PO Box 28 Stn Main, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3Y2

The voice of Nova Scotia's Landscape & Horticultural Industry

COVID-19 updates

Nova Scotia to offer sick leave reimbursement for those without sick leave benefits your services

Beginning May 26, 2021, Nova Scotians will be able to apply for paid sick days under the province’s new COVID-19 Sick Leave Program.

The program reimburses eligible businesses that continue to pay employees who must take time off work due to COVID-19. Eligibility requirements include:

People who cannot work remotely and miss less than 50% of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to COVID-19. This includes awaiting a COVID test, self-isolating while awaiting test results, going to get vaccinated.
The sick days do not need to be taken consecutively.
Any sick days taken between May 10, 2021 and July 31, 2021.

The program covers employee wages up to a maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day. The maximum payment over the 12 week period is $640 per worker.

Employees who have other sick leave benefits are not eligible for this program, even if they have already used up their benefits.

See government press release. Details on how to apply/eligibility can be found here.

May 2021

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19:

When anyone tests positive for COVID-19, Public Health contacts them directly. Public Health works with the person to identify all their close contacts and conduct a risk assessment to determine if any of their close contacts need to self-isolate or if a business needs to take additional safety steps.

Public Health directly contacts anyone who needs to self-isolate. Public Health only contacts the person's employer if they need to for contact tracing and investigation.

If Public Health doesn't contact your workplace, that means they decided the risk to people in your workplace was low. You don't need to do anything if Public Health doesn't contact you and any employees who weren't directly contacted can continue going to work.

If an employee needs to stay home, their employer can't ask them for a doctor's note. The employee contacts their employer when Public Health clears them to return to work.

Employers don't need to close their business if 1 of their employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They do need to make sure employees monitor their health.

If you have questions about workplace leaves, layoffs or other labour matters, contact the Labour Standards Division at 1-888-315-0110.

Employee support:

If you need to stay home

If an employee needs to self-isolate (even if they don't have COVID-19 symptoms), an employer can’t require a doctor's note if the employee needs to be off work.

Employers should consider how they can support employees while they're self-isolating. Talk with employees about flexible hours or alternative work arrangements if they’re required to stay home.

Leaves, layoffs and other labour questions

If you have questions about the Labour Standards Code, like taking leave or being laid off, contact the Labour Standards Division at 1-888-315-0110.

Safety concerns

Workplaces are required to take precautions to ensure the health and safety of their employees and clients. If you're worried about safety in the workplace, you should talk to your immediate supervisor.

If the situation isn't resolved, contact your Occupational Health and Safety Committee or safety representative if you have one. Or contact the Safety Branch at 1-800-952-2687.

If you're a business owner or manager and you want workplace safety advice, contact the Safety Branch at 1-800-952-2687.

Trades workers’ safety

People working in trades may have special concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency has a COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Trades Workers (PDF) with more information on how to keep yourself safe.

May 20, 2020

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy extended to beyond June, 2020

The government announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be

extended by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. They will continue consulting with

key business and labour representatives over the next month on potential adjustments to the

program, including the 30% revenue decline threshold. They hope you take confidence in this

extended measure and keep your employees on payroll. They’re going to continue being

there for you every step of the way through this crisis.

In addition...

Trudeau also announced a new Industry Strategy Council, led by the Minister of Innovation,

Science and Technology, Navdeep Bains and chaired by Monique Leroux, that has been

tasked with studying the effects of COVID-19 on specific sectors in Canada. CNLA has

reached out to see if we could participate in this council and have been advised that we have

been noted as expressing our interest. This is at the very beginning stages and they will

provide more information in the coming weeks.

Canada Emergency Business Account Expansion to include Owner-

Operated small Businesses

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced an expansion to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include many owner-operated small businesses.

The program will now be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll.

To qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:

 a business operating account at a participating financial institution

 a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.

 eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million. Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

Expenses will be subject to verification and audit by the Government of Canada. Funding will be delivered in partnership with financial institutions. More details, including the launch date for applications under the new criteria, will follow in the days to come. The government will continue to work on solutions to help business owners and entrepreneurs who operate through their personal

bank account, as opposed to a business account, or have yet to file a tax return, such as newly created businesses.

Temporary Foreign Workers:

The Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP) is a one-time

$50-million program to help with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply in Canada

by assisting the farming, fish harvesting, and food production and processing sectors. The program

will assist Canadian employers with some of the incremental costs associated with the mandatory

14-day isolation period imposed under the Quarantine Act on temporary foreign workers upon

entering Canada.

The $1500 Mandatory Isolation Support for TFW's is now open for application

You need to apply by June 30, 2020. http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-

services/mandatory-isolation-support-for-temporary-foreign-workers-program/?id=1588186409721

Canadian Payroll Association:

To help ALL businesses access, understand and navigate all of the changes, CPA has compiled a

summary of the most frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 legislation from Payroll

InfoLine. Once again, Canadian Payroll Association is generously sharing free access to their important FAQ resource with your association and your members, regardless of whether they are CPA members or not. Once your members complete a very short form and press download, they will gain instant access to both the FAQ document, as well as supplementary resources. The CEWS

summary and calculator is one of these supplementary resources and can be found under the Payroll Tools, Checklists & Calculators tab, where there is a specific COVID-19 Related Resources

tab.

Simply click on this link for the FAQ English : CLICK HERE and for French: CLICK HERE

FAQ on CEWS: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-

agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-frequently-asked-

questions.html

CEWS Calculator: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-

agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-calculate-subsidy-amount.html

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Update:

The CEWS will open for application on Monday April 27.

There have been some concerns raised by members and CNLA addressed these on a call today

with the Canadian Payroll Association and Judith Andrew, Commissioner of Firms for Employment

Insurance. During this call, the large group of employer groups in Canada were able to receive clarity on several issues. According to the call and the additional clarity provided on the minister’s roundtable, owners and family are eligible for CEWS if they were employees paid by payroll prior to March 15th. They further confirmed, that there are some errors on the calculator and they are being addressed by the CRA. The issue still remains on compensation outside the boundaries of typical payroll. Commissions and sales are part of the calculation and will be supported under the CEWS up to the maximum weekly

subsidy per employee.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses:

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the federal government has reached an

agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75 per cent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

The government is also providing further details on the program:

· The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who

are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.

· The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent

forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.

· Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent

and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-

COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

The government continues to assess and respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and stands ready to

take additional actions as needed to stabilize the economy and mitigate the impacts of the

pandemic.

WHERE TO START:

Whether you are self-employed, a small business owner, or an entrepreneur – you shouldn’t have to worry about having to lose your business or your job.

To get the help you need:

1. Visit our government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website for

information about supporting your employees and your business. It is constantly updated as the

COVID-19 crisis evolves.

2. Contact your local financial institution. Since we know most small businesses have a

relationship with their local financial institution already, we’ve worked with the financial sector to

increase their lending capability to support you in in this challenging time. They are a good first place

to start for help.

3. Consult the Canadian Business Resilience Network and Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s pandemic preparedness guide to help prepare you business in the days and

weeks to come.

Agri-Programs Update:

AgriStability - The deadline to apply for AgriStability this year has just been extended without

penalty from April 30 to July 3, 2020. See the media release from AAFC here

The Advanced Payment Program is now available for nursery crops in AB, SK and MB. The AgriCommodity Management Association has application forms ready to go. Please see attached letter for details. LANTA will be hosting a webinar on April 28th 10:30am MST. To

New Actions to Protect Canadian Jobs:

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Friday announced new actions to protect Canadian jobs and

provide more support to businesses and organizations dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Government of Canada will provide over $1.7 billion for targeted measures, including:

· $675 million to give financing support to small and medium-sized businesses that are

unable to access the government’s existing COVID-19 support measures, through Canada’s

Regional Development Agencies.

· $287 million to support rural businesses and communities, including by providing them

with much-needed access to capital through the Community Futures Network.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Update:

CEBA provides much needed credit for small businesses to pay for immediate operating costs such

as payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, property tax, or debt service. It is 100 per cent funded by the

Government of Canada.

