Below are the key government announcements made on May 7, 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 government announced an agreement with all provinces and territories to share the cost of wage top-ups for essential workers. The federal government will provide up to $3-billion for this new benefit, and the provinces and territories will contribute up to $1-billion. Each provincial and territorial government will determine the eligibility criteria for essential workers and how the benefit will be distributed in their respective jurisdictions.
Alberta
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
Manitoba
The government announced an additional $500-million investment to its planned $3-billion investments in infrastructure over the next 2 years. This additional investment will be made through the Manitoba Restart Program as part of the government's economic stimulus package.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
Nova Scotia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
Ontario
The government announced a new framework (PDF) for the return of scheduled surgeries and procedures at hospitals.
The government also announced funding for protective measures in the tree planting sector. According to a government press release, the funding will be used for "larger camp facilities and additional kitchens to provide more space, as well as extra personal protective equipment, plastic partitions for transporting workers and more wash stations."
Prince Edward Island
The government announced the following financial relief initiatives:
- a $16.7-million COVID-19 Incentive to Support Essential Workers program, which will provide temporary wage top-ups to employees of essential services businesses. Eligible workers will receive a one-time payment of $1,000 if they make less than $3,000 per four-week period. The top-up must be requested by employers by way of application to the government;
- the Prince Edward Island Fish Emergency Loan Program, which will provide loans up to $25,000 to harvesters at reduced and fixed interest rates; and
- the COVID-19 Workspace Adaption Assistance Fund, which will assist small businesses in adapting their facilities to safeguard employees and customers. The program is retroactive to March 16, 2020 and will provide up to $2,000 to eligible applicants.
Quebec
Premier Legault announced the reopening of businesses, schools and daycare services in the greater Montreal area has been further postponed to May 25, 2020, conditional on an improvement in both the COVID-19 outbreak and healthcare services in the area.
Premier Legault also announced the government will be funding up to $70-million in incentive bonuses to encourage workers in the healthcare field to return to work and to work full-time, including the following:
- all employees working full-time in publicly-run long-term care facilities (CHSLDs) will receive $100 per week. Those working in a CHSLD with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive an additional premium of $200 after 2 consecutive weeks of full-time work, and another premium of $400 after 4 consecutive weeks of full-time work;
- all nurses (including clinicians and auxiliaries), respiratory therapists, beneficiary attendants and maintenance workers working full-time in designated red zone hospital centres in the Greater Montreal Area will receive $100 per week. Those working full-time in a designated red zone hospital centre in the Greater Montreal Area, with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive an additional premium of $200 after 2 consecutive weeks of full-time work, and another premium of $400 after 4 consecutive weeks of full-time work;
- subsidies will be provided to seniors' residences, family-type intermediate resources and private CHSLDs, so that they may offer comparable bonuses to their staff; and
- all employees in the health and social services network who agree to transfer temporarily from another region to Montreal, Laval or Montérégie will receive a transfer bonus of $2,000 per month, in addition to the bonuses set out above.
Saskatchewan
The Education Response Planning Team announced that in-class learning will not take place until at least September 2020.
The government provided additional guidance on extended households. One or two close families may form an extended household group under the following conditions:
- the families or friends must remain consistent, and people should not visit different families or friends every day;
- household groups should not include households with vulnerable people (i.e., those with chronic health conditions);
- families and friends within an extended household contact group can be closer than 2-metres if they are not high-risk; and
- if household groups contain individuals with chronic health conditions physical distancing of 2-metres should still be practiced around them.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
There were no major government updates in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut or the Yukon as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on May 7, 2020.
