COVID-19 & Legislation Updates | Weekly Workplace Recap from October 22 to October 28, 2021
Below are the key COVID-19 & legislation topics that touch on the workplace from October 22 to October 28, 2021.
Federal
Government announces targeted COVID-19 support measures
The government has announced the following changes to business support programs:
- Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10% and increase the subsidy rate to 50%.
- Deliver targeted support to businesses that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support would be available through two streams:
- Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75%.
- Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, would support other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50%.
To ensure that workers continue to have support and that no one is left behind, the government proposes to:
- Extend the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit until May 7, 2022, and increase the maximum duration of benefits by 2 weeks.
- Establish the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit which would provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers should they be unable to work due to a local lockdown anytime between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.
Ontario
Non-compete ban, right to disconnect? Ontario's new workplace legislation revealed
The Ontario government is introducing the Working for Workers Act, 2021 that would, if passed:
- Require employers with 25 or more employees to have a written policy about employees disconnecting from their job at the end of the workday to help employees spend more time with their families. Learn more.
- Ban the use of non-compete agreements that prevent people from exploring other work opportunities in order to make it easier for workers to advance in their careers. Learn more.
- Help remove barriers, such as Canadian experience requirements, for internationally trained individuals to get licenced in a regulated profession and get access to jobs that match their qualifications and skills. Learn more.
- Require recruiters and temporary help agencies to have a licence to operate in the province to help protect vulnerable employees from being exploited. Learn more
- Allow surpluses in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s Insurance Fund to be distributed over certain levels to businesses, helping them cope with the impacts of COVID-19. Learn more.
The Working for Workers Act, 2021 includes additional proposed measures. Check out the links below for details.
Ontario releases plan to safely reopen Ontario and manage COVID-19 for the long-term
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has released A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term, which outlines the province’s gradual approach to lifting remaining public health and workplace safety measures by March 2022.
The plan will be guided by the ongoing assessment of key public health and health care indicators and supported by local or regional tailored responses to COVID-19.
Ontario lifts capacity limits in restaurants, gyms, casinos
Starting Monday, October 25, Ontario is lifting capacity limits in places where proof of vaccination is required including food and drink establishments, indoor areas of sports and recreation facilities, gaming establishments and indoor meeting and event spaces as well as some outdoor settings.
Alberta
The Digital Economy Program helps Alberta businesses go digital
The government of Alberta is investing $10 million over two years toward the the Digital Economy Program which is designed to help small businesses take their businesses online.
This program, a partnership between Business Link and Digital Main Street, will help small businesses in Alberta undergo digital transformations and adopt eCommerce practices to help their business not only survive, but also thrive.
The program can help your business:
- Improve your ability to reach customers online;
- Increase sales;
- Elevate your business’ eCommerce presence
Participating small businesses will learn to use and maintain digital tools to adopt eCommerce practices that are essential to succeed in today’s competitive environment.
Full vaccination required for Restrictions Exemption Program
The Restrictions Exemption Program allows eligible businesses, venues and services to be exempt from capacity and operating restrictions.
Starting Monday, October. 25, Albertans need to provide proof of two COVID-19 vaccine doses to access many restaurants, movies, sporting events and other businesses provincewide.
British Columbia
Province intends to introduce legislation to extend key COVID-19 orders
BC intends to introduce amendments to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act to extend it beyond the repeal date of Dec. 31, 2021.
The act provides statutory authority for various COVID-19 related orders that were introduced to respond to and minimize the effect of the pandemic. This includes orders:
- to allow for remote witnessing of the signing of key legal documents;
- to allow the courts to specify that court proceedings can be conducted remotely; and
- to support orders of the provincial health officer that impose conditions on the number of long-term care facilities staff are permitted to work at to help reduce COVID-19 transmission.
The Province is providing notice of this planned amendment to assist affected organizations and businesses in planning for the possibility that existing orders that apply to their operations will continue beyond Dec. 31, 2021.
Mandatory Vaccinations
This topic now has its own section as the topic heats up and the list of employers who announce mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations grows.
Employers announcing Mandated Vaccination
Vaccine mandate for B.C. health-care workers is now in effect
As of October 26, health-care workers in B.C. are required to be immunized against COVID-19. The mandate includes anyone who works in any kind of health-care setting, including students, volunteers, physicians, residents, contractors and all other health-care professionals. It also applies to people who work in home and community care locations, including client homes.
Toronto District School Board extends COVID-19 vaccination policy deadline for staff
The Toronto District School Board’s mandatory vaccination policy had previously set a November 1 deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated or risk losing their jobs.
Alberta Health Services extends deadline for staff to prove they're vaccinated
Alberta Health Services has extended its deadline for all workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by one month, to November 30. The original deadline was October 31. The vaccination requirement applies to all AHS, Alberta Precision Labs, Carewest, CapitalCare and Covenant Health workers, members of medical and midwifery staffs, students, volunteers and anyone acting on their behalf.
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