BUILDING DURHAM

New order issued to support people with mental health and addictions issues

TORONTO — On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is extending all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 6, 2020. This extension will help protect the health and well-being of people across the province and stop the spread of COVID-19.

This Emergency Order extension includes the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home.

"We are making steady progress in our battle against this deadly virus, but we are not out of the woods by a long shot. It is absolutely necessary to extend these emergency orders to continue keeping all Ontarians safe and healthy," said Premier Doug Ford. "Every effort made by each of us to stay home, practise physical distancing and wash your hands has been, and will continue to be, the key to stopping the spread of this virus."

In addition, the government has introduced a new measure to allow mental health and addictions agencies to redeploy staff within different locations or between programs, and employ extra part-time staff, temporary staff or contractors in order to ensure people continue receiving the high quality care they expect and deserve during the COVID-19 outbreak. Agencies would be required to provide appropriate training and education to achieve the purposes of a redeployment plan.

The following emergency orders have been extended until May 6, 2020:

• Closure of establishments
• Prohibiting public events and gatherings or more than five people
• Work deployment measures for health care workers
• Drinking water and sewage
• Electronic service of documents
• Work deployment for long-term care homes
• Off-peak electricity pricing
• Closure of places of non-essential businesses
• Traffic management
• Streamlining requirements for long-term care homes
• Prohibiting unfair pricing on necessary goods
• Closure of outdoor recreational amenities
• Enforcement of orders
• Work deployment for boards of health
• Work deployment measures in retirement homes
• Access to COVID-19 status information by specified persons
• Service agencies providing services and supports to adults with developmental disabilities
• Pick up and delivery of cannabis
• Signatures in wills and powers of attorney
• Use of force and firearms in policing services
• Child care fees
• Agreements between health service providers and retirement homes
• Temporary health or residential facilities
• Closure of public lands for recreational camping
• Work deployment measures for service agencies providing violence against women residential services and crisis line services
• Limiting work to a single long-term care home
• Work deployment for district social services administration boards
• Deployment of employees of service provider organizations
• Work deployment measures for municipalities
• Limiting work to a single retirement home

MNP LLP has prepared a document to help employers and employees sort through the different benefit programs available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This document includes information about the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (TWS), Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) and the Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRAP).  The document also offers information on new income tax deadlines, the CRA My Business Account, and more.

View/download the document

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While many workplaces remain closed to due Ontario's mandatory shutdowns, some essential workplaces are grappling with ensuring sufficient employee attendance to meet their businesses' operational needs.

Generally, while an employer cannot seek a medical certificate to confirm that an employee is ill or exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms, an employer may require an employee who takes declared emergency leave or infectious disease emergency leave  to provide evidence reasonable in the circumstances to substantiate the leave.  Further, a preference to be placed on lay-off to enable access to the CERB or other benefits is not a valid reason to refuse work, absent special circumstances that engage human rights considerations.  In many cases, employees without special needs may be expected to abide by the employer's regular attendance policies and will not be entitled to refuse work unless they have engaged in a valid work refusal under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In view of the multiple competing considerations arising in the circumstances, attendance issues must be addressed on a case-by-case basis.  If your essential workplace is facing attendance management issues, you are encourage to contact Templeman LLP for advice specific to your workforce.

-Templeman LLP

Follow @LlpTempleman for daily updates and information.

To OHBA Renovator Members,

It has been said many times already, but to say it again, we are facing unprecedented times.  I know personally how hard the renovation sector has been hit by the COVID-19 State of Emergency as many of our existing projects have been postponed by homeowners.

Pioneer Craftsman has been in business for over 65 years.  We have survived the 1990 recession, survived the 2008-2009 financial crisis, and we are preparing to survive this current COVID-19 State of Emergency.

Through OHBA, we are reaching our to the renovator membership to focus in on renovator and trade contractor specific issues and potential initiatives that can be presented to the provincial government.

Through the OHBA Renovators' Council, we will be hosting a Zoom Renovator Roundtable on Thursday, April 23, at 2 p.m. to discuss the current challenges and initiatives we will need from the government to help support us during this time and into the recovery phase.

As always, be safe, practice social distancing, and we are all in this together.

Thank you,

Jamie Adam

Chair of the OHBA Renovators' Council

President of Pioneer Craftsman

Past-President of WRHBA 

DRHBA would like to thank all of its builder members that took time out of their busy schedules to calculate how the Community Benefits Charge (CBC) could potentially impact their business, and to write a letter to the Ministry telling them how this charge will impact affordability.

The Durham Region Home Builders' Association also sent in a letter expressing our concerns that the charge could potentially add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home in Durham Region.

The Ontario Home Builders' Association, whose staff have really led the charge on advocacy on this issue, also submitted a letter to the province.

We know that our members' letters will be read and they will make a difference. There is still more work to be done, but together we can help make housing in Durham Region more affordable.

To help builders comply with health & safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reliance is offering wash station tanks at cost.

Click here for technical specs

Click here for representative information

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be open on April 27.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is a program designed to help employers that have been impacted by the pandemic and to help Canadians stay employed.

The subsidy could cover up to 75% of an employee's wages (to a maximum of $847 per week).  Employers who have seen a drop in gross revenue of at least 15% in March and 30% in April and May are eligible for the subsidy - regardless of the size of the business.  The program is available for 12 weeks, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.

The federal government also has an online calculator is available to help employers determine how much their subsidy may be.  You can also determine if your company is eligible, which employees are eligible and how to apply on April 27.

Click here for the calculator and eligibility information

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) boards were reviewing their bylaws to be renewed in June because their bylaws were expiring at the end of June.  However, with the passing of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act last week, the boards now have the opportunity to extend their bylaws for up to six months after the termination of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

DRHBA has been in touch with Watson & Associates, the consultant retained by the boards, and they have told us that the school boards are going to extend their existing bylaws until at least September, and there will be no public meetings or public engagement at this time.

View/Download the Background Study

Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new federal government assistance program, Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program.  While full details have not yet been released, Trudeau said that this program will provide support for small businesses to meet rent dues and that the federal government will be collaborating with the provinces to set it up.  The support would available for April, May and June.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau shined more light on the program, saying the government would be offering loans, including forgivable loans to commercial landlords who offer rent reductions to businesses.

In addition, Trudeau also announced that the Canada Emergency Business Account will now be open to businesses that spent between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.