BUILDING DURHAM

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is giving workers in the construction sector an extra year to renew their training if they work at heights.

The mandatory training of more than 120,000 workers was due to expire over the next six months.  However, many training providers have either cancelled classes or shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The extension will apply to workers who successfully completed their working-at-heights training between February 28 and August 31, 2017.  The validity period, normally three years, would have ended this year.  It will now end in 2021.

The extension will ensure affected workers can continue to work when possible.  Construction will move ahead without interruption.

More information: https://www.ontario.ca/page/training-working-heights

Evictions

In response to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, no new eviction orders will be issued until further notice and sheriff's offices will postpone any scheduled enforcement of current eviction orders.  Tenants must pay rent while an eviction order is not being enforced.

How the eviction process works

The typical evictions process is explained below.  Changes due to COVID-19 are in italics.

If the landlord gives a tenant notice to end the tenancy, the tenant does not have to move out.  The landlord must apply for an eviction order from the Landlord and Tenant Board (also known as "the Board").  The tenant has the right to go to a hearing and explain why they should not be evicted.

1. Notice: In most cases, the first step is for the landlord to give the tenant a notice in writing that they want the tenant to move out.  Landlords must use an official notice from the Board.  Sometimes a tenant can prevent the tenancy from ending by stopping the behaviour referred to in the notice, or by doing what the notice requests.  This is called a tenant's remedy.  The notice explains what this is and gives a deadline for the tenant to comply.

COVID-19 Update:  Landlords can still give eviction notices, however, landlords are encouraged to work with tenants to establish fair arrangements to keep tenants in their homes, including deferring rent or other payment arrangements.

2. Application: If the tenant does not remedy the situation or move out, the landlord can file an application to the Board to end the tenancy.  Most applications must be made within 30 days for the termination date set out in the notice.  However, there is no deadline to apply to end a tenancy for non-payment of rent.

COVID-19 Update: Landlord and Tenant Board counter services are closed, but the most common types of applications can still be filed online.

3. Hearing: In most cases, the Board will schedule a hearing to decide the landlord's application.  It will mail a Notice of Hearing to the landlord(s) and tenant(s) along with a copy of the application.

COVID-19 Update: All hearings related to eviction applications are suspended until further notice, except for urgent disputes such as those involving illegal acts or serious safety concerns.

4. Order: A Board member will make a decision about the landlord's application to end the tenancy and whether the tenant should be evicted or not.  The member's decision is always put in writing.  This written decision is called an order.  The Board will mail a copy of the order to both the landlord and the tenant.

COVID-19 Update: No new eviction orders will be issued until further notice, unless the matter relates to an urgent issue such as an illegal act or serious safety concerns.

5. Enforcement:  If a tenant doesn't leave the rental unit by the termination date in the eviction order, a landlord cannot personally enforce the order (remove a tenant from a rental unit or change the locks). An eviction order can only be enforced by the Court Enforcement Office (also known as the "Sheriff's Office").  The landlord must file a copy of the Board order with the Sheriff's Office to have the order enforced.

COVID-19 Update: Enforcement of residential eviction orders is suspended until further notice.  By order of the Superior Court of Justice, enforcement of eviction orders is suspended during the suspension of regular court operations, unless the court orders otherwise.

Entering a rental unit and physical distancing

A landlord can only enter a tenant's unit in specific circumstances.  In most cases, the landlord must:

• give the tenant 24 hours written notice
• state what day and time they will enter (between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.)
• state the reason for entering the unit

There are some exceptions to this requirement, for example, in case of emergency.  If the landlord has a valid reason for entering the unit, a tenant cannot refuse to let the landlord in.

COVID-19 Update: During this unusual time, patience and understanding from landlords and tenants is necessary to help stop the spread of COVID-19.  Landlords are encouraged to request entry only in urgent situations and to follow physical distancing guidelines.

Landlords who are selling tenant-occupied homes are strongly advised to follow the guidance of the Real Estate Council of Ontario and avoid in-person showings.  Landlords are subject to the Human Rights Code  and have a duty to accommodate tenants under protected grounds, including people with disabilities.  For example, conducting an in-person showing when a tenant has an immune-compromising condition could lead to a complaint under the Code.

People are encouraged to work together to protect the health and safety of tenants, landlords and the public at large.

Rent

Tenants who can pay their rent must do so, to the best of their abilities.  Landlords are entitled to collect compensation from a tenant for each day that an eviction order is not enforced.  However, tenants who are asked to self-isolate or who can't work may have difficulty paying their rent.

Landlords and tenants are encouraged landlords and tenants to work together during this difficult time to establish fair arrangements to keep tenants in their homes.

Tenants who are having challenges paying rent should speak with their landlords about possible deferring their rent or other payment arrangements.

