Below are the key government announcements made on May 1, 2020 that touch on workplace issues.
Our daily (weekday) and weekend overviews of previous government announcements, employment analyses and other COVID-19 information are available here.
The Federal Government
The Senate convened to consider Bill C-15: An Act respecting Canada emergency student benefits (coronavirus disease 2019), the legislation required to implement the government’s financial assistance measures for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 5:00 p.m. EDT, the bill had not yet become law.
Alberta
As part of Alberta’s relaunch strategy, the Chief Medical Officer of Health signed CMOH Order 15-2020 (PDF) which permits golf courses to reopen to the public effective May 1, 2020. Golf courses may only operate if:
- Reservations and rental services are made available by online or telephone transactions, to the extent possible;
- Food and drink services comply with existing health orders;
- Measures are implemented to enable golfers to comply with social distancing requirements; and
- Every item rented or loaned is cleaned and disinfected before future use.
Where a facility can operate, it must also:
- Implement practices to minimize the risk of transmission of infection between attendees;
- Ensure high levels of sanitation and personal hygiene among staff and attendees; and
- Create procedures for rapid response if a person develops symptoms of illness while working or attending the golf course.
Additional announcements are expected early next week regarding further exemptions from COVID-19 restrictions.
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2020.
Manitoba
Small and medium-sized businesses can apply online to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $6,000 through the government’s previously announced Manitoba Gap Protection Program.
The government also confirmed that it will maintain its funding for Manitoba municipalities. For details on the various funding initiatives and programs to provide financial relief to Manitobans and municipalities, please click here.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Minister of Health and Community Services announced an order extending the provincial public health emergency for another 14-day period. The order was not published by 5:00 p.m. EDT.
The Premier announced changes at the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation that will support local businesses, including the waiver of liquor license fees for the 2020-21 fiscal year and the implementation of a wholesale pricing discount for licensees.
Nova Scotia
The government extended (PDF) the provincial State of Emergency until May 17, 2020.
The government also announced the immediate easing of some public health measures and that the following businesses, services, and areas may now reopen: provincial and municipal parks (but use of playground equipment is still prohibited), trails, community gardens, garden centres, nurseries and similar businesses, sport fishing, boating, yacht or sailing clubs (for the purpose of preparing boats for use), golf driving ranges, golf clubs (to perform necessary maintenance and preparations for opening), personal cottages, provincial and private campgrounds (to perform necessary maintenance and preparations for opening) and drive-in religious services.
Ontario
The government announced that, effective May 4, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the following businesses will be permitted to reopen operations while following health and safety guidelines:
- “Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
- Lawn care and landscaping;
- Additional essential construction projects that include:
- shipping and logistics;
- broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
- any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
- municipal projects;
- colleges and universities;
- site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
- child care centres; and
- schools.
- Automatic and self-serve car washes;
- Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
- Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
- Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.”
No order or regulation permitting these operations to reopen on May 4, 2020 was published by 5:00 p.m. EDT.
The government also announced new temporary emergency orders applicable to hospitals and health care works under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. According to a government press release, the new orders will:
- “Give hospitals the authority and flexibility to more quickly appoint, re-appoint and grant privileges to medical and other professional staff, in order to address potential surge volumes due to COVID-19. This emergency order will allow for the reduction of administrative processes and better enable hospitals to focus operational resources on providing frontline services.” This order is available here (PDF).
- “Authorize coroners, registered nurses appointed as coroner investigators, and public health units to access the provincial electronic health record to help reduce demands on clinicians' time related to death investigations, reduce exposure to COVID-19 related death investigations, and improve the ability to monitor the spread of the virus.” This order is available here (PDF).
- “Allow registered nurses appointed as coroner investigators to complete medical certificates of death instead of a physician or nurse practitioner, giving these medical professionals more time to focus on patient care.” This order is available here (PDF).
Prince Edward Island
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2020.
Quebec
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2020.
Saskatchewan
The government published its April 30, 2020 Public Health Order (PDF) which further restricts travel into northern Saskatchewan.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
In Nunavut, the government published its Community Travel and Gatherings Restriction Order Pond Inlet (“Order”) (PDF). In addition to the travel restrictions that were previously announced, the Order provides that all businesses operating in Pond Inlet must close except for:
- Grocery stores;
- Fuel and motor vehicle stations;
- Post offices; and
- Restaurants offering take-out.
In the Northwest Territories, the government announced new funding to support recycling operators and processing centres.
There were no major government updates in the Yukon as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on May 1, 2020.