 NEW!! - It is available to Canadian employers with $20,000 to $1.5 million in total

payroll in 2019, and operating as of March 1, 2020. This includes smaller (i.e.,

micro) businesses and other eligible employers such as not-for-profits. (This new

range will replace the previous one of between $50,000 and $1 million, and will help address

the challenges faced by small businesses to cover non-deferrable operating costs.)

 Under CEBA, financial institutions will be able to provide interest-free credit facilities of up to

$40,000 to eligible businesses.

 If the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022, 25 per cent (up to $10,000) will be forgiven.

 If the loan is not repaid by December 31, 2022, the remaining balance will be converted to a

three-year term loan at 5 per cent interest.

This program is now available at various financial institutions and credit unions.

3 Key Steps to take NOW!

Get setup on CRA My Business account if you aren’t already.

Get setup on direct deposit, if you aren’t already.

Get your accounting current and keep it current, will need real time info to evaluate

eligibility

September 17, 2020

Today’s Breaking News

Government Announces Extension of Rent Relief for Small Businesses

Canadian business owners are resilient and working hard to adapt to these challenging and unprecedented times so they can serve their communities and provide good jobs. As we work together to recover from COVID-19, our government announced that the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) will be extended by one month to continue giving small business owners rent relief. Visit cmhc-schl.gc.ca to learn more!

The below new programs are for individuals, but as employers you need to be aware of what is available to employees.

Employment Insurance Program

The Government of Canada announced temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians looking for work.

As of September 27, you may be eligible for EI if you:

were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
received the CERB, the 52-week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
stopped working through no fault of your own
have not quit your job voluntarily
are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)

Learn more about the EI temporary changes

If you become eligible for EI benefits on or after September 27, you will receive a minimum benefit rate of $400 per week, or $240 per week for extended parental benefits.

If you do not become eligible for EI, you may be eligible for the proposed new benefits:

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

The Government of Canada would provide $400 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and who still require income support.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

are not eligible for EI
reside in Canada
are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
have stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are available and looking for work; or are working and have had a reduction in their employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19
had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
have not quit your job voluntarily

This benefit would be effective from September 27 for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The Government of Canada would provide $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who cannot work because they are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

reside in Canada

are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)

have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020

have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of being sick or required to self-isolate for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic

are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week

are not in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.

This benefit would be effective from September 27, for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

The Government of Canada would provide $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible workers who cannot work because they must provide care to children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares or care facilities.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

reside in Canada
are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of one of the following conditions:
- must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
  - because their school or daycare is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - who cannot attend school or daycare under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19
  - because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- must provide care to a family member with a disability or a dependent:
  - because their day program or care facility is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19
  - who cannot attend their day program or care facility under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
  - because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
are not in in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week

This benefit would be effective from September 27 for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets 2021 Employment Insurance Premium Rate and Maximum Insurable Earnings

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) today set the 2021 Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate at $1.58 per $100 of insurable earnings for employees and $2.21 for employers who pay 1.4 times the employee rate, which is unchanged from the 2020 premium rate.

Each year on or before September 14, the CEIC is responsible for setting the annual premium rate based on the seven-year break-even rate forecasted by the EI Senior Actuary. The Senior Actuary’s report on the 2021 EI premium rate and the CEIC’s summary of that report are available online to ensure continued transparency and accountability in the rate-setting process.

The Senior Actuary forecasted the seven-year break-even premium rate to be $1.93 per $100 of insurable earnings, an increase of 35 cents. The forecasted increase is mainly attributable to a rise in unemployment resulting from the pandemic, that is the Government of Canada’s response through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (29 cents) and temporary measures to support transition back to the EI program (6 cents).

However, as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada used its authority under the Employment Insurance Act to temporarily limit the change in the premium rate to zero in order to freeze the EI premium rate for 2021 and 2022 at the 2020 level. In addition, the Government of Canada has confirmed to the Commission that it will be crediting the EI Operating Account for the costs related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The Senior Actuary will be issuing a memorandum as an addition to the 2021 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate to update projections based on this new information. The memorandum will be available this fall.

