Daily COVID-19 Update: June 16, 2020
Supports for Business
More Protection for Commercial Tenants
Bill 23, the Commercial Tenancies Protection Act, would protect eligible commercial tenants from having their leases terminated due to non-payment of rent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, the act would also prevent landlords from raising rent and charging late fees and penalties on missed rent.
The new measures will help address shortfalls in the current Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, and will give eligible business owners peace of mind as they reopen and help with the provincial economic recovery.
The legislation and upcoming regulation would cover the period from March 17 to Aug. 31, and would apply to:
- Commercial tenants with tenancy agreements that would be eligible for the CECRA program, but whose landlords have chosen not to participate.
- Commercial lease agreements where tenants have had to close their business due to public health orders or have had their business revenue decline by 25 per cent or more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If passed, any late fees, penalties or rent increases imposed on a commercial tenant by their landlord between March 17 and Aug. 31 would need to be reimbursed, however, the legislation would not undo any evictions or lease terminations that happened before the legislation was tabled.
Related information
Multimedia
Applications For Surplus Food Rescue Program Now Available
Today the government announced that farmers may apply for the food-buying program. The program aims to move surplus food commodities such as potatoes and other possible horticulture, fish and seafood, and meat through the food system as efficiently as possible to help vulnerable Canadians. The Government of Canada is purchasing some of the surplus food now being produced and will redistribute it to those in need. More information.
Supports for Individuals
Prime Minister announces extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
The Prime Minister, today announced that the government is extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by eight weeks, to ensure Canadians have the help they need as they transition back to work. This extension will make the benefit available to eligible workers for up to a total of 24 weeks.
The Government of Canada introduced the CERB to immediately help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so they could continue to put food on the table and pay their bills during this challenging time. As we begin to restart the economy and get people back on the job, Canadians receiving the benefit should be actively seeking work opportunities or planning to return to work, provided they are able and it is reasonable to do so.
That is why the government will also make changes to the CERB attestation, which will encourage Canadians receiving the benefit to find employment and consult Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service that offers tools to help with job searches. Over the next few weeks, the government will monitor international best practices, the economy, and the progression of the virus and, if needed, make necessary changes to the program so more people can have the support they need.
Community Supports and Resources
Canada-U.S. Land Border To Be Closed For A Further 30 Days
The Government of Canada has announced an agreement with the U.S. to keep the border closed for an additional 30 days, extending the closure to July 21, 2020. More information.
Posted Speed Limit to be Lowered in Downtown
Recent public and local business engagement, in conjunction with the current Municipal Development Plan review, identified a desire for the downtown area to have a pedestrian friendly environment. With this in mind, the City of Medicine Hat has recently completed a posted speed limit review of roads in the area.
Some of the key considerations for the City’s posted speed review include:
- Maintaining vehicle, cycling and pedestrian safety;
- Road design characteristics and adjoining land use;
- Number, location and type of intersections; and
- Posting a speed that most drivers consider safe and reasonable under ideal conditions.
- Based on the review results, the speed limit on roads in the downtown core will be posted at 40 km/h.
Advocacy
Canadian Chamber Launches National Food Services Working Group To Bolster Economic Recovery
We have launched the National Food Services Working Group to address the economic challenges of the food services industry. With approximately 98,000 foodservice establishments in Canada, the industry is integral to the economic vibrancy of communities. Co-chaired by David Lefebvre of Restaurants Canada and Steve Zmudczynski of Molson Coors Beverage Company, the Working Group is composed of the presidents and CEOs of many of Canada’s best-known food service and restaurant brands. Read more.
June 2020 Statement By The World Trade Organization Ottawa Group
Canada has convened the Ottawa Group to discuss the how governments can use the WTO to respond to COVID-19. Specific measures agreed by the member countries of the Ottawa Group include greater transparency on trade measures enacted by governments, supporting the transition to e-commerce for businesses, and facilitating the trade of medical supplies. More information.
Webinars
Building A Resilient Workforce That Can Thrive In The Next Normal, With Deloitte
An estimated 2.7 billion workers worldwide have been affected by full or partial lockdowns, according to the United Nations' labour body, the International Labour Organization. Deloitte's 2020 Global Human Capital Trends report, The social enterprise at work: Paradox as a path forward, comes at a time when the pandemic has forced a rethink of workforce strategies. This discussion will focus on the big workforce issues impacting work, workers, workplace, culture and leadership that organizations must consider to create a resilient workforce prepared to thrive in our next normal. This webinar will take place on June 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Register now.
New Resources
Small Business, Big Pivot
In a new report, Small Business, Big Pivot, RBC Thought Leadership lays out a five-point plan to help Canadian small businesses thrive in a post-pandemic economy. Small businesses represent 42% of Canada’s GDP and accounted for almost double the rate of job losses as mid-sized and large firms during the first two months of the global pandemic. Canada’s rebuild will depend on small businesses’ rebound, but the rebound can’t be back to something that worked in the past. It needs to propel smaller enterprises forward into a different economy. This report outlines what that path forward could look like. Read the report.
Managing Your Cash Flow During COVID-19—And Beyond
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, Canada’s businesses have suffered their greatest economic shock in living memory. For exporters and non-exporters alike, the global pandemic has upended revenue forecasts, demolished growth projections and slowed cash flows to a trickle. How we respond to this extraordinary and evolving situation will affect Canada and Canadian companies for years to come. Read more about Export Development Canada’s (EDC) insights into how businesses can manage costs and revenue to sustain cash flow and find current and future market opportunities in a post-COVID-19 environment. More information
Discussion with CMHC on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program
Yesterday, the ACC hosted a very informative Zoom discussion with CMHC representatives on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. See the notes or watch the recording
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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.
Cybersecurity And The Ever-Evolving Work Environment, With Field Effect. Watch Now.
Destination Canada: The Visitor Economy: Watch Now.
BDC Economic Pulse (April 20): Watch Now.
Facebook: Build Your Online Presence. Watch now
Facebook: Getting Creative with your Mobile Phone, With Facebook. 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 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
June 17: Physical return to work: Practical realities and transformative opportunities. Register now.
June 17: Canada's Return to the New Workplace. Register here.
June 18: Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association - Workplace Reboot 2.0. Register here.
June 18: Facebook and Instagram for Tourism Businesses: Building a Strong Foundation. Register here.
June 18: Edmonton Chamber Webinar: Alberta Relaunch. 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 22: Employee Mental Health During COVID-19. Register here
June 23: Building a resilient workforce to thrive in the next normal. Register here.
June 24: How to Build an Effective Advertising Strategy. Register now.
June 29: Cyber-security Best Practices Workshop. 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