Daily COVID-19 Update: June 10, 2020
Supports for Business
Government partnership with private sector campaign to help businesses reopen safely amid COVID-19
The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced that the Government of Canada has partnered with the People Outside Safely Together (POST) Promise program, an initiative launched by Canadian private sector organizations to help businesses across the country reopen safely.
The “POST Promise” is a voluntary commitment that business owners and managers can make by following five key public health actions that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Maintaining physical distance
- Washing and sanitizing hands
- Cleaning and disinfecting regularly
- Staying home if unwell and self-monitoring for symptoms
- Practising respiratory etiquette (including wearing a mask when physical distancing is difficult)
By displaying the “POST Promise” logo, participating businesses can reassure customers that they are doing their part to help protect Canadians’ health and safety.
Learn more about Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance from the CHMC
You are invited to join the ACC and CMHC representatives to discuss the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. The meeting will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 15 via Zoom. Please register in advance.
Supports for Individuals
Relaxing the 30-day limit for prescription drugs
As of June 15, pharmacists in Alberta can begin to give out larger quantities again, up to a 100-day supply.
To handle the critical drug supply issues that affected Alberta and the world due to COVID-19, government recommended pharmacists dispense a maximum 30-day supply of prescription drugs, when appropriate. This made sure pharmacies could supply people with the prescriptions they needed. Because of this temporary measure and the evolving COVID-19 situation, conditions have improved. While supply levels appear to be returning to normal, some drugs are still in limited supply. Pharmacists should use their professional judgment and dispense a 30-day supply when necessary for specific drugs that continue to have shortages or supply chain issues. More information
Community Supports and Resources
City Responds to Province of Alberta Phase 2 Relaunch Announcement
In light of Premier Kenney’s announcement today regarding the acceleration of some components of Phase 2 of the Provincial COVID-19 Relaunch Strategy, the City is receiving multiple inquiries about the impact to various facilities owned and operated by the City of Medicine Hat.
Officials at the City became aware of the Province’s revised relaunch plan via the premier’s address, and are now examining the new guidelines.
In order to make appropriate and responsible decisions to best support and protect the residents of Medicine Hat, officials are monitoring and incorporating the Province’s guidance into relaunch planning and will work with agencies, sport associations, and peer municipalities to plan a successful relaunch of programs and services.
Residents are being asked to watch local media outlets, social media, and the City website for official updates on openings as the capacity to respond to a high-volume of individual inquiries is limited. Information regarding decisions and dates will be shared through these channels as soon as it becomes available.
The Provincial Relaunch strategy is outlined on the Government of Alberta website.
Council Meetings Continue in Alignment with COVID-19 Practices
City council will meet as scheduled on Monday, June 15 @ 6:30 p.m. with adjustments in place to ensure alignment with current Alberta Health restrictions related to COVID-19. A Ministerial Order allowing municipalities to host meetings of Council electronically to ensure recommended practices from Alberta Health was announced on March 20, 2020. As per the order, Council meetings will be closed to the public but can be viewed online at the City’s YouTube account
Getting ready for 2020-21 school year
The provincial government has announced possible reentry plans for the 2020-2021 school year. A comprehensive re-entry plan for the upcoming school year allows schools and parents to prepare for learning while putting student and staff safety first.
The plan offers guidance on a wide range of operational issues including hygiene and health requirements, student learning, transportation and diploma exams. It also addresses mental health and psychological supports for students and staff.
School authorities will plan for all three scenarios for September:
- In-school classes resume (near normal operations with health measures)
- In-school classes partially resume with additional health measures
- At home learning continues (in-school classes are cancelled)
The preferred and likely scenario is that students will return to daily in-school classes at the beginning of the year. The government will share its final decision by Aug. 1 on which scenario will be in place at the beginning of the school year. However, school authorities are asked to prepare for implementing any of the three possibilities during the upcoming school year, including on short notice. More information
Advocacy
The Business Of Business: Working Remotely And The Importance Of Cybersecurity
In this episode, Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, the Hon. Perrin Beatty, and Lissa Ricci, Senior Leader of Small Business Solutions at CISCO, discuss Canada's transition to working remotely amid the pandemic, as well as the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity during this time. Watch now.
Canadian Chamber wants to get Canadians back to work, the smart way
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Senior Director of Workforce Strategies and Inclusive Growth, Leah Nord, released a statement in an effort to get Canadians back to work in a coordinated and strategic way
Webinars
Start Up Fundamentals, Raising Capital 101
Raising venture capital in any market has a very low probability of success for most companies. Learn more about how to raise capital on June 11 at 12 p.m. EDT. Register here
Find out more about the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program
Join CMHC representatives to discuss the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. The meeting will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 15 via Zoom. Please register in advance.
