COVID-19: Cross country update (June 15, 2020)

Federal

The Government of Canada announced the following measures:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the Federal Government intends to extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).  CERB was launched in April and the final eligibility period is set to end in early July.  More details on the proposed extension are expected later this week.

Expanded Canada Emergency Business Account

As of Friday, June 19, 2020, applications will be accepted so that more small businesses can access the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). Owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll will become eligible this week.

To qualify under the expanded eligibility rules, CEBA applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 will need:

• A business operating account at a participating financial institution;
• A Canada Revenue Agency business number;
• A 2018 or 2019 tax return; and
• Eligible non-deferrable expenses of between $40,000 and $1.5 million.

For more information, visit the program’s website at: ceba-cuec.ca.

 

Manitoba

The Government of Manitoba announced the following measures:

State of Emergency Extended

In response to COVID-19, the Manitoba government announced that it will extend the province wide state of emergency for a period of 30 days. The extension will take effect at 4 p.m. on June 15.

 

Ontario

The Government of Ontario announced the following measures:

Additional Businesses and Services to Reopen

The Ontario government announced that it is enabling seven more regions of the province to enter Stage 2 on Friday, June 19, 2020, in addition to the 24 public health regions that entered Stage 2 on June 12, 2020. The seven regions are:

• Durham Region Health Department;
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
• Halton Region Health Department;
• Hamilton Public Health Services;
• Lambton Health Unit;
• Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
• York Region Public Health Services.

Medical-Grade PPE

Today, the Ontario government announced that it is providing CSA Group Testing & Certification Inc., a subsidiary of the Canadian Standards Association, with $526,200.00 from the Ontario Together Fund to increase capacity for testing and certifying personal protective equipment (PPE).

The government has also launched the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory to provide businesses with information on PPE suppliers.

Restrictions Eased on Wedding and Funeral Ceremonies

Effective June 12, 2020, the Ontario government announced that it is providing more flexibility on the number of attendees permitted at indoor and outdoor wedding and funeral ceremonies. The number of people allowed to attend an indoor wedding or funeral ceremony has been extended to a maximum of 30% capacity of the ceremony venue. Ceremonies taking place outdoors will be limited to 50 attendees. Physical distancing must still be practiced from people who are not from the same household or their established 10-person social circle. However, the maximum number of people allowed to attend indoor or outdoor wedding and funeral receptions still remains at 10 people.

Proposed Expansion of Data Collection

On June 15, 2020 the Ontario government announced that it is proposing a regulatory change to mandate the reporting data on race, income, language and household size for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.  It is hoped that this will give the government a more complete picture of the outbreak.

Learning Materials for Students and Teachers

The Ontario government announced that it is partnering with Science North and the Ontario Science Centre to create additional educational content for students and teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12, during the school closures as a result of COVID-19. The government will provide up to $1.5 million to create videos and resources to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning.

 

Quebec

The Government of Quebec announced the following measures:

Reopening of Malls in the CMM and MRC of Joliette

On June 12, the Québec government announced the reopening of malls located in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) and the MRC of Joliette as of June 19.

Resumption of High-level Sports Activities and Hippodromes

On June 12, the Québec government announced the resumption of high-level sports activities and hippodromes as of June 15. However, the public cannot be admitted to the hippodromes.

Bill 61 (Follow-Up)

Bill 61, as discussed in our June 10 Update, was not passed. The National Assembly adjourned on June 12, until September 15, 2020.

Montréal – State of Emergency Renewal

On June 14, the Montréal agglomeration extended the state of emergency on its territory until June 19.

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Le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé les mesures suivantes :

Réouverture des centres commerciaux dans la CMM et la MRC de Joliette

Le 12 juin, le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé la réouverture des centres commerciaux situés sur les territoires de la Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) et de la MRC de Joliette à compter du 19 juin.

