BUILDING DURHAM

Mayor Dan Carter today declared a local state of emergency for the City of Oshawa in response to health authorities indicating that the next 14 days are crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

With the statutory holiday weekend upon us, it is critical that we follow government orders to not gather in groups of more than five people and health authority guidelines to stay home as much as possible and keep a physical distance of 6 feet (2 metres) from others. Everyone has a role to play.

“It is devastating to hear reports from police and municipal by-law officers that community members are ignoring the Ontario Government’s order not to gather in groups of more than five people. Declaring a state of emergency for Oshawa serves as a really clear signal that people need to stay home. We have taken proactive measures and closed our facilities and outdoor amenities and we’re relying on everyone in our community to do their part.”

“Every effort must be made by each of us to protect our families, friends and the community – only go outside for essential trips, avoid close contact and maintain physical distancing, don’t gather in groups, and continue to follow recommendations of provincial health officials,” said Fire Chief Derrick Clark, Oshawa’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator.

On Friday, March 13, the City of Oshawa activated its Emergency Plan and City Council delegated authority to the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer for use in emergencies. These measures provide the City the ability to make key decisions to maintain business continuity to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has established key objectives and protocols to keep critical services operating and providing service to the community and we continue to focus on business continuity and maintaining critical functions and services.

The City continues to work with Durham Regional Police Services on enforcement.  Under the Ontario Government’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual.

Community members can report a gathering of more than five people or a non-compliant business on www.drps.ca under Online Services - Community Concerns or call the DRPS non-emergency line at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5802 and leave a message.

The City continues to post updates to its Coronavirus webpage. For a list of closures, changes to services, more information and F.A.Q.s, visit www.Oshawa.ca/Coronavirus.

Community members concerned about their health are asked to use the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment tool to determine if they need to seek care or refer to Lakeridge Health’s COVID-19 Assessment Clinic.

WSIB understands the impact the evolving COVID-19 situation is having on businesses across Ontario. WSIB has made a decision regarding COVID-19 related claims costs.  

They have determined that costs associated with COVID-19 related claims will not be allocated at an employer or class level. Instead, they will be allocated on a Schedule-wide basis and there will be no change in premium rates for 2020.  

 As always, you can find more information on their website including information on their financial relief package and adjudicative guidance for COVID-19 claims.   

With a busy week of COVID-19 updates, OHBA has prepared a "Members Update on COVID-19 Document" designed to cover a broad range of issues that OHBA members may have questions about as they and their businesses navigate a rapidly changing public policy environment through this health crisis.

As part of the "state of emergency" that has been declared, the provincial government has been releasing a steady stream of emergency orders, policy changes, updates on lists of essential workplaces and initiatives to support people and business.

Download the document 

Today, the government of Ontario updated the essential services list, specifically with how it relates to construction.

This is the updated limitations to construction:

Construction

1. Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.
2. Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, critical provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance.
3. Critical industrial construction activities required for,
   1. the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries,
   2. significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work has already commenced,
   3. industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance, and/or enhancement of Personal Protective Equipment, medical devices (such as ventilators), and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Residential construction projects where,
   1. a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
   2. an above grade structural permit has been granted for condominiums, mixed use and other buildings, or
   3. the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before April 4, 2020.
5. Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety.

Additional Measures Necessary to Protect the Health and Safety of the People of Ontario

TORONTO — Following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is reducing the list of businesses classified as essential and ordering more workplaces to close. This measure is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the people of Ontario, while ensuring that necessary goods and services remain available.

The government is ordering all businesses not covered by the updated Emergency Order to close effective as of Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. This closure will be in effect for 14 days, with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves. Teleworking, online commerce and other innovative ways of working remotely are permitted at all times and are strongly encouraged for all businesses. All supply chains necessary for the production of vital food and healthcare supplies are being protected and remain intact.

The updated essential businesses list can be found here.

"We are facing a critical moment in the fight against COVID-19 and we must do everything in our power to keep everyone safe and healthy and prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed," said Premier Ford. "Everyone must do their part to stop the spread and flatten the curve. If you are not an essential business, you need to close your doors, work from home if possible and play a role to help contain this outbreak. This is a matter of life and death."