COVID-19: How To Adapt Your Business To Thrive In The New Normal
There is still time to register for BDC’s free live webinar, on June 15 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting our everyday habits and creating an unprecedented level of uncertainty for entrepreneurs. Join BDC Advisory Services experts as they present a step-by-step approach to manage risks, create contingency plans and equip your business with a strategic vision that takes into account the changed landscape. We will present the results of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions and discuss how businesses of all sizes are adapting and innovating during this health crisis. You will learn how this data can support your decision making on resilience and recovery. A live Q&A will follow. Register here
How The New Now Is Changing Entrepreneurs And Their Leadership
Tune in for a live virtual conversation tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET between the Governor General of Canada Julie Payette, and guests Marie Saint Pierre, President of Maison Marie Saint Pierre and Zita Cobb, CEO of Shorefast and Innkeeper, Fogo Island Inn, to learn about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed entrepreneurs and their leadership. Watch here
Webinar | Take Control Of Your Business, With Sysential
Join us on June 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET to learn about three simple and essential tools to help your business survive and thrive in a period of extreme uncertainty. Sysential works with entrepreneurial organizations, specifically their owners and leaders, to get more of what they want from their business by helping to implement proven tools and a complete business system called EOS - the Entrepreneurial Operating System®. Register now
New Resources
Do You Need To Let Your Customers Know You Are #Open4Business?
We’ve developed a variety of materials to ensure businesses across Canada have what they need to let their customers know they are reopening. Are you ready to reopen? Download our images and post them on your windows, doors or website. More information
Online Survey about Mental Health in Alberta During COVID-19
The Health Quality Council of Alberta has launched an online survey asking Albertans about their experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey aims to gain an understanding of how the pandemic has affected Albertans’ lives and asks residents for their perceptions on a variety of topics, including health system access, public health measures, mental health supports and whether people feel protected from the COVID-19 infection.
#YXH2Gether
Share your stories and resources with us and on the YXH Business Support Group and connect with us for any questions you have.
Recognize your heroes by using the hashtag #YXHheroes.
“Patience and fortitude conquer all things.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
For more resources visit our COVID-19 page
On Demand Webinars
Alberta Bits & Pieces Webinar. Watch Now.
Alberta Phase 2 Relaunch Town Hall Recordings. Listen Now.
Canadian Business Resilience Network Video Content
13 Ways COVID-19 and Your Business Part 1: Watch Now.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Explained: Watch Now.
Conflict Escalation & What to Do About It. Watch Now.
Crowdfunding through COVID-19. Watch Now.
Destination Canada: The Visitor Economy: Watch Now.
BDC Economic Pulse (April 20): Watch Now.
Facebook: Build Your Online Presence. Watch now
How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business. Watch Now.
How to Navigate Government Programs with KPMG. Watch Now.
The Importance of Human Resources & Being Strategic When Your Business is Being Temporarily Impacted. Watch Now.
Keeping Your Company and Employees Secure When Working Remotely. Watch Now.
Leading During a Crisis and Switching to Remote Work. Watch Now.
Maintaining Sales in the face of COVID-19. Watch Now.
Relaunching Your Business. Watch now.
Rent Relief in a World of the Coronavirus: Watch Now.
Shopify E-Commerce Tools. Watch Now.
Social Media in Crisis. Watch Now.
Strategies for How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19. Watch Now.
Understanding, Accessing and Optimizing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Watch Now.
What To Feel When Stressors Collide, With Canada Life. Watch Now.
Working From Home During COVID-19. Watch Now.
Webinar Series
AMHSA, CSSE, Howatt HR, AUMA Mental Health Webinar Series. Click here.
APEX Alberta Webinars: Watch the recorded series
BDC Webinar Series. Click here.
BusinessLink: View upcoming events.
Buyandsell.gc.ca: Learn how to find bid opportunities. Register now.
CPA Small Business Webinar Series. Click here.
CPHR Alberta: HR Pandemic Essentials. Click here.
Conference Board of Canada Webinar Series: Mental Health and COVID-19. Click here.
Constant Contact Webinar Series: View the line up of sessions and register.
D2L Webinar Series: Digital Transformation for Associations. Watch Now.
Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) Wednesday weekly: Business & Economic Recovery During the COVID-19 Crisis
Free Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)® IDS™ sessions. Register here.
International Economic Development Council Webinar series. Watch now.
Retail Council of Canada. Register here.
School of Public Policy. Register here.
StartUp Canada Women Entrepreneur Webinar Series: Click here.
Travel Alberta Webinar Series. Watch Now.
Upcoming Webinars
June 11: Social Media Marketing: Finding Your Groove. Register now.
June 15: Getting found online - tools/tactics to help your website show up higher in search engines. Register now.
June 15: How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal. Register now.
June 16: Google Ads – what you need to know to start driving traffic to your website. Register now.
June 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
June 22: Mental Health for HR Professionals. Register Now.
June 22: Take Control of Your Business: 3 Simple Tools to Help Your Business Survive and Thrive with Bradshaw & Associates. Register Now
June 24: How to Build an Effective Advertising Strategy. Register now.
Don’t forget Joe Social Media – Free Social Media training from May 1 – June 30 (times vary). Register here. Use promocode: Resilience
Check out more events on our Pandemic Training Calendar