Daily COVID-19 Update: April 16, 2020

Supports for Business

Canada Emergency Business Account Expanded

Today, the Government of Canada announced that upper and lower payroll limits for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) have been expanded in order to include more businesses. The new CEBA 2019 payroll limits are a lower limit of $20,000 and an upper limit of $1.5 million.

We are encouraged by this expansion and are still advocating for those business owners who get paid in dividends to be included in these programs. The chamber network is also pushing the government to expand this program to be offered through other financial institutions, such as credit unions. Read the Canadian Chamber of Commerce statement regarding this announcement.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program Coming

The federal government also announced its intention to establish the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program. This program will provide loans (including forgivable loans) to property owners who will in turn lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for April (retroactively), May and June. Implementation of the program will require a partnership between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. Details will be announced by the government soon.

Truck stops provide essential services

Truck stops are essential services and public access to gas, washrooms and showers, and other amenities are open. These services have not been restricted by Alberta’s public health measures. Restaurants in truck stops can opt to continue to offer take-out, delivery and drive-through services.

Community Supports and Resources

Response plan protects workers, food supply

The Alberta and federal governments, with the input and assistance of industry and worker representatives, have developed a plan to respond to confirmed cases of COVID-19 in food processing plants in order to protect workers, while ensuring limited impact to our essential food supply during this pandemic. In Alberta, facilities already have very strict sanitation protocols and practices. In response to COVID-19, food processors must implement measures to prevent the spread of infection, including all recommended mitigation and cleaning requirements and adjustments to their work schedules. They must also continue to implement enhancements to ensure staff and products are safe as they move products into the supply chain.

Interested parties may find a copy of the plan here. View the full news release here.

Advocacy

A need for Coherent Designation of Essential Services

The presidents and CEOs of Canada’s national and provincial chambers of commerce wrote a letter to each of the respective Premiers urging all provincial governments to work collaboratively with the federal government on a coherent designation of essential services and industries.

How does Critical Infrastructure Play a Role in the Lives of Canadians?

Whether supplying fuel, food, supplies for medical equipment or keeping the lights on, critical infrastructure helps us everyday and is important now and into the future. That’s why we need clear guidance on essential services and the right framework to keep those workforces and the interprovincial movement for these services intact. View the Canadian Chamber COVID-19 video on Critical Infrastructure here.

Roadmap to Recovery

In the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic, it is difficult for Canadians, their families, businesses and governments to look beyond confronting the immediate effects of COVID-19. While Canadians continue to focus on supporting each other today, we must also start looking over the horizon to the post-COVID-19 world to start planning how our country and economy can emerge stronger.

Recovery starts with resiliency. Supporting business and employees through the COVID-19 pandemic is helping to ensure they will be able propel our economic recovery.

While no one can predict with any certainty the economic, political and cultural changes this crisis will have on Canada and the rest of the world, we know these changes will be significant. The high level of collaboration among governments, businesses and civil society managing this pandemic should give Canadians confidence about our collective ability to deal with the long-lasting changes it will bring.

Here are some of the policy areas our political leaders must start considering to help ensure a sharp and lasting recovery.

New Resources

AgSafe Alberta Moves Workshops Online

Attend the FarmSafe workshops below from the comfort of your home.

Recruitment, Orientation and Training

After this webinar, participants will be able better able to:

Create the recruitment, orientation and training portion of a Health and Safety Management System.
Develop a recruitment process that includes an assessment of safety competency
Describe the roles and responsibilities of a Health and Safety Representative and what requirements support the role.
Describe how an employer can include health and safety components throughout the orientation process.
Review sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that pertain to worker training.
Outline how health and safety considerations can be included throughout the training process for workers, visitors and 3rd party contractors

April 21 at 7 pm. Register now.

Emergency Response

In this webinar, you will learn to anticipate potential emergencies, and be more prepared if one does happen by developing an emergency response plan.

April 23 at 7 pm. Register now.

CALL TO ACTION

Act Now: Participate in The Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

The deadline for participation in this survey has been extended to Wednesday, April 22. Just a few minutes of your time will help shape the policies of Canada’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. Take the survey.