Below are the key government announcements made on June 8, 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 a forthcoming exemption to the US-Canada border closure. As of June 8, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T., foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and who do not have COVID-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or who do not have reason to believe they have COVID-19, will be permitted to enter Canada if they are entering to be with an immediate family member for a period of at least 15 days.
Alberta
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
Manitoba
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The province moved from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 under the province's Alert Level System. A list of business activities permitted under Alert Level 3 can be found here.
The Minister of Natural Resources announced a number of immediate measures to assist the mining, mineral and quarry industries.
The government announced a further 2-month extension of tax return filing deadlines. The deadline for the following tax returns has been extended to August 20, 2020:
- Gasoline Tax;
- Carbon Tax;
- Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax;
- Insurance Companies Tax;
- Mining and Mineral Rights Tax;
- Tax on Insurance Premiums; and
- Tobacco Tax.
Nova Scotia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
Ontario
The government announced that certain regions in the province will begin Stage 2 of the provincial reopening plan, commencing June 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. E.D.T. In applicable regions, a government press release states that "businesses and services permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place in regions entering Stage 2 include:
- Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties;
- Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons;
- Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only;
- Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries;
- Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools;
- Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks;
- Camping at private campgrounds;
- Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing;
- Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations;
- Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and
- Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people."
More information about Stage 2 of the reopening, including the list of regions by public health unit which will enter this stage, can be found here. The orders that will give effect to the Stage 2 reopening were not available by 5:00 p.m. E.D.T.
In addition, the government announced that the provincial limit on social gatherings will increase from 5 to 10 people, and all places of worship in the province will be permitted to open with physical distancing and attendance of no more than 30% of capacity, effective June 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. E.D.T.
Finally, the government announced forthcoming legislation which would temporarily prohibit the eviction of commercial tenants eligible for the federal Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. According to a government press release, the period of prohibition would be retroactive to June 3, 2020 and run through to August 31, 2020.
Prince Edward Island
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
Quebec
The government announced that restaurants will be able to reopen:
- on June 15, 2020 outside the Montreal area, the Regional County Municipality of Joliette and the municipality of L'Épiphanie; and
- on June 22, 2020 in the Montreal Area, the Regional County Municipality of Joliette and the municipality of L'Épiphanie.
Indoor dining rooms as well as patios will be permitted, subject to the following:
- other than occupants of the same residence, customers must remain 2-metres apart;
- masks for employees will be mandatory if they cannot remain 2-metres apart;
- self-serving areas like buffet, salad bars and soda fountains are prohibited;
- restaurants cannot operate as nightclubs, or performance venues, even if they did prior to the pandemic; and
- nightclubs and bars that do not serve food must remain closed.
Regulations with respect to liquor licences will be amended to allow, among other things, the temporary service of alcohol on terraces.
The CNESST deployed 1,000 prevention agents and 450 agents to visit the restaurants to ensure compliance with the applicable rules.
The government also announced that indoor gatherings in private residences will permitted effective June 15, 2020 outside Montreal, the Regional County Municipality of Joliette and the municipality of L'Épiphanie, and commencing on June 22, 2020 in those delayed regions, if the following conditions are met:
- attendees are capped at 10 people from 3 separate households;
- all health recommendations applicable to gatherings are observed, especially physical distancing of 2-metres;
- buffet style meals are avoided; and
- at risk individuals (especially those more than 70 years old) should avoid such gatherings.
Saskatchewan
The government launched Phase 3 of its Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, which includes the following:
- restaurants and licensed establishments are permitted to open at 50% capacity;
- personal care services not opened in Phase 2 are permitted to open;
- gyms and other fitness facilities are permitted to open; and
- limits on public and private gatherings are increased to a maximum of 15 indoors and 30 outdoors.
The government also announced that outdoor playgrounds and beaches (including on-site washrooms) can re-open on June 12, 2020.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
In Nunavut, the government confirmed that all travellers (with some exemptions) must stay at a designated facility for a 14-day isolation period prior to entering the Territory, and implemented a new process to reserve a stay:
- all Nunavummiut who must travel outside of the Territory are asked to send an Isolation Reservation Request Form to the email address NUisolationreservations@nunavutcare.ca; and
- all individuals who are applying for critical worker exemption are invited to contact the email address CPHOTravelRequests@gov.nu.ca.
There were no major government updates in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on June 8, 2020.
