March 24, 2020

Your CFA Daily Update on COVID-19

B.C. government unveils $5 billion economic support program as COVID-19 response

The British Columbia government has unveiled a $5 billion in supports for BC’s economy. The province is spending $2.8 billion on people and services, and $2.2 billion on businesses and economic recovery in the future. The plan includes direct payments to people as well as deferment of payments.

For businesses

• It is also deferring employer health tax payments, delaying a scheduled increase to the provincial carbon tax and cutting the school tax in half

For individuals

• It will provide a tax-free $1,000 payment to people whose jobs have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
• The B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will be a one-time payment for those who receive federal Employment Insurance benefits or the new federal Emergency Care Benefit or Emergency Support Benefit. It will go to workers who have been laid off, who are sick or quarantined, parents with sick children, parents who stay at home while child-care centres and schools are closed, and those who are caring for other sick family members.
• The government says it will continue to provide funding to non-profit agencies and child-care providers, even if they are closed or have had to reduce their hours of operation.
• B.C. student loan payments are being frozen for six months.

B.C. passed job protection for employees unable to work due to COVID-19

The B.C. government has made two changes to the Employment Standards Act to support workers both during the COVID-19 public health emergency and in the long term. The change will be retroactive to Jan. 27, 2020. The changes will allow workers immediately to take unpaid, job-protected leave if they are unable to work for reasons relating to COVID-19. This means workers who are ill, need to self-isolate, need to care for their child or other dependent, or whose employer is concerned that the employee may expose others to risk, will be able to take leave without putting their job at risk.

B.C. also implemented changes to provide up to three days of unpaid, job-protected leave each year for people who cannot work due to illness or injury. This is a permanent change to the act that brings B.C. in line with all other provinces in Canada. To qualify for the three-day job-protected illness or injury leave, the province said employees must have worked for their employer for at least 90 days and workers may need to give reasonable evidence of eligibility if their employer requests it.

Ontario to lower hydro rates in response to COVID-19 pandemic

The Ontario government will temporarily end time of use electricity rates and move all consumers to the off-peak rate is 10.1 cents per kilowatt hour as more people are forced home during the day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Charging only the lowest time of use rate to all customers will cost the province about $161 million, over an initial run of 45 days.

The Ontario Energy Board is also suspending disconnections due to lack of payment until July 31.

CFA continues to work for franchisors and franchisees across Canada

The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) understands that the closing of workplaces in Ontario and Quebec is important in helping to slow the spread of Covid-19. While this will cause a tremendous financial burden on franchised business, the safety of the public, our employees and our customers is the most important aspect of this entire situation.

We do appreciate the short term supports that governments has already provided to help franchisors and franchisees through this unprecedented crisis.

The CFA is continuing to work with the governments and other stakeholders across the country to put in place additional supports to help franchised businesses get through the current situation and grow in the near future.

List of Essential Workplaces in Ontario and Quebec

Ontario – https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/list-of-essential-workplaces.html

Quebec – https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/essential-services-commercial-activities-covid19/

Missed today's webinar on "Impact of COVID-19 on Employment Law" presented by Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP?

Or, just want to recap on it again? You can catch it on CFA's COVID-19 Webinars On-Demand page including the "Leading Through Turbulent Times" Part 1 & 2 webinars. 

ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM CFA MEMBERS

– Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP – FAQS FOR FRANCHISORS AND FRANCHISEES: COVID-19 AND THE WORKPLACE

– Fasken – COVID-19 & Workplace Government Updates: A Cross-Canada Review

– Fasken – Work Refusals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Employers Need to Know About the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work

– Sherrard Kuzz – Ontario to Close Non-Essential Businesses

CFA UPCOMING WEBINAR

Alleviating the crunch – how new government programs can help

March 26, 2020 | 2 p.m. ET

Your Speaker:

DESCRIPTION:
The Government Resources Update will provide Franchisors, Franchisees and Franchise Support Services with an update on the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation including detailed information about the policies and programs that have been made available to businesses by federal and provincial governments to help them through the current situation.

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: