August 5, 2020
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August 5, 2020

Your CFA Update on COVID-19

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CECRA Extension information released by CMHC

CMHC and the federal government have extended the CECRA for small businesses until the end of August.

What you need to know:

  • Only those tenants approved in the April, May, June and July application are eligible for the August extension.
  • If a business had an average revenue decline of 70% or more in April, May, and June, it is deemed eligible for the additional month of rent relief. However, not all tenants in the original application need to be included for the August extension.

Application deadlines

  • If you have been approved for rental assistance and are applying for the July and/or August extension, the deadline to submit your application is September 14, 2020.
  • If you have not yet submitted your application or are still creating it, the deadline to submit new applications that include the July and/or August extension is August 31, 2020.
  • CMHC will open the applications for the extension shortly.

Get the latest details on the program

Health Canada recalls more than 50 hand sanitizers in evolving list

Health Canada is recalling more than 50 hand sanitizers that contain ingredients "not acceptable for use" that may pose health risks. The organization says hand sanitizers with "unacceptable types" of ethanol or denaturants have not been approved for use in sanitizers in Canada, and their safety and efficacy have not been established. Denaturants are ingredients added to ethanol to make it unfit for human consumption to avoid unintentional ingestion of hand sanitizers particularly by children.

Health Canada said possible reactions to the ingredients include skin irritation, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation and headaches. Health Canada has an evolving list on its website of 51 hand sanitizers that are currently being recalled and says Canadians should consult the list regularly. The organization says to stop using products listed, and to consult a health-care professional "if you have used these products and have health concerns."

No mandatory masks or reduced class sizes planned for school reopening in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan will send its K-12 students back to school next month without requiring them or their teachers to wear masks and without a plan to reduce class sizes, although the Ministry of Education says it's planning to buy masks in case the COVID-19 situation worsens. 

The province's back-to-school task force has been reviewing proposed plans from boards in recent weeks. Regina Catholic SchoolsSaskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools are among the school boards that publicly released their submitted plans immediately after the ministry's announcement. 

All of the province's school board plans account for four potential "levels" of precautions, the province said in a release. It did not detail what would prompt a school board to go from one level to another. 

  • Level 1 does not call for masks, reduced class sizes, or on-site testing and screening. Students going back as early as Sept. 1 will do so under "Level 1," meaning "as close to normal as possible, with additional health measures and precautions."
  • Level 2 would involve mask usage if the province's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, thought it was necessary, according to the release.
  • Level 3 would see a reduction in "school capacity."
  • Level 4 would involve "transitioning to mandatory remote learning."

The province also announced that, as of Tuesday, daycares can take in up to 25 children, up from a previously limit of 15.

CFA Webinar on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) posted

On Monday, Justin Mastrangelo from BDO Canada held a webinar to help CFA members better understand the CEWS which has been extended until December 19, 2020. The extension is great news for franchised businesses, but the extension is also significantly more complicated which will change how CFA members access the CEWS because there were also a number of significant changes to the program.

Access the Webinar

Record number of companies have sought creditor protection

22 major Canadian companies sought creditor protection in May and June, almost 4 times the typical pace. A record 10 companies began CCAA proceedings in May — followed by a new record of 12 companies in June. Both figures best the previous high of nine seen in December 2011 and the eight hit in in the depths of the financial crisis in October 2009. The number fell back to 4 in July but that's still above the 10 year average of about three per month, according to a database maintained by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada.

Many of the recent restructurings are numbered companies, but a some high-profile insolvencies and bankruptcies in Canada have made headlines, including clothiers Reitmans, and Frank & Oak, shoe seller Aldo, hot drink seller DavidsTea, entertainment company Cirque Du Soleil, travel agency FlightHubvarious oil companies and even a Christian charity. That list that doesn't even include major U.S. names like Chesapeake EnergyJ CrewNeiman MarcusBrooks BrothersPier 1 and Hertz.