The CEIC also announced that the Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) for 2021 will increase to $56,300 from $54,200 in 2020. The MIE is indexed on an annual basis and represents the ceiling up to which EI premiums are collected and the maximum amount considered in applications for EI benefits. The maximum annual EI contribution for a worker will increase by $33.18 to $889.54 (up $46.46 for employers to $1,245.36 per employee).

Furthermore, the Premium Reduction Program (PRP) will provide roughly $1.055 billion in premium reductions in 2021 to registered employers and their employees, shared 7/12 and 5/12 respectively, in recognition of savings generated to the EI program by employer registered short-term wage-loss plans.

Finally, for self-employed Canadians who have opted-in to the EI program, the annual earnings required in 2020 will increase to $7,555 for claims filed in 2021. The level of earnings required for self-employed Canadians to be eligible for EI special benefits is indexed annually to the MIE.

The premium rate in 2021 for residents of Quebec covered under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) will be $1.18 per $100 of insurable earnings, while their employers will pay $1.65 per $100 of insurable earnings. The maximum annual contribution for a worker in Quebec will increase by $13.94 to $664.34 (up $19.52 for employers to $930.08 per employee). EI premium rates are different for residents of Quebec, because the province of Quebec administers its own parental insurance plan, which is financed by Quebec workers and their employers.

Mobile app to help notify Canadians of potential COVID-19 exposure now available

Over the past several months, Canadians have been following public health advice and doing their part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now, as we take steps to ease restrictions and safely restart our economy, we need to continue to work together to contain the virus and keep Canadians safe and healthy.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, today announced that COVID Alert, a new national mobile app, is now available to Canadians for free download. The app, first developed in Ontario, helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Use of COVID Alert is voluntary, and serves as another tool to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Once the app is fully functioning in their province or territory, users who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a one-time key from their health authority that they can enter into the app. When the key is entered, COVID Alert will notify other users who may have come in close contact with that person for at least 15 minutes in the past 14 days, so they can contact their local public health authority for guidance.

To safeguard the confidentiality and privacy of all Canadians, the app uses strong measures to protect any data it collects, and does not track a user's location or collect personally identifiable information. The Privacy Commissioners of Canada and Ontario were consulted on the development of COVID Alert, to ensure the highest level of privacy for Canadians using the app.

The Government of Canada has been working in close partnership with the Province of Ontario to launch the COVID Alert app. Health authorities in Ontario will be the first to begin distributing one-time keys. The Government of Canada is also working with the other provinces and territories to bring their jurisdictions on board in the coming weeks and months.

An expert Advisory Council will ensure the app meets the highest standards in public health outcomes, privacy, and technology. The members of the Council reflect Canada’s regional and cultural diversity, and cover a wide range of expertise, including health, privacy, data governance, science, and innovation. Their advice will inform the implementation and rollout phases of the app.

The new COVID Alert app is just one example of how the Government of Canada is working with the provinces, territories, and other partners to protect the health of all Canadians, and support efforts to restart the economy gradually and safely.

· Download COVID Alert

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Sole proprietors and family-owned corporations now qualify for CEBA - Extended through to end of October

The Government of Canada launched CEBA to ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, and better position them to quickly return to providing services to their communities and creating employment.

This $55 billion program provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.

Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

As of June 26, 2020, businesses eligible for CEBA now include owner-operated small businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll. This means that more small businesses can access it.

Applicants without at least $20,000 in payroll in 2019 will have to demonstrate having eligible non-deferrable expenses between Cdn.$40,000 and Cdn.$1,500,000 in 2020.

The expanded CEBA is being made available gradually by more than 230 financial institutions across the country, starting with the larger banks. Other participating financial institutions will start offering the program over the coming weeks.

All applications are administered through your financial institution. Please visit your institution’s website for more information or the FAQs.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Update

The federal government has launched an updated calculator to help employers estimate what help they may receive from the next phase of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

The calculator was made available in August. Employers enter information about their business situation to get an estimate of the subsidy they can expect to receive. Knowing the amount will help companies make informed decisions about retaining or rehiring workers.

