Below are the key government announcements made from August 31 through September 7, 2020 that touch on workplace issues.
Our previous daily (weekday), weekend and weekly overviews of past government announcements, employment analyses and other COVID-19 information are available here.
The Federal Government
The government announced that the application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account is extended from August 31 to October 31, 2020, and the Business Credit Availability Program is extended to June 2021.
Alberta
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September 7, 2020.
British Columbia
The government released a statement of its commitments to the hotel sector following the release of an independent report on COVID-19's impact on the unionized hotel sector.
The government extended the provincial State of Emergency to September 15, 2020.
The government delayed changes to provincial sales tax (PST) and B.C.'s carbon tax until April 2021 and extended certain tax deadlines to assist businesses with COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
Manitoba
Effective September 4, 2020, the government re-introduced travel restrictions to Northern Manitoba and remote communities as a result of increased COVID-19 cases in Southern Manitoba. The full details of the travel restrictions are available here.
New Brunswick
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September 7, 2020.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The government announced that effective September 9, 2020 (PDF), rotational workers from Newfoundland and Labrador who work outside Atlantic Canada in another Canadian province or territory will be able to take a COVID-19 test at day five of their 14 day self-isolation period. If an asymptomatic worker has completed seven days of self-isolation and has received a negative test result for COVID-19, they will no longer be required to self-isolate. Workers returning to the province who do not want to have a COVID-19 test will be required to complete the 14 day self-isolation period.
Nova Scotia
The government renewed (PDF) the provincial State of Emergency until Sunday, September 20, 2020.
Ontario
The government issued a regulation extending its deemed infectious disease emergency leave rules for those with reduced hours or pay under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 through and until January 2, 2021. The deemed infectious disease rules were set to expire on September 4, 2020 prior to this change. The current regulation is available here, and our past overview of the rules is here.
Prince Edward Island
COVID-19 test results can now be accessed online within 72 hours.
Quebec
There were no major government updates as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September 7, 2020.
Saskatchewan
The government announced that it extended the provincial State of Emergency, effective September 2, 2020.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon
In the Northwest Territories, the government:
- extended the Public Health Emergency until September 15, 2020; and
- created the COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat to enhance its approach to the pandemic response.
In Nuvanut, the government:
- extended the Public Health Emergency until September 17, 2020; and
- published a revised Social Distancing and Gathering Order to address concerns from the Department of Education regarding activities such as fitness classes and emergency evacuations and fire drills.
There were no major government updates in the Yukon as of 5:00 p.m. E.D.T. on September 7, 2020.
