On April 11, 2020, Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2, (Bill C-14), received Royal Assent after another emergency session of Parliament. Bill C-14 enacts the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). It includes new details about which employers are eligible, and the calculation of gross revenue and the subsidy. On the same date, the federal government also updated its backgrounder describing the CEWS, reflecting the final form of the legislation.
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Ontario Updates COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance
In its “COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance” of March 27, 2020, the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) stated that only symptomatic individuals should be tested.
Emergency Order Allows First Responders Access to COVID-19 Information
The Ontario government has made an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) which allows specified first responders to have access to “COVID-19 status information” about persons with whom they are coming into contact in the course of their duties. The government announced that the information will be used solely for the purpose of permitting first responders “to take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and the communities they serve.”
COVID-19 Update: Questions and Answers for Municipalities
On March 17, 2020 the Ontario government declared a state of emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). This has been followed by a series of Orders that have significant operational impacts on municipalities.
Ontario Launches Portal to Match Health Care Workers with Health Care Employers
On April 7, 2020, the Ontario government announced that it is launching the “Health Workforce Matching Portal”. The Portal will enable available health care workers to assist in the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic by matching those workers with employers, such as hospitals, clinics and assessment centres, to help, for example, in public health functions such as case and contact management.
Ontario Orders More Business Closures in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic; Clarifies Obligations of Businesses that Remain Open
On April 3, 2020, the Ontario government announced that more businesses must close because they are no longer considered essential in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These businesses must close effective tomorrow, Saturday April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
Retirement Homes Given Staffing Powers in Light of COVID-19
On April 2, 2020, the Ontario government issued an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act authorizing every retirement home and licensee (within the meaning of the Retirements Homes Act, 2010) to take all reasonable steps necessary to respond to, prevent and alleviate the outbreak of COVID-19 in a retirement home.
Federal Government Releases Further Details for COVID-19 Economic Relief
On April 1, 2020, the federal government provided important additional information about the previously announced expanded wage subsidy program and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
New Long-Term Care Homes Emergency Order Issued
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Ontario government issued a second Emergency Order to specifically address the Long-Term Care Homes sector (O. Reg 95/20: Streamlining Requirements for Long-Term Care Homes).
New Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Tax Relief Measures
Bill C-13, COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, received Royal Assent on March 25, 2020 after swift passage by Parliament and the Senate. This federal legislation implements the income support and other fiscal measures announced by the federal government on March 18, 2020.