*** Important to also note, if you have been approved for CEWS in any period, the government will automatically make you eligible for the next period. (Always check with your accountant) Information can be found at the Government’s FAQs page under 3.8 https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-frequently-asked-questions.html

3-8. Can an eligible employer that hires a third party to facilitate the administration of its payroll, qualify for the wage subsidy? Updated: August 11, 2020

Yes. However, each eligible employer must make their wage subsidy application for a claim period in the prescribed form and manner. This means that each eligible employer requires their own business number and payroll program account to apply for and receive the wage subsidy.

Eligible employers who did not have their own payroll program account with the CRA on or before March 15, 2020, but on March 15, 2020 employed one or more individuals and allowed a third party with a business number to make payroll remittances on their behalf, through the third party’s account, will need to register for their own payroll program account. Eligible employers may also need to register for their own business number if they did not previously have one.

Once the payroll program account (and business number if applicable) is opened, the CRA will require information from the third party to verify that remittances were previously made on behalf of the eligible employer. This would include a listing of each employer the third party made remittances on behalf of, and the remittances that can be attributed to each of those employers from January 1, 2020. The listing should also include the new business number and payroll program account for each eligible employer.

The third party can provide this information to the CRA by sending an email to CEWSINFOG@cra-arc.gc.ca. Please note that this mailbox is only used to receive the applicable information from third parties. General enquiries will not be responded to.

After the information is received and verified, the CRA will transfer the applicable remittances from the third party to the eligible employer’s new account, and advise when the eligible employer can proceed with their wage subsidy application. Employers will be expected to continue using their new business number and payroll program account for all future payroll remittances.

The new CEWS Calculator can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-calculate-subsidy-amount.html

There may be some misconceptions around about the CEWS.

CRA has confirmed that seasonal staff are eligible, treated in the same way as new employees, provided they are at arm’s length. (Also see link at bottom of CRA answer to CEWS FAQ question 22).

Seasonal staff are not eligible if they are non-arm’s length employees, re-hired for the season or newly hired after March 15. Clearly the reason for the non-arm’s length rule is that the government does not want to set up a situation where, for example, a bunch of family members could be brought on to payroll in order to enjoy CEWS support. (See CEWS FAQ question 23).

Back to Work Resources

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has released numerous resources to support workplaces in understanding and managing the risks associated with COVID-19. You may find these tools useful as your business develops a plan to reopen when it is safe to do so:

· Reopening for Businesses Tip Sheet

· Preventing Stigma in the Workplace

· COVID-19 Screening Tool

· COVID-19: Tools for helping workplaces prevent the spread and reopen for business

WSPS information

Health & Safety Guidance Documents:

o COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidance: Agriculture Workers (Spanish)

o COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidance: Agriculture Supervisors (Spanish)

Helping people with mental health

Last week the government announced it will be launching a new mental health portal to help individuals who need help through this pandemic. Details will follow as released.

Financial Links

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidyhttps://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/the-canada-emergency-wage-subsidy.html

How to apply https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

FAQs on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/minister-morneau-and-minister-ng-mark-the-launch-of-the-canada-emergency-business-account.html

Temporary Wage Subsidy https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html

Resources for Canadian Business - Trade Commissioner Service: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/maintaingrowimprovebusiness/resources-for-canadian-businesses.html

Employment and Social Development Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

Supports for small businesses: http://canada.ca/covid-19-business.

AgriInvest: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-services/agriinvest/?id=1291828779399

AgriStability: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/?id=1291990433266

Advanced Payment Programs: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-services/advance-payments-program/?id=1462198969862

Health Links

Public Safety Canada - https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/crtcl-nfrstrctr/esf-sfe-en.aspx

Public Health Agency of Canada : https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Ontario Government Online, Self-Testing Tool - COVID-19 Self Assessment : https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

Health Canada OHS Guidelines - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus-occupational-health-safety.html

Work Safe BC - Construction
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-industry-information/construction

Work Safe BC – Agriculture

https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-industry-information/agriculture

Access The Latest Government Updates

Canada

· Canada

Provinces

· Newfoundland

· Prince Edward Island

· New Brunswick

· Nova Scotia

· Quebec

· Ontario

· Manitoba

· Saskatchewan

· Alberta

· British Columbia

Territories

· Nunavut

· Northwest Territories

· Yukon

Downloads:

