Resources

COVID-19 Update – Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Program Extended Past June

Prime Minister Trudeau and his Cabinet made two new announcements on May 8, 2020, that are intended to further assist businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Federal Government announced that it will be extending the duration of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (the “CEWS”) past June. The Department of Canadian Heritage also provided further details regarding the previously announced Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations.

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COVID-19 Update – Questions to Guide Employers as B.C. Moves to Reopen Businesses

As British Columbia prepares for a graduated reopening of businesses and industry across the province, the return to work may bring with it a host of challenges.

Just as we could not foresee all the issues that would come from social distancing (some bad – like a gap in post-secondary training, and some good – like a rise in green initiatives), we cannot predict all the fallout that will come with the return to work.

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COVID-19 Update – Announcement of B.C.’s Restart Plan

On the afternoon of May 6, 2020, Premier John Horgan released details of BC’s Restart Plan. British Columbians will move forward with safely restarting their province beginning in mid-May, according to a plan announced today. Under BC’s Restart Plan, the government will work closely with public health officials, businesses and labour organizations to lift restrictions in phases, gradually allowing for more social and economic activity, while closely monitoring health information to minimize the risk to the public

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COVID-19 Update – Extension of Temporary Layoff Period

The B.C. Provincial Government announced on May 4, 2020,  that it has extended the maximum permissible temporary layoff under the Employment Standards Act to 16 weeks in any 20 week period (up from 13 weeks) so long as the layoff is at least partly due to COVID-19.  The Government stated in its press release that it chose 16 weeks because it aligns with the maximum period of eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

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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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