Quebec now allowing festivals of 250 people across the province

Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx said that organizers can go ahead with indoor and outdoor festivals and events, as long as public health guidelines are followed. The limit of 250 people must be respected at all times and that means organizers who push ahead with their events must be responsible for crowd control at entry and exit points. They must also put in place measures to make sure people are maintaining a minimum two metres distance between households.

As of Aug. 3, the maximum number of people who can attend indoor or outdoor events in public venues increased from 50 to 250.

Employers to get break on WorkSafeNB premiums in 2021

New Brunswick employers are expected to get a break on the premiums they pay to cover benefits for injured workers next year, says the head of WorkSafeNB. The projected average assessment rate for 2021 is between $2.15 and $2.20 per $100 of payroll. That's down from $2.40 in 2020. A decrease in the number of accidents has helped reduce costs. New Brunswick recorded its lowest level of injury frequency in the past 10 years.

Porter Airlines pushes back restart date amid COVID-19 pandemic

Porter Airlines says it is pushing back its restart date amid ongoing travel restrictions. The airline had hoped to resume flights this summer but said Tuesday that won’t be possible, and it will instead aim to restart service on Oct. 7. The company is waiving change and cancellation fees on all flights and vacation packages booked between now and Oct. 7.

Andrew Furey will be the next Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador 

Andrew Furey is the next Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and replaces Dwight Ball as Leader of the Liberal Party. The party’s convention was held today in St. John’s where the results of the vote which began last week by phone and online ballot were revealed. Out of 34,000 eligible voters, more than 21,000 votes were cast.

Furey has never run for political office until now. He is an orthopedic surgeon by occupation and founded Team Broken Earth, a medical relief initiative, and co-founded the Dollar a Day Foundation which provides funding to frontline metal health and addictions programs across Canada. 

Furey beat John Abbott, CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and former Deputy Minister of Health. 

Premier-designate Andrew Furey will officially be sworn in on Aug. 19, making him the 14th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. Furey is required to call an election within one year following his swearing in as Premier. 

Webinar Series On Demand

UPCOMING WEBINARS

AUGUST 11, 2020
AT 2:00 PM ET

Updating Your Workplace Policies to Reflect Covid-19 Challenges
 50 CFE PARTICIPATION  CREDITS  
 
SPEAKERS: TBC

As the Canadian economy reopens, employers face a range of challenges related to COVID-19. Join experts from Sherrard Kuzz LLP to gain practical advice on how to adapt your workplace policies and understand to ensure compliance on all levels.

MORE INFO & REGISTER

AUGUST 12, 2020
AT 2:00 PM ET

Returning to the workplace: What employers need to know
 50 CFE PARTICIPATION  CREDITS  
 
SPEAKERS: Michael Sherrard & Matthew Badrov, Sherrard Kuzz LLP

As Ontario begins to reopen, employers across the province are actively updating their workplace policies to ensure compliance with municipal and provincial requirements. Join experts: Michael Sherrard and Matthew Badrov from Sherrard Kuzz LLP to gain practical advice on what you need to consider in developing policies and procedures to keep your employees safe and satisfy your legal obligations.

MORE INFO & REGISTER

PRE-REGISTER FOR THE CFA'S CFE PROGRAM

VIEW PAST WEBINARS
ON DEMAND HERE

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AVAILABLE HERE

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Feedback from our Members

“My husband, Jim and I would like to thank everyone at the CFA who has worked so hard and tirelessly to provide us with updated information on the Covid-19 crisis, for the webinars, lobbying for change and for all of the support you provide to members on a regular basis. We are sincerely grateful. To everyone at the CFA, take care and stay healthy.”

 - Nadine Cartman, CEO, Chicken Delight of Canada Ltd

COVID-19's impact on the world is creating waves across all sectors and industries.

Every member of the CFA community is dealing with an issue that is affecting the world, our industries, our communities, our businesses, and our people.

We would like to hear from you if you have any topics, issues or questions to navigate turbulent times in order to support you further: 

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