Reprise des activités de sport de haut niveau et des hippodromes

Le 12 juin, le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé la reprise des activités de sport de haut niveau et des hippodromes à compter du 15 juin. Le public n’est toutefois pas admis dans les hippodromes.

Projet de loi 61 (suivi)

Le projet de loi 61, mentionné dans notre mise à jour du 10 juin, n’a pas été adopté. Les travaux de l’Assemblée nationale ont été ajournés le 12 juin, et ils reprendront le 15 septembre prochain.

Montréal – Renouvellement de l’état d’urgence

Le 14 juin, l’agglomération de Montréal a renouvelé l’état d’urgence jusqu’au 19 juin sur l’ensemble de son territoire.

 

Newfoundland and Labrador

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced the following measures:

Essential Worker Support Program

On June 15, 2020, the Provincial Government released details on the Newfoundland and Labrador COVID-19 Essential Worker Support Program. This program, which is cost-shared with the Federal Government, will provide a one-time payment to individuals who meet eligibility criteria and who work in professions included in the Government of Canada’s “Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic” document, available on the Public Safety Canada website.

To determine if you qualify for compensation, the hours and income thresholds during the 16-week eligibility period between March 15 and July 4, 2020 can be found on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador website.

Employers will begin to receive payments on behalf of the employees starting in July, and will then submit payments to the employees as part of their regular payroll remittance. The application for compensation will be available after the 16-week eligibility period, and will be administered by the provincial Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. Employers must complete the application on behalf of all qualifying employees, providing proof of the employees’ eligibility. Employers can begin submitting applications on July 6, 2020 and will have until July 30, 2020 in which to apply.

Corporations Act Timelines

The timelines under the Corporations Act (Newfoundland and Labrador) have been modified as follows:

1. If the time to call an annual meeting occurs between May 8, 2020 and October 31, 2020, a corporation, including a non-profit corporation, is permitted to delay holding its annual meeting for a six-month period; and
2. If a corporation holds an anniversary month of incorporation, or extra-provincial registration, of May to October, it is permitted to defer filing the 2020 corporate annual return under the Corporations Act for up to six months.

 

Nova Scotia

The Government of Nova Scotia announced the following measures:

Day Cares Reopen

On June 15, 2020, licensed childcare centres and family daycare homes can reopen. Childcare centres will begin opening at 50% capacity and can move up to 100% if they are able to meet public health’s COVID-19 guidelines for childcare settings. Family daycare homes will open at full capacity. All facilities must follow COVID-19 guidelines outlined by public health.

State of Emergency Extended

On June 11, 2020, the provincial government extended the state of emergency to June 28, 2020.

 

Yukon

The Government of the Yukon announced the following measures:

State of Emergency Extended

As of June 12, 2020, the Government of Yukon extended the state of emergency for another 90 days.

Long-term Care Facilities

Outdoor visits for long-term care residents are now permitted with the release of a staged plan for the reopening of long-term care facilities in Yukon to visitors. Currently, residents can identify one visitor with whom they can visit in a pre-set outdoor location. The reintroduction of visitors is staged over four phases, similar to the Yukon government’s Path Forward plan. Phase 2 will permit two outdoor visitors at the same time.

Bars Reopening

Guidelines for the reopening of bars within the territory have been shared with all proprietors, with the intent of giving them time to prepare for reopening on Friday, June 19. Bars may only open at 50% capacity, the same as restaurants. This is intended to promote physical distancing and limit the size of groups. Groups planning to gather at a bar can be no larger than 10 sitting together.

All bars must submit an operational plan to the Health Emergency Operations Centre for approval. Live music will not be permitted at this time and recreation areas, such as dart boards, pool tables, dance floors and gaming (such as pinball and video games) are not permitted to open at this time.

Tenant Protections

Residential tenants who are under a health protection measure after June 25 or who need to breach their tenancy agreement because they are under a COVID-19 health protection order will continue to be protected from eviction.

As of July 1, all tenants must pay their rent in full as set out in their tenancy agreements, unless they are prevented from doing so because they are subject to a health protection measure.

