Covid-19 Updates | Weekend Workplace Round Up for April 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2020

Sarah Visca | Apr 13, 2020

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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Ontario, Alberta and BC governments that touch on workplace issues for for April 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2020.

Federal

Parliament Enacts the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

On Saturday, April 11, 2020, the House of Commons and Senate passed Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2. and the CEWS became law.

Bill C-14 includes additional flexibilities announced on April 8, 2020 and refined as part of the legislative process.

Employers will be able to apply for the CEWS through the Canada Revenue Agency's My Business Account portal and money will begin to flow within 2 to 5 weeks. More details about the application process will be made available shortly.

Additional details on the CEWS are available on the Government of Canada website.

See the official news release here.

Government Launches Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

Minister Morneau and Minister Ng mark the launch of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).

As of April 9, 2020, small business owners can apply for support from the Canada Emergency Business Account through their banks and credit unions.

Learn more from official statement made by the Department of Finance Canada.

News! RCMP role in enforcing the Federal Quarantine Act

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is now requesting that police agencies across Canada provide physical verification that individuals subject to the mandatory Order are complying with isolation and quarantine (self-isolation) requirements - in other words, that they are inside their homes following isolation orders. RCMP checks will generally be limited to people who, after PHAC has done initial verifications by phone, text or e-mail, may require a physical verification by police.

Learn more from the RCMP news release.

Ontario

Ontario Prevents Operators from Charging Fees while Child Cares are Closed

On April 10, 2020, the Ontario government issued a temporary emergency order preventing child care centres from collecting payments from parents while care is not being provided.

The order also means that parents cannot lose their child care space because they are not paying fees during this period, which will hopefully provide relief for parents during the outbreak.

See the government announcement that reminds child care providers that they can seek government financial support to assist their business.

Ontario Extends Emergency Orders until April 23

On April 11, 2020, the Ontario government announced the extension of all previously issued emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Those orders have been extended to April 23, 2020 and include the orders respecting the closure of non-essential workplaces.

Click here for a full list of emergency orders that have been extended until April 23, 2020.

Construction Act Exempt from Order Suspending Limitation Period

On April 11, 2020, an order was made that will improve cash flow in the construction industry, helping to support construction workers and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The act will lift the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act, allowing the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors.

The order will be effective on and after April 16, 2020.

See the official order made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Ontario Developing New Health Data Platform PANTHR

On April 12, 2020, the government announced that together with the Ontario Privacy Commissioner, it is developing a new health data platform called the Pandemic Threat Response (PANTHR).

The information gathered in the secure platform will help with:

Increasing detection of COVID-19;
Discovering risk factors for vulnerable populations;
Predicting when and where outbreaks may happen;
Evaluating how preventative and treatment measures are working; and
Identifying where to allocate equipment and other resources.

Learn more about PANTHR from Ontario’s official news release.

News! Over 14,000 submissions received through Ontario Together Portal, but more are needed

Thousands of businesses and private citizens have stepped up and offered to help the Ontario government defeat COVID-19. Since of launch of the Ontario Together web portal on March 21, 2020, the portal has received over 14,000 submissions offering to provide everything from hand sanitizer, to gowns and coveralls, to masks and face shields, to testing equipment and ventilators.

Learn more from Ontario’s official news release.

Alberta

Alberta Sends Supplies to Provinces in Need

Alberta is sending supplies to British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec to help address demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

The province has the ability to “safely send N95 masks, procedural masks, gloves, goggles and ventilators to these provinces, while maintaining supply for Alberta’s health care system.”

Learn more from Alberta’s official news release.

Service Alberta Issues Order to Allow Flexibility for Compliance with Legislation

A Ministerial Order from the Minister of Service Alberta allows flexibility for businesses, public bodies, non-profits and other groups to remain compliant with legislation.

The order will temporarily suspend or modify provisions related to timelines, location and distance, as well as utility payments and access to information requests.

Learn more about the Ministerial Order from Alberta’s official news release.

News! Alberta is launching a donation-matching program to support charities responding to COVID-19

Starting April 15, the Alberta government will match, dollar-for dollar, donations up to $2 million to Alberta-based charities and non-profit organizations with COVID-19 fundraising campaigns.

Learn more from Alberta’s official news release.

British Columbia

Province Partners with Creative BC to Support the Music Industry

As a first step to support the music industry, the B.C. government is partnering with Creative BC to launch Showcase BC. This new online hub brings a variety of live performances, entertainment and content to British Columbians, so they can stay connected while staying home.

To help B.C. musicians take part in Showcase BC, Creative BC has also opened a new Showcase BC music funding stream that will provide one-time micro-grants of $500 to emerging artists and $2,000 to established artists for livestreaming, songwriting and professional development.

Learn more about the Showcase BC.

Visit the Showcase BC website.

BC Supports Provincial Measures Surrounding Self-Isolation for Returning Travellers

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a new Travellers and Employers Order to support provincial measures surrounding self-isolation for returning travellers.

Following this order, employers who provide housing to a worker who is a traveller must:

unless the worker is an exempted person, ensure that the worker self-isolates for 14 days after entering Canada;
develop a COVID-19 infection control protocol for each worksite for which they are responsible to prevent the risk of transmission of infection amongst workers;
provide for a rapid medical response if a worker develops symptoms of illness while at work; and
maintain high levels of workplace and worker hygiene.

See the official Travellers and Employers Order in the Public Health Act.

News! Rachel Blaney among MPs working to implement virtual parliament

Following the introduction and acceptance of the unanimous consent motion in the House of Commons on April 11, Blaney and the other members of the Standing Committee on House Procedure and Affairs will be meeting regularly to talk about a virtual sitting of Parliament.

Learn more from the Cambell River Mirror news release.