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COVID-19 Updates | Daily Workplace Round Up for April 29, 2020

COVID-19 Resources for Small Business
Sarah Visca | Apr 29, 2020

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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Ontario, and B.C. governments that touch on workplace issues for April 29, 2020. 

Federal

$9 Billion Aid Package for Emergency Student Benefits

On April 29, 2020, Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act had First Reading.  As previously announced, if passed, this bill will provide $9 billion in support for students including:

  • the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, which will provide $1,250 a month to students during the summer and $1,750 per month for students with a disability;
  • the creation of an additional 76,000 additional jobs for students in those sectors that need a hand or are actively contributing to the fight against COVID-19;
  • the Canada Student Service Grant for volunteer hours, which will provide students with $1,000 to $5,000 for those who volunteer in the fight against COVID-19;
  • additional support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation students; and
  • extension of scholarships, fellowships and grants for grad students.

For more information, check out this news release.

News! Trudeau says any digital contact tracing must be balanced with privacy concerns

Justin Trudeau says the privacy of Canadians must be taken into account as the government looks at proposals for digital contact tracing technology and apps amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government officials at both provincial and federal levels have been looking into digital measures for tracking incidents where COVID-19 positive people might have come into contact with others. The measures have been used in both South Korea and Singapore, and officials have indicated digital tracing methods could cut down transmission rates.

For more information, check out this news release. 

Ontario

Ontario Expands List of Essential Workers Eligible for Free Emergency Child Care

Today, the government of Ontario announced the list of essential workers eligible to receive free emergency child care during the COVID-1 outbreak will be expanded to include:

  • Workers in grocery stores and pharmacies;
  • Truck drivers (driver’s licence Class A and Class D);
  • Workers in the food supply chain, including food processing;
  • Workers in retirement homes;
  • Auxiliary workers in health care settings, including cooks and cleaning staff in hospitals and long-term care homes;
  • Interpreters and intervenors who support people who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and deafblind;
  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry emergency personnel;
  • Provincial officers and onsite staff in Ontario courts;
  • Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence staff working in Ontario; and
  • Additional workers supporting public safety and correctional services.

For more information, check out this news release.

British Columbia

B.C. Labour Relations Board Issues Guidelines for Online Proceedings

The Labour Relations Board has changed its operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing:

The Board anticipates that, "in the coming weeks and months, current restrictions will slowly ease. As they do, we will build on what we have learned and continue to find new ways to improve how we provide adjudication, mediation, and dispute resolution services under the Code".

 Visit the B.C. Labour Relations Board website for more information. 

B.C. Extends State of Emergency until May 12

The provincial state of emergency is being extended for the third time, to support the measures taken under the Emergency Program Act to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was announced today that Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, has officially extended the state of emergency through the end of the day on May 12, 2020.

For more information, check out BC's official news release and the Order in Council.

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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.