Handwashing Poster - Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/diseases-maladies/reduce-spread-covid-19-wash-your-hands/eng-handwashing.pdf

Handwashing Poster #2: https://www.ifallsjournal.com/essentia-health/pdf_7ca6b7be-aa78-5de5-b60b-02f7d03adaaa.html

About Coronavirus Fact Sheet - Public Health Agency of Canada : https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/about-coronavirus-disease-covid-19/about-coronavirus-disease-covid-19.pdf

Association Links:

Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA): https://www.cfa-fca.ca/

Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council (CAHRC) : https://cahrc-ccrha.ca/#

Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB): https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en

Mental Health Information

We want to also remind you that this is a very strange and stressful time where information is changing hour by hour it seems. It is normal to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Please remember to look after your Mental Health as well. Check in with yourself, your co-workers, friends and family to make sure they are doing ok. If you need additional resources please go to https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

https://cmha.ca/news/covid-19-and-mental-health

July 31, 2020 - From Construction Safety Nova Scotia

Masks are not required on restricted access (authorized personnel, no public) construction sites unless:

2 meters of physical distance cannot be achieved between workers – inside or outside- a mask is required. This has been the requirement since the beginning of the state of emergency. We have created a guide which includes mask use, it can be found by following the link at the bottom of the page.

If physical distance can be maintained masks are not required on sites unless they meet one of the clauses of the Public Health Order:

5.16 For the purpose of section 5.17, a “public place” means the part of the following places accessible to the public, insofar as it is enclosed:

(a) a retail business, a shopping centre, or a building or room of a business where personal care services are provided;

(b) a restaurant or a liquor licensed establishment;

(d) a place where activities or services of a cultural or entertainment nature are offered;

(e) a place where sports are played or recreational activities are carried on;

(f) a rental hall or other place used to hold events, including conventions and conferences, or to hold receptions;

(g) a place where municipal or provincial government services are available to the public;

(h) a common area, including an elevator, of a tourist accommodation establishment;

(i) a lobby, reception area or elevator in an office building other than an apartment building;

(j) a common area or public space on a university or college campus; and

(k) a train or bus station, a ferry terminal, or an airport.

In summary, construction sites are not deemed as public places, but if you are working in an occupied building listed above, masks will be required when in the publicly accessible parts.

Check out their website for safe return to work guidelines

June 22, 2020

CNLA COVID-19 Updates for June 22, 2020

Please note that this information is changing almost daily and check the provided links for the most up to date information

Today’s Breaking News

Sole proprietors and family-owned corporations now qualify for CEBA

Independent retailers are critical in creating strong communities and a healthy retail ecosystem. As of Friday, June 19, 2020, retailers who have yet to qualify for the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will now be able to do so under the expanded qualification requirements, which include retailers that are sole proprietors and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll. Retailers can apply through their financial institution.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Update

It was announced, that as of Friday, June 19, 2020, applications will be accepted so that more small businesses can access the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). This means that 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.

Please note: As of today Monday June 22, the expanded CEBA has been delayed. We are working around the clock to ensure the program can securely launch across over 230 financial institutions. We know how important the program is to small businesses & want to launch as quickly as possible. More details to come.

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.

Eligible businesses will qualify for financing of up to $40,000, with 25 per cent of this being forgivable based on the current terms of CEBA loans. Businesses can contact their primary financial institution for more information or to apply directly for CEBA. More information on the expanded CEBA can be found on the program’s website.

CEWS Update

There may be some misconceptions around about the CEWS.

CRA has confirmed that seasonal staff are eligible, treated in the same way as new employees, provided they are at arm’s length. (Also see link at bottom of CRA answer to CEWS FAQ question 22).

FAQ question 13 gets into the matter of employee eligibility insofar as the 14-day consecutive period without remuneration, and this leads to FAQ question 15 and interplay with CERB.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-frequently-asked-questions.html

It is important to note, if you have CEWS for your employees, they cannot also be on CERB. If you have employees currently on CERB refusing to return to work, you may want to look into CEWS.

The government announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. They will continue consulting with key business and labour representatives over the next month on potential adjustments to the program, including the 30% revenue decline threshold. They hope you take confidence in this extended measure and keep your employees on payroll. They are going to continue to be there for you every step of the way through this crisis.

