COVID-19 Updates | Weekly Workplace Recap from October 23 to October 29, 2020
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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Ontario, Manitoba and BC governments that touch on workplace issues from October 23 to October 29, 2020.
Federal
CEBA Now Open to Businesses Using Personal Banking Accounts
As of October 26, 2020, the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account.
CEBA is part of the Government of Canada’s economic response plan to help Canadian businesses keep their doors open and keep their employees on payroll.
To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020.
For more information, check out the official CEBA website.
Ontario
Employer Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace
Ontario continues to release updated safety guidelines to help employers protect workers, customers and the general public from COVID-19.
These resources are available for different sectors and will help employers better understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Available resource to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace include but are not limited to:
- Guidance notes and tip sheets
- Posters for employers and employees
- Sector-specific guidance and multilingual tip sheets
- Find PPE suppliers
Ontario also has general information on COVID-19 and workplace health and safety, with resources such as:
- Protecting workers from COVID-19
- Protecting yourself at work
- Working with someone who might have COVID-19
- Making a complaint or resolving a dispute
Manitoba
Manitoba Proposes Expansion of the Public Health Emergency Leave
Manitoba is proposing to expand the job-protected Public Health Emergency Leave entitlements under the Employment Standards Code in order to close gaps between the provincial Leave and two of the new federal income benefits (the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit) that took effect on September 27.
The province plans to align the eligibility requirements of the Leave with those of the federal benefits, such that, retroactive to September 27, the provincial Leave entitlements would be extended to workers who are more susceptible to COVID-19 because of underlying health conditions, ongoing medical treatments or other illnesses.
For more information, check out this news release.
British Columbia
$4.9 Million Invested to further Protect BC Farm Workers
The federal government is investing $4.9 million under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to help BC farmers better protect the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will be delivered by Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia (IAF). Eligible activities include direct infrastructure improvements to living quarters and work stations, temporary or emergency housing, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE), and many other health and safety measures that safeguard the health and safety of Canadian and temporary foreign workers from COVID-19.
Applications will be accepted through IAF’s portal from October 27, 2020 to November 17, 2020.
State of Emergency Extended until November 10
BC has formally extended the provincial state of emergency through the end of the day on November 10, 2020. This will allow health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province's COVID-19 pandemic response.
For more information, check out this Information Bulletin.
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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.
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