COVID-19 Updates | Daily Workplace Round Up for April 30, 2020
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Below are the key announcements from the Federal, Ontario, Alberta and B.C. governments that touch on workplace issues for April 30, 2020.
Federal
Federal Deficit estimated to top $252 Billion
Parliament's budget officer, Yves Giroux, says it's likely the federal deficit for the year will hit $252.1 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — and could go even higher if emergency measures remain in place longer than planned.
Today the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released the Scenario Analysis Update: COVID-19 Pandemic and Oil Price Shock, which includes the following statement:
"Our fiscal results include $146 billion in federal budgetary measures that has been announced as of April 24 based on Finance Canada and PBO cost estimates.
- Based on our updated economic scenario and including announced federal measures, the budget deficit would increase to $24.9 billion in 2019‑20 and then to $252.1 billion in 2020-21.
- Relative to the size of the Canadian economy, the deficit would be 1.1% of GDP in 2019-20 and 12.7% of GDP in 2020-21."
Read the full Scenario Analysis Update: COVID-19 Pandemic and Oil Price Shocks by the PBO.
For more information, check out this news release.
Ontario
61 Sector-Specific Workplace Safety Guidelines for Employers
Ontario is preparing to gradually reopen the provincial economy. The government is taking steps to ensure employers have the safety guidelines they need to protect workers, customers, and the general public from COVID-19.
The government safety guidelines released today will provide direction to those working in various sectors such as retail, health care, construction, transportation, police services, firefighters, and transit employees.
These new 61 sector-specific guidelines feature recommended actions employers can begin to plan for as they prepare to adapt including:
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Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, like eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team-meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow.
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Changes to the workplace, like installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to increase air flow, and using boot sanitizing trays.
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Promoting proper workplace sanitation, providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizer, providing a place to dispose of sanitizing wipes and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks.
The 61 sector-specific guidelines are available here from Ontario’s health and safety associations.
Guidelines for construction are available here.
For more information, check out this news release and backgrounder.
New 511 App Provides up-to-date Information for Trucking Industry
Every year, $1.26 trillion worth of goods are moved by trucks on Ontario’s roads.
Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation says, "the trucking industry plays a vital role in keeping our supply chain strong and our store shelves stocked."
That's why Ontario is offering a new free 511 app which will provide truck drivers immediate access to the information they need to stay safe, fed and rested while delivering essential goods across the province during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Ontario 511 app:
- Provides images from over 600 cameras.
- Includes up-to-date highway information on construction, collisions and road closures.
- Identifies open rest areas and locations throughout the province that offer food and fuel.
- Includes an easy to use map view and features a drive mode that provides hands free audio alerts.
The Ontario 511 pilot app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
For more information, check out this news release.
Alberta
Alberta Announces Phased Relaunch Strategy
It shouldn't be much longer before at least some COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in Alberta.
The government has announced its “safely staged COVID-19 relaunch” strategy today.
It's a phased approach, with the start date of each subsequent phase based on the success of the phase before it.
Current State:
Some of the early steps will begin on May 1, others on May 4. They include:
- Alberta Health Services will resume some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries as soon as May 4.
- Dental and other health-care workers such as physiotherapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, and more will be allowed to resume services starting May 4.
- Vehicle access to parking lots and staging areas on public land and parks will open on May 1.
- Alberta Parks’ online campground reservation system will open on May 14 for bookings at select campground starting June 1 onward.
- Access to boat launches will open in select provincial parks May 1.
- Golf courses can open on May 4, with restrictions including keeping clubhouses and pro shops closed These will be able to open consistent with other businesses that will be open in stage one.
Stage 1:
In Stage 1, some businesses and facilities could be allowed to gradually resume operations early as May 14, including:
- Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture and bookstores. All vendors at farmers markets will also be able to operate.
- Hair styling and barber shops.
- Museums and art galleries.
- Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
- Summer camps with limits on occupancy. That could include summer school.
- Cafés, restaurants with no bar service to reopen for public seating at 50% capacity.
- Additional outdoor recreation
- Additional allied health services
All 3 stages, including requirements to move to next stage, are included in Alberta's relaunch strategy.
For more information, check out this news release.
British Columbia
B.C. Defers Stumpage Fees for 3 Months to Aid Forest Industry
The B.C. government is deferring a timber harvesting fee charged to forest companies in an effort to help the struggling industry survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forest Minister, Doug Donaldson stated today that the government will not collect stumpage fees for the next three months to help forest companies with their finances during the crisis.
The deferral will leave eligible companies with an estimated $80 million so they can pay employees, pay contractors and pay other bills needed to keep their doors open or reopen them faster.
In addition, major industries like pulp and paper mills and mines, will have the opportunity to defer 50% of their BC Hydro bill payments for three months.
For more information, check out this news release.
News! Details on reopening B.C. will be unveiled next week
Although B.C.'s state of emergency in response to COVID-19 has been extended until May 12, Premier John Horgan says he will outline details next week about lifting restrictions related to the pandemic.
The premier said the reopening guidelines will be different than other provinces, mostly because B.C. didn't fully lock down its economy, but allowed construction, agriculture and other industries to continue operating.
For more information, check out this news release.
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