Below are the key government announcements made on July 21, 2020 that touch on workplace issues.
The Federal Government
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Alberta
Today the government announced that elementary and high school students will be returning to classrooms full-time in September 2020. Schools will be returning under the government's proposed "scenario 1" which is near-normal daily operations with additional public health measures to be implemented by schools, including:
- Frequent cleaning of surfaces;
- Placing hand sanitizers at school entrances and classrooms;
- Grouping students in cohorts; and
- Planning the school day to allow for physical distancing, which could include staggering start times for classes, recesses and lunches.
Additional information and guidance can be found in the re-entry tool kit and school re-entry plan developed by the government.
British Columbia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Manitoba
The Manitoba Government announced that it is seeking public feedback on Phase Four of its reopening plan. The draft plan for Phase Four includes the following changes:
- Increasing gathering sizes to 75 people indoors and 250 people outdoors, where members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others. Larger group sizes would be allowed where distinct groups of 75 or 250 can be separated to prevent contact with other groups and attendance is restricted to 30 percent of the site's capacity;
- Resuming stage performances and reopening movie theatres. Capacity will increase to 50 percent of the site's capacity or 500 people, whichever is lower;
- Removing self-isolation travel requirements for domestic travel for all Canadian provinces and territories;
- Lifting occupancy restrictions in all retail and indoor recreation settings except for gyms, fitness centres, martial arts clubs, gymnastic clubs, yoga studios, and dance, theatre and music schools;
- Allowing counter walk-up service in bars, beverage rooms and brew pubs; and
- Opening casinos, with a maximum occupancy of 50 percent of the site's capacity (including staff).
Phase Four could come into place as early as July 25, 2020. Individuals can fill out a survey or attend a telephone town hall meeting on July 22, 2020 to provide feedback on the draft plan. The full draft plan is available here.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Nova Scotia
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Ontario
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Prince Edward Island
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Quebec
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
Saskatchewan
The government announced the following changes to phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, effective July 21, 2020:
- Drive-in theatres: reducing distance between vehicles to two metres, down from five metres;
- Retail guidelines, libraries and places of worship: reducing the length of time that returned or donated items must be held to 24 hours, down from 72 hours;
- Fitness facilities: permitting 24-hour access to fitness facilities, and ensuring registration of guests to facilitate contact tracing, if required; and
- Campgrounds: laundry facilities are now able to open following new guidelines for safe operation.
Additionally, the following activities will be reopened, with operating guidelines outlined in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan:
- Yard and garage sales; and
- Door-to-door canvassing and sales.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
There were no major government updates in Nunavut, Yukon or the Northwest Territories as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on July 21, 2020.
