Daily COVID-19 Update: April 6, 2020

Canadian Business Resilience Network Launched Today

Our Canadian Business Resilience Network campaign launched today [watch the Prime Minister’s announcement] in partnership with the Government of Canada and Canada's leading business and industry associations, including the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. A key element of the campaign is a microsite dedicated to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery. See the full announcement from Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau here and the message from President & CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Perrin Beatty here.

Letter from Minister of Health to Employers: Temporary Foreign Workers 

Temporary foreign workers have been exempted from the prohibitions on entry into Canada that were imposed under the Quarantine Act in order to facilitate access to important labour supply, particularly in supporting food security and other industries critical to the Canadian economy. However, there are certain obligations imposed on temporary foreign workers arriving in Canada and associated obligations that employers have. Penalties of up to $750K can be levied against a temporary foreign worker for non-compliance with an Emergency Order made under the Quarantine Act.The Government is also assessing options for penalties for employers of foreign nationals under other regulatory regimes, such as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, given the severity of concerns for the health of Canadians. As of March 25, 2020, it is now mandatory for all persons who enter Canada to self-isolate for 14 days. It is also intended that a temporary foreign worker’s period of employment will begin upon their arrival to Canada, will include any mandatory self-isolation period and that they will be paid during this period. Employers of temporary foreign workers will be responsible for facilitating the employees’ self-isolation according to public health requirements, and employers are required to provide housing under program policy that meets these minimum standards:

• providing adequate space in accommodations to allow for social distancing (remain 2 metres apart at all times);
• ensuring those who are in self-isolation are separated from other individuals who are not in self-isolation;
• keeping self-isolated workers away from older adults and those with medical conditions who are at risk of developing serious illness; and,
• providing materials that enable workers to practice adequate sanitation (i.e. soap).

Surfaces in the accommodations should be cleaned and disinfected regularly and workers should have access to facilities that enable them to wash their hands often with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water are not available. View the letter and additional resources here.

FAQ for Business

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has prepared an FAQ document, which is updated daily, with answers to the questions our members are asking us about the government supports for business. Access it here or on our COVID-19 web page in the FAQ section.

Relief for Forest Companies Affected by COVID-19

In response to COVID-19 and the economic effects to our forestry industry, the Alberta government will defer timber dues for six months. This will help forest companies continue operating and retain staff during this pandemic.

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‘Changes are inevitable and not always controllable. What can be controlled is how you manage, react to and work through the change process’ - Kelly A. Morgan

For more resources visit our COVID-19 page