Resources: COVID-19

  • COVID-19 Update – New Online Process for Temporary Layoff Variance Applications

    July 20, 2020

    Today the BC Ministry of Labour announced a new online application for workers and employers applying for a temporary layoff variance.  As mentioned in our June 29, 2020 bulletin, the maximum length of a temporary layoff related to COVID-19 was extended to 24 weeks, ending on or before August 30, 2020.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Proposed Changes to Extend and Expand the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

    July 17, 2020

    On Friday, July 17, 2020, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced proposed changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) including extending the program to December 19, 2020, and expanding eligibility to employers impacted by COVID-19 who may not have previously qualified for the subsidy.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Recap for the Week of June 22, 2020

    June 29, 2020

    by Gregory J. Heywood

    On June 24, 2020, Premier John Horgan announced that B.C. had entered Phase 3 of the four-phase Restart Plan. Additionally, last week both the Federal and British Columbia Provincial governments announced extensions to the time period for temporary layoffs.

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  • COVID-19 Update – B.C. Extends Temporary Layoff Period to 24 Weeks

    June 25, 2020

    In a statement released on June 25, 2020, by the B.C. provincial government, Minister of Labour Harry Bains announced that the maximum temporary layoff period has been extended from 16 weeks to 24 weeks.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Recap for the Week of June 15, 2020

    June 19, 2020

    by Michael Wagner

    The June 19, 2020, weekly recap of the key COVID-19 news for B.C. employers includes information and updates on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, temporary layoffs under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act, and the B.C. Recovery Plan.

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  • COVID-19 Update – June 17, 2020 – Privacy + FOI Bulletin

    June 17, 2020

    In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the British Columbia Ministry of Citizen Services has announced that it is extending the ministerial order overriding the data localization requirements of FIPPA until December 31, 2020.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Canada Emergency Response Benefit Extended by Eight Weeks

    June 16, 2020

    In his press conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (“CERB”) will be extended by eight weeks, which means the benefit will now be available to eligible workers for up to a total of 24 weeks.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Recap for Week of June 8, 2020

    June 12, 2020

    by Jennifer S. Russell

    The June 12, 2020, weekly recap of the key COVID-19 news for B.C. employers includes updates from WorkSafeBC, an overview of Bill C-17, and information on the new Business Resilience Service for small businesses.

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  • COVID-19 Update – Recap for Week of May 25, 2020

    May 29, 2020

    by Mike HamataAndrew Nicholl

    As Phase 2 of BC’s Restart Plan entered Week 2, many B.C. businesses were either re-opening their doors or planning for re-opening, following the guidelines set out by WorkSafeBC.  Below is a summary of this week’s key COVID-19 news and updates for B.C. employers with direct links to relevant information bulletins, governmental resources, and articles.

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  • COVID-19 Update – WorkSafeBC Announces it is Waiving Premiums for Employers Impacted by COVID-19

    May 26, 2020

    by Danny Bernstein

    WorkSafeBC announced on May 26, 2020 that, in light of the impacts faced by employers during the current COVID-19 pandemic, it will be waiving premiums for furloughed workers of employers receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”). This move may assist employers to recall employees from layoff in conjunction with accessing the CEWS funds, by removing an added cost when there is no work for these employees to do.

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