As a temporary measure the Ontario government has revised the list of essential businesses. The updated list will direct additional businesses to close and restricts specified businesses to providing services by alternate methods such as curb side pick up and delivery, except in exceptional circumstances. This includes stores that sell hardware products, vehicle parts and supplies, pet and animal supplies, office supplies and computer products and repairs and safety supplies.

"We have now reached a critical time in our fight against COVID-19." said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health "Every step taken by the province and every effort made by each of us to avoid close contact with others are the key to our success as a province to stop the spread of this virus."

Only critical construction projects will continue, including industrial projects such as refineries and petrochemical plants and infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, roads and bridges. New starts in residential projects will stop, while residential construction that is near completion will continue. Business-owners with questions concerning their essential business status are encouraged to call the Stop the Spread hotline at 1-888-444-3659. The hotline is available from 8:30 a.m.― 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 a.m.— 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

 "We recognize the toll this outbreak is taking on business owners and workers," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "Ontario businesses are top of mind during this unprecedented time. We know that the only way to ensure the health of our businesses and our economy is to ensure the health of all Ontarians."

The government is implementing additional measures to protect frontline workers in essential businesses by adding more than 60 special consultants and officers and doubling the number of phone agents at its Health and Safety Call Centre to 50 to make it easier for workers to report safety concerns. Workers worried their workplaces are unsafe can phone 1-877-202-0008 to speak with an agent.

"If you're a worker on the frontlines of this outbreak, you should know we're doing everything in our power to keep you safe at work," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. "We're beefing up our inspectors and making it easier for you to report your concerns. We're working around the clock."

QUICK FACTS

• Everyone in Ontario should stay home unless absolutely necessary and practice physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Avoid close contact (within 2 metres) with people outside of your immediate families.
• If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health: wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; sneeze and cough into your sleeve; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; avoid contact with people who are sick; and stay home if you are sick. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Learn more about these temporary measures and see a list of the essential services.
• See how your organization can help fight COVID-19.
• Learn more about Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Please join Tarion for a series of webinars on how COVID-19 is impacting the warranty and Tarion processes.  Over the next three weeks, Tarion will be hosting regular webinars on two topics: impacts on warranty and registration, and understanding unavoidable delays.

The content for both warranty impact webinars will be the same, as will the content for the three unavoidable delay webinars. However, they will be offered several times each, so we can reach as many builders as possible. Each webinar will feature a short presentation and a question and answer session. Attendees are welcome to attend multiple sessions, or drop-in for the live question and answer session.

Please see the links below to register for these upcoming sessions.  Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the webcast you have registered for session.

If you have any questions about the webinars, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  We also have a dedicated COVID19@tarion.com email address that you can write to for all questions related to impacts of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Impacts on Warranty & Registration
Tuesday, April 7, 2020	10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 21, 2020	9:30 a.m. - 11a.m.	Click here to register
Understanding Unavoidable Delays
Tuesday, April 7, 2020	1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 14, 2020	1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 21, 2020	2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Click here to register

Tarion hosted a webinar on March 30th on the impacts of COVID-19 on the warranty and unavoidable delays.  To view the recording of that webinar, click here.

The Ontario Home Builders' Association has created a new health and safety package to help members stay within the MOL guidelines.  The document contains key documents for employers and employees:

• COVID-19 Sector Briefing: provides information on MOL expectations for jobsites
• COVID-19 Site Checklist: covers major areas of enhanced health and safety
• COVID-19 Notice: notice for all personnel onsite (should be posted and visible for all)
• Government of Ontario-Stop the Spread Poster (should be posted and visible for all)
• COVID-19 Employer Information Sheet: provides important information for employers to review and implement
• COVID-19 Employee Intake Information Sheet: enables employers to better track who is coming onsite (should be filled out by anyone coming onsite)

Download the document

DRHBA member BDO Canada has created a document with tax filing information and new deadlines, federally and provincially.  This summary is up to date as of March 30, 2020.

View/Download Document. 

April 1, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak.

To help Canadians and businesses get through these tough economic times, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that the Government is proposing to introduce a wage subsidy of 75 per cent for qualifying businesses, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020.

This measure, which is a part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, would support businesses that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and would help protect the jobs Canadians depend on during these difficult times.

Today, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng, and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Navdeep Bains, announced the details of the proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy:

• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would apply at a rate of 75 per cent of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per week. The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
• Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy.
• Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
• For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances. The government is also considering additional support for non-profits and charities, particularly those involved in the front line response to COVID-19. Further details will be announced in the near term.
• An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is a key measure to ensure that workers are able to count on a source of income through this difficult time. It will enable employers to re-hire workers previously laid off, and to keep those who are already on payroll, so that Canada’s workforce and supply chains are able to return from this crisis in a strong position.

