Resources

COVID-19 Update – May 1, 2020 – Privacy + FOI Bulletin

In response to the challenges presented by the current COVID-19 pandemic, employers may propose to collect more personal information than usual for the purpose of management of health and safety in the workplace.   Various guidance documents, including those recently released by the Ontario Ministry of Labour and WorkSafeBC contemplate a range of enhanced screening options for employees and visitors before they are permitted to enter the workplace.

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Sunset Clause Couldn’t Save Employee From Consequences

In a recent B.C. case, Mission Hill Winery v. Service Employees International Union Local 2, Branch 300 (Crozier Grievance), [2019] B.C.C.A.A.A. No. 130 (Glass), Arbitrator Nicholas Glass upheld the discharge of an employee who made a major mistake – not once but twice — in spite of the presence of a sunset clause prohibiting consideration of disciplinary action within a particular timeframe.

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COVID-19 Update – Applications Open for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Today (April 27, 2020) is the first day that applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”) can be submitted, and, as stated by the Prime Minister during his press conference, approximately 10,000 businesses applied in the opening hours of the new program.

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COVID-19 Update – Information on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program

In his daily address on Friday, April 24, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided further details on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (“CECRA”), a program designed to support small businesses in conjunction with the provinces and territories.

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COVID-19 Update – April 23, 2020 – Privacy + FOI Bulletin

As a result of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, there have been changes to the statutory timelines prescribed in British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that could impact employers in B.C.

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COVID-19 Update – Federal Assistance for Students

The federal government made two new announcements today regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.  The first was a $9 billion plan to assist post-secondary students; the second communicated the government’s desire for a common approach by federal and provincial jurisdictions to re-opening the Canadian economy.

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COVID-19 Update – Update on Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

April 21, 2020, brought two key announcements from federal departments and agencies regarding COVID-19:

• • Updated information and resources for employers applying for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”); and
  • A $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund (“ECSF”) for community and national charities and non-profit organizations that help seniors, the homeless and others made more vulnerable by the pandemic.

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COVID-19 Update – Recap for the Week of April 13, 2020

This week our information bulletins covered several important updates in the developing COVID-19 pandemic situation that will affect employers in British Columbia. We have assembled a summary of the key COVID-19 updates for the week of April 13, 2020.

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COVID-19 Update – Expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account Eligibility

In his daily address on the morning of Thursday, April 16, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account (“CEBA”) and introduced a planned emergency commercial rent assistance program.

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COVID-19 Update – Expansion to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

During his daily address from Rideau Cottage on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an expansion to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) as well as a planned “wage boost” for essential workers.

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