Tenants who owe unpaid rent from March 26 to July 1 because of COVID-19 loss of income or after June 25, because they were under a health protection measure, have until December 31 to repay the outstanding amount. For people who are subject to a health protection measure such as self-isolation in accordance with the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s instructions, rental protection measures put in place on March 26, 2020 continue.

The order also prevents landlords from entering the rental unit of a tenant subject to a health protection measure unless it is an emergency. Additionally, tenants who are not able to pay their rent because of COVID-19 loss of income will still be able to end their tenancy with 30 days’ notice to their landlord. This frees up the rental unit to tenants who are able to cover rent.

Virtual Commissioning

Until the end of the state of emergency, the territory has enacted an order that allows for commissioning using auto-visual communication technology as long as each person is physically present in Yukon at the time. Virtual commissioning applies to the Enduring Power of Attorney Act, the Evidence Act, and the Wills Act.

If parties wish to use audio-visual communication to commission a document under the Wills Act, at least one of the witnesses must be a lawyer.

Additional information and guidelines can be found in the territorial government’s order M.O 2020/39.

 

Northwest Territories

The Government of the Northwest Territories announced the following measures:

Phase 2 of Re-opening Plan

The Government of the Northwest Territories has moved to Relaxing Phase 2 of Emerging Wisely – the territory’s plan for relaxing the COVID-19 public health restrictions.

In Phase 2, outdoor gathering limits increase, more businesses and organizations will be able to open indoors with precautions in-place, and offices will be able to have a maximum of 25 people per floor as long as they are set up for physical distancing of at least two metres.

Funding to Aviation Companies

On June 14, 2020, it was announced that $2.944 million will be allocated to airlines and rotary wing operators in the Northwest Territories to ensure that these companies can continue to provide connections into communities, providing essential goods, like food and medical supplies, through June 30, 2020.

Fort Smith Checkpoint

A checkpoint has been implemented at the Northwest Territories (NWT)-Alberta border in the Fort Smith area, to maintain protections for COVID-19 in the NWT.

The system includes passes for residents from the NWT and Alberta representing various situations and activities commonly shared between Fort Smith, Fort Fitzgerald, Smith’s Landing, and other nearby communities.  For more information, see the government’s news release.

 

Nunavut

The Government of Nunavut announced the following measures:

Travel from the Northwest Territories to Nunavut

Residents of the Northwest Territories can now travel to Nunavut without isolating prior to arrival if:

• the travel originated from Nunavut to the NWT or from the NWT to Nunavut;
• travellers have not been outside their respective territory for two weeks prior to their travel to the NWT or Nunavut; and
• travellers remain in either territory for the duration of their stay.

Travellers from the NWT who wish to enter Nunavut, must write to: cphotravelrequests@gov.nu.ca and complete and sign the Nunavut and NWT Traveller’s Declaration form.

Re-Opening

Beginning June 22:

• Personal service providers will be permitted to open for one-on-one sessions. This includes hairdressers and nail salons. These facilities will be responsible for ensuring that PPE is available for both clients and service providers when requested.
• Bars and restaurants will be allowed to re-open and operate at half capacity. Last call for alcohol service will be at 9 pm. Facility operators need to ensure that patrons are respecting social distancing. Liquor Inspectors have the authority to enforce orders regarding social distancing, and they will be monitoring to ensure adherence to these conditions.
• Theatres and churches are permitted to re-open.

On June 29:

• Youth centres and day camps will be able to resume operations.
• Long-term care facilities will begin accepting visitors in a limited capacity; they can only allow one to two visitors per resident at a time, and these visitors can only be immediate family.

Correctional Facilities

Family members can resume visiting correctional facilities through the normal appointment process.

 

Miller Thomson is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation to ensure that we provide our clients with appropriate support in this rapidly changing environment. For articles, information updates and firm developments, please visit our COVID-19 Resources page.