70,000 placements.

For more information, check out this news release and backgrounder. 

Alberta

Guidance for Wearing Non-Medical Face Masks for the General Public 

With stage one of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy in action and businesses gradually opening, the Government of Alberta has published Guidance for Wearing Non-Medical Face Masks for the General Public, including: 

• Why use a mask

• When to use a mask

• When a mask should not be worn

• How to wear and remove a mask with ear loops or ties

• What not to do with your mask

• How to take care of your mask

• What to consider before making or buying cloth masks

Check out the Guidance for Wearing Non-Medical Face Masks for the General Public. 

All Workplaces Expected to Develop and Implement Policies and Procedures to Address Covid-19

The Alberta Government has reminded all workplaces that they are expected to develop and implement policies and procedures to address COVID-19, including a plan to reduce the risk of transmission among staff and customers.

The completed plan must be posted in places of business or online within seven days of the public being able to attend the business.

Information and the plan template is available at Alberta Biz Connect. 

For more information, check out this news release. 

British Columbia

WorkSafeBC Releases Industry-Specific Guidelines to Support Safe Reopening of Businesses 

As B.C. prepares to enter Phase 2 of its economic restart plan, the province welcomes the release of the initial set of WorkSafeBC guidelines that will help businesses and organizations develop their plans to reopen safely in the coming days and weeks.

WorkSafeBC has released industry-specific guidelines and resources for the following sectors:

• restaurants, cafes and pubs;
• salons and personal services;
• museums, art galleries and libraries, real estate;
• education;
• health services;
• retail;
• in-person counselling;
• parks and outdoor spaces; and
• office space.

The guidelines for the industries listed above are available here. 

For more information, check out this news release. 

B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program Extended & Open to Applications

The latest intake of the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program is now open to applications and expanded to include aquaculture and seafood companies to develop COVID-19 business recovery plans.

Some quick facts about the program:

• B.C. agriculture, seafood and food processing business owners are encouraged to apply if their revenues have decreased by at least 30% as a result of COVID-19.
• The funding available includes up to $5,000 in business planning services and coaching for individuals, and up to $20,000 for groups, from a qualified business consultant, to develop an immediate and long-term recovery plan.
• Eligible applicants may also apply to the specialized business planning stream of the program to further strengthen their business.

Learn more and Apply Now for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program. 

News! K-12 students to have optional in-class instruction on June 1

Beginning June 1, parents will have the choice of bringing their children back to school on a part-time basis.

Each school district will determine scheduling for classes and transportation, but generally the number of students in school each day will be reduced and most students will receive in-class instruction part-time. 

For kindergarten to Grade 5, most students will go to school half-time (such as alternating days), while grades 6 to 12 will go to school about one day a week.

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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