Assistance for tenants

If you need financial help, you can:

• contact your local service manager
• apply for COVID-19 emergency assistance
• access federal government programs

Assistance for landlords

Landlords may wish to:

• talk to their municipality about help with property taxes and municipal service fees
• inquire with their mortgage lender about mortgage payment deferrals 
• investigate federal government programs 

Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/renting-changes-during-covid-19

TORONTO — Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, issued the following statement today regarding health and safety on construction sites:

"The health and safety of construction workers is a top priority for our government. With the COVID-19 situation changing day by day, we are working to ensure that workers have the tools they need to help keep job sites safe. We must do everything possible to fight the spread of this disease.

Today, Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer announced updated guidance to help employers better understand their responsibilities and what is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the job site.

The update follows an initial guidance document circulated on March 20, 2020, and addresses sector topics including:

• providing better on-site sanitation, including a focus on high-touch areas like site trailers, door handles and hoists
• communicating roles, responsibilities, and health & safety policies, by, for example, posting site sanitization schedules and work schedules
• enabling greater distances between workers by staggering shifts, restricting site numbers and limiting elevator usage
• protecting public health, by tracking and monitoring workers

Under Ontario law, employers must take every reasonable precaution to keep workers safe. Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work. If health and safety concerns are not resolved internally, a worker can seek enforcement by filing a complaint with the ministry's Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.

Ministry inspectors are inspecting job sites today and every day. Employers and constructors should know: failure to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations could result in a stop work order.

Keeping job sites open during the current pandemic requires a heightened focus on health and safety.

We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19."

Additional Resources:

• Read the Chief Prevention Officer’s guidance to the construction sector on health and safety related to COVID-19.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

At his daily press briefing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the federal government will be increasing the federal wage subsidy for small and medium-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19 to 75 per cent and that the wage subsidy will be backdated to March 15, 2020.

Last week, Trudeau announced a 10 per cent wage subsidy, but said today that it's not enough.

"It's becoming clear that we need to do more - much more - so we're bringing that percentage up to 75 per cent for qualifying businesses," said Trudeau.  "This means people will continue to be paid even though their employers have to slow down or stop their businesses."

Trudeau said that more details are expected to be released on Monday.

"We are helping companies keep people on payroll so that workers are supported and the economy is positioned to recover from this," Trudeau said.  "That is our priority."

The Government of Canada is making additional investments to support Canadian businesses from the economic impacts of COVID-19. These new investments provide support to financial institutions and allow them to quickly provide credit and liquidity options for a range of businesses.

These measures are a part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which provides direct support and tax deferrals to Canadian workers and businesses to help them in these difficult times.

Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments

Deferral of Customs Duty and Sales Tax for Importers

New Loan Programs for Businesses

Canada Revenue Agency’s Additional Measures for Individuals and Businesses

Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments

In order to provide support for Canadian businesses during these unprecedented economic times, the Government is deferring Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) remittances and customs duty payments to June 30, 2020.

This measure could provide up to $30 billion in cash flow or liquidity assistance for Canadian businesses and self-employed individuals over the next three months

GST/HST Remittance Deferral

The GST/HST applies to sales of most goods and services in Canada and at each stage of the supply chain. Vendors must collect the GST/HST and remit it (net of input tax credits) with their GST/HST return for each reporting period.

Vendors with annual sales of more than $6 million remit and report monthly, and those with annual sales of $1.5 million to $6 million are able to remit and report on a quarterly basis (or monthly if they choose to). Small vendors can report annually.

The GST/HST amounts collected are generally due by the end of the month following the vendor’s reporting period: e.g., for a monthly filer, the GST/HST amounts collected on its February sales are due by the end of March.

To support Canadian businesses in the current extraordinary circumstances, the Minister of National Revenue will extend until June 30, 2020 the time that:

• Monthly filers have to remit amounts collected for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods;
• Quarterly filers have to remit amounts collected for the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period; and
• Annual filers, whose GST/HST return or instalment are due in March, April or May 2020, have to remit amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year. 

Businesses in need of information about their particular obligations may contact the Canada Revenue Agency or refer to its website.

Deferral of Customs Duty and Sales Tax for Importers

Imported goods by businesses are generally subject to the GST, at a rate of 5 per cent, as well as applicable customs duties, which vary by product and country of origin. While the vast majority of imports enter Canada duty-free, some tariffs remain, especially on consumer goods.

The Customs Act, for which the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is responsible and which is administered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), governs the levying and payment of customs duties in Canada.

Typically, payments owing for customs duties and the GST on imports are due before the first day of the month following the month in which the Statements of Accounts are issued.

Section 33.7(1) of the Customs Act allows the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness or an officer designated by the President of the CBSA to extend, in writing, the timeline for accounting or payment of amounts owing.

