Below are the key government announcements made on May 21, 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
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Alberta
The Minister of Children's Services issued Ministerial Order No. 2020-06 (the "Order") (PDF) which allows day care, out-of-school care and innovative child care programs to reopen retroactive to May 14, 2020. Among other features, the Order requires license holders to comply with the Alberta Health Guidance for Licensed Child Care Centre (Daycares and Out-of-School) (PDF).
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Manitoba
The government published a preliminary draft of the second phase of its Restoring Safe Services Plan (the "Plan"). The draft outlines, among other things:
- increased access to educational facilities;
- increased childcare centre occupancy and day camp group sizes;
- lifting occupancy limits for outdoor recreational facilities;
- permitting travel to northern Manitoba; and
- the reopening of certain personal grooming service providers, restaurants, and bars at 50% capacity.
No date has been set for the finalization of the draft or the start of the second phase of the Plan.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Nova Scotia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Ontario
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
Prince Edward Island
The government announced a Case Team Program. The Program will hire 25 students to provide "problem-solving assistance with issues involving, but not limited to, marketing, human resources, operations, or strategy" to government departments and agencies, private businesses and non-profit organizations. Students can apply to be hired into the program. Organizations can apply for the assistance of a 5-student case team. Applications close on May 27, 2020.
Quebec
Youth day camps have been given permission to open on June 22, 2020. Though still to be confirmed, the government expects the ratios of counsellors to children to be as high as 1 to 10 for the oldest children, and as low as 1 to 4 for younger children. Based on these ratios, the government is anticipating a shortage of counsellors.
Saskatchewan
The government announced Phase 3 of its Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is targeted to begin June 8, 2020.
In Phase 3:
- restaurants and licensed establishments will be able to open at 50% capacity;
- gyms, fitness facilities, childcare facilities and places of worship will also be able to open for business, subject to guidelines that are being developed; and
- the following personal service businesses will be permitted to provide services: estheticians; tattoo artists; make-up applicators; electrologists; manicurists; pedicurists; tanning parlours; facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services are provided; and other personal service facilities.
All businesses that are eligible to reopen must follow the guidelines in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan and the current public health order.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
In the Yukon, the government extended the Yukon Business Relief Program to July 23, 2020.
There were no major government updates in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 21, 2020.
