COVID-19 Updates | Weekly Workplace Recap from February 19 to February 25, 2021
Below are the key announcements from the Ontario, Alberta and BC governments that touch on workplace issues from February 19 to February 25, 2021.
Ontario
Launches Education Campaign to help Small Businesses Safely Reopen
A new health and safety education campaign has been launched to help small businesses across Ontario reopen safely. The on-the-ground assistance includes the following suite of educational supports for business owners:
- Free webinars on how to operate a business safely and comply with COVID-19 health and safety requirements.
- A free 30-minute online course on infection prevention and control provided by the Public Services Health and Safety Association.
- Provincial Employment Standards Call Centre and Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre to answer small business health and safety questions.
For more information on these tools, visit COVID-19: Help for businesses in Ontario.
Alberta
Invests $108 Million in the new Working Parents Benefit
Alberta parents who use child care will receive $561 per child with the new Working Parents Benefit, a one-time payment to help parents with the cost of child care.
The Working Parents Benefit will see $108 million go to families that used child care – including licensed or unlicensed daycare, day homes, out-of-school care, or preschool – from April to December of 2020.
Families can apply for the Working Parents Benefit online. Application are open from March 1 to March 31.
For more information, check out this news release.
British Columbia
Announces Permanent Wholesale Liquor Pricing to help Hospitality Sector
Restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences can now purchase beer, wine and spirits at the wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).
These changes permanently allow licensees to pay the wholesale price for the products they purchase, which is the same cost paid by government and private liquor stores in the province when they purchase stock for retail sale. This will help business owners pivot and adapt to meet customers' needs and regain stability during the pandemic.
For more information, check out this news release.
Sarah Visca is the Operations Manager at ConnectsUs HR, a company that provides tools & resources to quickly set up a Human Resources department.
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