Below are the key government announcements made on April 20, 2020 that touch on workplace issues. These announcements may affect many of your businesses.
Our daily and weekend overviews of previous government announcements, employment analyses and other COVID-19 information are available here.
The Federal Government
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has developed a website, Pandemic Info Share, to enable businesses and organizations to share their pandemic-related good practices and resources. The information shared is not reviewed for accuracy or legal compliance.
Alberta
The government announced additional supports for employers who operate continuing care health care facilities in order to alleviate operational pressures during the pandemic period. The additional supports include the following:
- increased health care aide staffing levels;
- a wage top-up to increase the wages of health care aides by $2 per hour;
- up to 1,000 paid student practicum positions to fast-track certification and get more staff into continuing care facilities; and
- $24.5-million to operators to help address immediate cost pressures.
British Columbia
No major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on April 20, 2020.
Manitoba
The government announced that it has extended the provincial state of emergency for an additional 30 days, ending May 18, 2020.
New Brunswick
The government announced that the Human Rights Commission has modernized its complaint process and will now accept complaints online.
Newfoundland and Labrador
No major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on April 20, 2020.
Nova Scotia
In response to the mass shooting in Portapique and surrounding communities which took place over the weekend, the government clarified that no exceptions will be made to the 14-day self-isolation required by the Health Protection Act Order (PDF) for non-essential individuals entering the province. Media personnel from outside the province are considered by the government to be non-essential and subject to 14 days of isolation once they've entered the province. Individuals were reminded that all public gatherings must be limited to 5 people or less, and to mourn safely while maintaining social distancing.
Ontario
The government announced that updated COVID-19 modelling (PDF) shows that social distancing and the public health measures in place are assisting in "flattening the curve." According to a government press release, while health experts believe that "the wave of new community spread cases of COVID-19 in Ontario appears to have peaked," the government is still calling for physical distancing to continue and its emergency orders to be respected.
Prince Edward Island
No major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on April 20, 2020.
Quebec
The Premier confirmed today that a state of emergency exists in the long-term care sector (CHSLDs) and asked that specialists and other healthcare practitioners volunteer to work for long-term care facilities on a full-time basis for two weeks. Healthcare students and recent graduates have also been asked to help in these facilities and the government is preparing accelerated training to permit them do so.
The Premier also announced a meeting to be held on April 21, 2020 with applicable union representatives to permanently increase the wages of beneficiary attendants in the long-term care sector.
He also said that the government is working on a plan to reopen Quebec, which will start with private companies, followed by daycares or early childhood centers (CPE), prior to opening any schools. The Premier confirmed that schools will not reopen on May 4,, 2020. The government is also considering increasing the scope of people who will be able to use daycare services.
Saskatchewan
The Agriculture Minister David Marit announced here that the AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2020 program year has been extended without penalty to July 3, 2020.
This step, agreed to by the federal and provincial governments, will help producers manage the impact of current market disruptions, increased expenses and production challenges facing many farm operations.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
No major government updates from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon, as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on April 20, 2020.