Trudeau also announced a new Industry Strategy Council, led by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Navdeep Bains and chaired by Monique Leroux, that has been tasked with studying the effects of COVID-19 on specific sectors in Canada. CNLA has reached out to see if we could participate in this council and have been advised that we have been noted as expressing our interest. This is at the very beginning stages and they will provide more information in the coming weeks.

New Business resilience Hotline

The Business Resilience Service (BRS) allows you to connect with experienced business advisors from across Canada for guidance on which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small- to medium-sized business, not-for-profit or charity on how to respond and reshape amid uncertainty.

The program, delivered to your organization free of charge, provides:

· Guidance on COVID-19 financial support program options and eligibility

· Direction on accessing the most appropriate support organizations

· Help to make decisions to support recovery plans

· Real time insights and feedback to policymakers

To access the BRS call 1-866-989-1080 to connect with a business advisor from the accounting profession.

The service is available 7 days/week:

· Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET

· Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

· Sundays: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET

· https://www.canadianbusinessresiliencenetwork.ca/brs/?_cldee=bGVzbGllQGNubGEtYWNwcC5jYQ%3d%3d&recipientid=contact-2c8cc270abc5e811a979000d3af3d2af-1a2d29a3f4594245bb9872d645f1305f&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=coronavirus-daily-bulletin&esid=33911452-5aaa-ea11-a812-000d3af3a7a7

MANITOBA

Back to Work Resources

As of Sunday, June 21, 2020, the current occupancy limits of 50 % of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres are being removed for retail businesses. Retailers must continue to implement measures to ensure that members of the public are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from others, except for brief exchanges, however no longer must adhere to the prescriptive limits that have been in place since May 4, 2020.

Back to Work Resources

· Reopening for Businesses Tip Sheet

· Preventing Stigma in the Workplace

· COVID-19 Screening Tool

· COVID-19: Tools for helping workplaces prevent the spread and reopen for business

WSPS information

Health & Safety Guidance Documents:

o COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidance: Agriculture Workers (Spanish)

o COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidance: Agriculture Supervisors (Spanish)

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the federal government has reached an agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75 per cent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

The government is also providing further details on the program:

· The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.

· The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.

· Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

The government continues to assess and respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and stands ready to take additional actions as needed to stabilize the economy and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

WHERE TO START:

Whether you are self-employed, a small business owner, or an entrepreneur – you shouldn’t have to worry about having to lose your business or your job.

To get the help you need:

1. Visit our government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website for information about supporting your employees and your business. It is constantly updated as the COVID-19 crisis evolves.

2. Contact your local financial institution. Since we know most small businesses have a relationship with their local financial institution already, we’ve worked with the financial sector to increase their lending capability to support you in in this challenging time. They are a good first place to start for help.

3. Consult the Canadian Business Resilience Network and Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s pandemic preparedness guide to help prepare you business in the days and weeks to come.

Agri-Programs Update:

AgriStability - The deadline to apply for AgriStability this year has just been extended without penalty from April 30 to July 3, 2020. See the media release from AAFC here

The Advanced Payment Program is now available for nursery crops in AB, SK and MB. The AgriCommodity Management Association has application forms ready to go. Please see attached letter for details. LANTA will be hosting a webinar for Q&A's on April 28th 10:30am MST. To register: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/10/7vpr6ir

New Actions to Protect Canadian Jobs:

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Friday announced new actions to protect Canadian jobs and provide more support to businesses and organizations dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Government of Canada will provide over $1.7 billion for targeted measures, including:

· $675 million to give financing support to small and medium-sized businesses that are unable to access the government’s existing COVID-19 support measures, through Canada’s Regional Development Agencies.

· $287 million to support rural businesses and communities, including by providing them with much-needed access to capital through the Community Futures Network.

Helping people with mental health

Last week the government announced it will be launching a new mental health portal to help individuals who need help through this pandemic. Details will follow as released.

Financial Links

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidyhttps://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/04/the-canada-emergency-wage-subsidy.html

How to apply https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

FAQs on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html