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COVID-19 Updates | Weekend Workplace Round Up for May 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2020

COVID-19 Resources for Small Business
Sarah Visca | May 11, 2020

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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Ontario, Alberta and BC governments that touch on workplace issues for May 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2020.

Federal

Announces Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) 

Justin Trudeau announced today, May 11, 2020 that the federal government will establish a Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) to provide bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers.

This support for large companies through LEEFF will be delivered by the Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV), in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Department of Finance.

To qualify for LEEFF support, eligible businesses must:

  • be a large for-profit businesses – with the exception of those in the financial sector – as well as certain not-for-profit businesses, such as airports;
  • have annual revenues of approximately $300 million or higher;
  • be seeking financing of approximately $60 million or more;

  • The LEEFF program is expected to include strict limits to dividends, share buy-backs, and executive pay. The Government, in considering a company’s eligibility for assistance under the LEEFF program, may conduct an assessment of its employment, tax, and economic activity in Canada, as well as its international organizational structure and financing arrangements. The LEEFF program will not be available to companies that have been convicted of tax evasion.

In further support for large businesses, the government will also: 

  • Expand the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to mid-sized companies with larger financing needs.

  • Continue to provide financing to businesses through Farm Credit Canada, the BDC and EDC, including through the Canada Account.

Learn more from this news release from the Prime Minister.

CEWS Extended Beyond June Expiry Date

On May 8, 2020, Justin Trudeau announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (the CEWS) will be extended beyond June 2020 to help kick-start Canada’s economic reopening and boost jobs. 

More details are expected next week but, in the meantime, the Prime Minister encouraged employers to fill out an application.

Learn more from this news release. 

$500 Million Distributed between Cultural, Heritage & Sport Organizations

Further details were provided on May 8, 2020, regarding the Government of Canada’s previous announcement in April of $500 million to establish an Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations to help these sectors manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The distribution of funding will include:

  • Up to $326.8 million to be administered by Canadian Heritage and divided among select departmental programs and Portfolio agencies as well as key delivery organizations.  Specifically:
    • $198.3 million will be provided to the beneficiaries of arts and culture funding via existing programs as well as other organizations with demonstrated needs;
    • $72 million will be provided to the sport sector;
    • $53 million will be provided to the heritage sector via the emergency component of the Museums Assistance Program; and
    • $3.5 million will be provided for COVID-related projects under the Digital Citizen Initiative;
  • $55 million to be distributed by the Canada Council for the Arts; and
  • $115.8 million will be used to support the Canadian audiovisual sector, to be distributed by the Canada Media Fund ($88.8 million) and Telefilm Canada ($27 million).

The use of the remaining funds will be assessed based on needs.

For more information, see the this backgrounder from Canadian Heritage.

Ontario

Provincial Parks & Conservation Reserves Open for Limited day-use Access

The Ontario government is allowing limited recreational activities at parks as long a social distancing is maintained. The first areas will open on Monday May 11, 2020, with the remaining areas opening on Friday May 15, 2020.

At this time, recreational activities will be limited to walking, hiking, biking and birdwatching. Day visitors will also be able to access all parks and conservation reserves for free until the end of the month.  

Visit Ontario Parks for up to date information about your local park.

Check out this news release for more information. 

80 Sector-Specific Health & Safety Guidelines Released as certain Stores Open

The government published the regulation required for the previously announced reopening of the following retail stores and essential construction:

  • Garden centres and nurseries will be able to open for in-store payment and purchases;
  • Hardware stores and safety supply stores will be permitted to open for in-store payment and purchases; and
  • Non-essential retail stores with a street entrance can begin offering curbside pickup and delivery.

As a result, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development have now released over 80 sector-specific health and safety guidelines, including guidelines for curbside pickup and delivery services.

The Ministry of Health has also released a Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces.

Learn more from Ontario’s official news release. 

$2.25 Million Invested in Protecting Health & Safety of Meat Processing Plant Employees

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $2.25 million in provincially licensed meat processing plants to better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the first stream of the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program will provide funding to implement COVID-19 health and safety measures in provincially licensed meat plants, including purchasing additional personal protective equipment, redesigning workstations, supporting employees who require mandatory isolation, and work-site mobility and transportation.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will begin accepting applications tomorrow, on May 12. 

More information can be found on OMAFRA’s website and this news release. 

Alberta

$5 Million Invested in New Agriculture Training Support Program to Help Employers in Agri-businesses

The Government of Alberta has created a new Agriculture Training Support Program to help employers in the food supply chain provide necessary training to new Alberta employees.

By providing up to $5 million in support to farmers, agri-businesses and food processors, the program helps offset the cost to train new employees safely in new agri-food roles. The program:

  • Targets agricultural, meat processing and horticultural businesses and services on the Government of Alberta’s essential service list (with the exception of aquaculture).
  • Will support training for as many as 2,500 new jobs in Alberta.
  • Supports a maximum government contribution of $2,000 per new employee, and up to a maximum of $50,000 per employer.
  • Administers grants on a first-come, first-served basis until available program funding is fully allocated.

Learn more from Alberta's official news release.

Published Guidance for Business Owners Re-Opening or Continuing Operations

 The Alberta Government has published Guidance for business owners re-opening or continuing operations to help support business owners reopening or continuing operations to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among workers.

This document includes guidance on:

  • Communication related to COVID-19;
  • Sick staff and volunteers;
  • Prevention (screening, hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, personal protective equipment, workplace bathrooms and showers, distancing and gatherings in the workplace, retail items, and home delivery, drive through, take-out and curbside pick-up);
  • Isolation and Quarantine; and
  • a COVID-19 Plan for Large Production Facilities.

Check out more Guidance Documents from Alberta's Relaunch Strategy website. 

British Columbia

WorkSafeBC Publishes Guidelines on Returning to Safe Operation

On May 8, 2020, WorkSafeBC provided general guidelines describing steps that businesses should take to develop workplace safety plans for operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bulletin provides steps for:

  • assessing risk;
  • reducing risk;
  • developing reopening policies;
  • developing communication plans and training; and
  • monitoring the workplace.

Some things to note:

  • The information and guidance represents the minimum requirements.
  • Businesses are not required to submit their plans for approval by WorkSafeBC but they may be asked to provide them during a WorkSafeBC inspection.
  • WorkSafeBC is developing industry-specific information to support businesses with their health and safety needs as they reopen. Updates will be provided on their website.

Check out the WorkSafeBC general guidelines here.

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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.