Below are the key government announcements made on June 19, 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. EDT on June 19, 2020.
Alberta
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
Manitoba
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
New Brunswick
The government announced that all regions except the Campbellton Region (Zone 5) will move into the next phase of the Yellow level of New Brunswick’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan. The following easing of restrictions and permitted activities (with restrictions) are now in effect:
- overnight camps may open;
- residents of long-term care facilities may have indoor visits with one visitor (or two if the visitor requires support);
- residents of New Brunswick may return from work in another province or territory and should self-monitor;
- Canadian residents owning property in New Brunswick may enter the province provided they self-isolate for 14 days (or the duration of their stay if it is shorter);
- Canadian residents with immediate family in New Brunswick (i.e. parent, child, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, or significant other) may enter the province provided they self-isolate for 14 days;
- organized sports are now permitted;
- the cap on the number of people gathering in controlled venues has been lifted and occupancy will now be based on the ability to maintain physical distancing between participants that are not close friends and family; and
- venues with indoor events with controlled entry or controlled seating must maintain records of users’ contact information.
The Campbellton Region remains at the Orange level of New Brunswick’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
The government anticipates the following restrictions will be lifted effective June 26, 2020:
- all remaining businesses may re-open subject to restrictions and operational plans respecting Public Health guidelines; and
- Zone 5 will move into the Yellow level.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The government announced that additional public service employees will return to their workplaces effective June 25, 2020. The move coincides with the transition to Alert Level 2 under the provincial COVID-19 Alert Level System.
Nova Scotia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
Ontario
The government announced the release of a safety plan for the 2020-21 school year. According to the government press release, school boards will be asked to plan for the following three scenarios:
1. “Normal school day routine with enhanced public health protocols - Students going to school every day, in classes that reflect standard class size regulations.
2. Modified school day routine - Based on public health advice, an adapted delivery model has been designed to allow for physical distancing and cohorts of students. Under this model, school boards are asked to maintain a limit of 15 students in a typical classroom at one time and adopt timetabling that would allow for students to remain in contact only with their classmates and a single teacher for as much of the school day as possible. This model would require alternate day or alternate week delivery to a segment of the class at one time.
3. At home learning - Should the school closure be extended, or some parents choose not to send their child back to school, school boards need to be prepared to offer remote education. Remote education should be delivered online to the greatest extent possible, including the establishment of minimum expectations for students to have direct contact with their teacher at the same time on a regular basis, also known as synchronous learning. Synchronous learning can be used as part of whole class instruction, in smaller groups of students, and/or in a one-on-one context.”
The government also:
- announced $4 million in funding for school cleaning, cleaning protocols and the hiring of additional custodial staff in September 2020; and
- announced $736 million of additional funding in public education for the 2020-21 school year.
Prince Edward Island
The government enacted Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act (No.3) (PDF) on June 18, 2020. Bill 38 adds a new unpaid emergency leave of absence for certain COVID-related absences under the Employment Standards Act, retroactive to March 16, 2020.
Quebec
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
Saskatchewan
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
In the Northwest Territories, the government announced that exits will now be permitted twice a week on Highway 7. They must be scheduled in advance by email.
There were no other major government updates in the Yukon and Nunavut as of 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2020.