Eligible employers would be able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy by applying through a Canada Revenue Agency online portal. More details regarding how to apply for the program will follow. Those organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may continue to qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10 per cent of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

The government will continue to carefully monitor all developments relating to the COVID-19 outbreak and will continue to take further action to protect Canadians and the economy.

Quotes

“Businesses provide the jobs, the goods and the services that Canadians depend on to keep their communities going, in good times and bad. With the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, we are helping businesses keep their staff on payroll so that businesses will be better positioned to rebound when the current challenges have passed. We will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure that workers and businesses are supported through the outbreak, and that our economy remains resilient during these difficult times.”

Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance

“Small businesses are at the heart of our communities and are the backbone of our economy, employing millions of hard-working Canadians. There is no question that they are feeling the brunt of this challenging time. This wage subsidy will help keep more Canadians employed and will provide direct support to businesses so they can keep up with their bills. We will continue to listen to the very real needs of Canadian business owners and workers, and we will be there to support them every step of the way.”

Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

“We have been in constant communication with Canadian businesses, and we know that all sectors of the economy are being affected by COVID-19. With the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, employers—no matter their size—will be supported to weather this storm, to be ready to recover when it passes, and to help Canadians keep their jobs.”

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick facts

• The government has taken action to support Canadian businesses through the outbreak of COVID-19, with targeted new initiatives that:

  • Allow businesses, including self-employed individuals, to defer all Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) payments until June, as well as customs duties owed for imports. This measure is the equivalent of providing up to $30 billion in interest-free loans to Canadian businesses. It will help businesses so they can continue to pay their employees and their bills, and help ease cash-flow challenges across the country.
  • Launch the new Canada Emergency Business Account. This program will provide up to $25 billion to eligible financial institutions so they can provide interest-free loans to small businesses, including not-for-profits. These loans – guaranteed and funded by the Government of Canada – will ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need, at a zero-per-cent interest rate, so they can pay for rent and other important costs over the next number of months.
  • Launch the new Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Loan and Guarantee program that will enable up to $40 billion in lending, supported through Export Development Canada and Business Development Bank, for guaranteed loans when small businesses go to their financial institutions to help weather the impacts of COVID-19. This is intended for small and medium-sized companies that require greater help to meet their operational cash flow requirements.
  • Extend the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program, from 38 weeks to 76 weeks, for workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.
  • Increase credit available for farmers and the agri-food sector through Farm Credit Canada.
  • Defer the payment of income taxes. The government is allowing all taxpayers to defer, until August 31, 2020, the payment of income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020. This relief would apply to new balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

The Town of Whitby has declared a State of Local Emergency in light of COVID-19, reinforcing the need to continue to enhance response measures to keep residents safe. Mayor Don Mitchell made the following statement:

“The health and well-being of our residents is our top priority. The situation with COVID-19 is rapidly evolving and it is essential that we continue to do everything possible to stop the spread of this highly contagious virus. That is why, based on the Announcement made by the Province last night, and all of the information and health advice we have received to date from the Federal Government, the Provincial Government and the Region of Durham, I am declaring a State of Local Emergency in the Town of Whitby.

This is an unprecedented situation for our Town. This Declaration supports the States of Emergency already declared by the Region of Durham and the Province. It also helps to strengthen actions the Town is taking to share information and enhance coordination at both the local and regional level. Most importantly, however, it reinforces our commitment and laser focus to work together with our health partners to communicate one consistent message: stay home, save lives.

I urge residents to monitor and educate their children on the current dangers of using playgrounds or other publicly shared surfaces. I also implore residents to follow the advice of health officials: do not gather, follow good personal hygiene and if you have travelled - you must self-isolate for 14 days. We need to consider the human cost of each action we take as we move through this time of uncertainty together.

I want to thank our residents and local businesses for the sacrifices you are making. I cannot thank our health care providers and emergency responders enough for being on the front line when we need you. Your Council and Town staff are here to provide guidance and support. Whatever your question or need, reach out to us and we will help as best we can. We are truly all in this together.”

For more information on the actions the Town is taking in response to COVID-19, visit whitby.ca/coronavirus.