Under this authority, payment deadlines for statements of accounts for March, April, and May are being deferred to June 30, 2020.

Businesses in need of information about their particular accounting and payment obligations on imported goods may contact the Canada Border Services Agency for more details.

New Loan Programs for Businesses

Canada Emergency Business Account

To ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, the Government of Canada is announcing the launch of the new Canada Emergency Business Account, which will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC).

This $25 billion program will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced, due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus.

This will better position them to quickly return to providing services to their communities and creating employment.

Small businesses and not-for-profits should contact their financial institution to apply for these loans.

To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

A New Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19. To support their operations, EDC will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow term loans that financial institutions extend to SMEs, up to $6.25 million.

The program cap for this new loan program will be a total of $20 billion for export sector and domestic companies.

A New Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium Enterprises

To provide additional liquidity support for Canadian businesses, the Co-Lending Program will bring the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) together with financial institutions to co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.

Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts up to $6.25 million BDC’s portion of this program is up to $5 million maximum per loan. Eligible financial institutions will conduct the underwriting and manage the interface with their customers. The potential for lending for this program will be $20 billion.

Canada Revenue Agency’s Additional Measures for Individuals and Businesses

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) understands that individuals and businesses might be dealing with difficulties filing their income and benefit returns, and could experience cash-flow challenges in the coming months. In response, the CRA will be applying these additional measures:

Administrative tax measures

In addition to the income tax filing and payment deadline extensions, unless otherwise noted, administrative income tax actions required of taxpayers by the CRA that are due after March 18, 2020, can be deferred to June 1, 2020. These administrative income tax actions include returns, elections, designations and information requests. Payroll deductions payments and all related activities are excluded.

Trusts, Partnerships and NR4 Information Returns

The deadlines for trusts, partnership and NR4 information returns are all extended to May 1, 2020. This is due to administrative requirements in advance of the June 1, 2020 deadline for filing individual income tax and benefit returns.

Objections

Any objections related to Canadians' entitlement to benefits and credits have been identified as a critical service and will continue to be processed during the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, there should not be any delays associated with the processing of these objections.

With respect to objections related to other tax matters filed by individuals and businesses, the CRA is currently holding these accounts in abeyance. No collection action will be taken with respect to these accounts during this period of time.

Extending the deadline for filing an objection

For any objection request due March 18 or later, the deadline is effectively extended until June 30, 2020.

Canada Pension Plan/Employment Insurance (CPP/EI) appeals to the Minister

In cases where taxpayers wish to file an appeal in relation to CPP/EI rulings decision, they are encouraged to do so through MyAccount to avoid potential delays.

The CPP/EI appeals program is currently only actioning appeals that are related to cases where EI benefits are pending. These cases will be treated on a priority basis. All other appeals will be actioned when normal services resume. 

In addition, the CPP/EI Appeals to the Minister program will exercise discretion on a case by case basis when additional time is required to respond to a request.

Deadlines for charities

CRA is extending the filing deadline to December 31, 2020, for all charities with a Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return due between March 18, 2020 and December 31, 2020. This will allow charities more time to complete and submit their T3010.

Suspending audit activities

CRA will not initiate contact with taxpayers for audits, with certain exceptions, This includes:

• no new audits being launched, and
• no requests for information related to existing audits.

No audits should be finalized and no reassessments should be issued.

Suspending collections on new debt

Collections activities on new debts will be suspended until further notice, and flexible payment arrangements will be available.

Payment arrangements are also available on a case-by-case basis if you can’t pay your taxes, child and family benefit overpayments, Canada Student Loans, or other government program overpayments in full.

If you have concerns and require contact with a Collections Officer, please contact our toll free number 1-800-675-6184 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. your local time.

Requirement to pay (RTP)

Banks and employers do not need to comply or remit on existing RTPs during this time.

Taxpayer relief requests

Taxpayers who are unable to file a return or make a payment by the tax-filing and payment deadlines because of COVID-19 can request the cancellation of penalty and interest charged to their account. Penalties and interest will not be charged if the new deadlines that the government has announced to tax-filing and payments are met. For more information about deadlines, see Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For more information about taxpayer relief and how to make a request to the CRA to have interest and/or penalties cancelled, please go to Canada.ca/taxpayer-relief. 

For more information, visit Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

There have been a lot of headlines lately concerning rent - whether or not tenants have to pay.  So where does that leave landlords?

Currently, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has suspended (until further notice):

• All hearings related to eviction applications, unless the matter relates to an urgent issue such as an illegal act or serious impairment of safety; and
• The issuance of eviction orders, unless the matter relates to an urgent issue such as an illegal act or serious impairment of safety.

While there are groups and websites calling on people to not pay their rent, the provincial government is not in agreement.

During the March 26 press briefing, Premier Doug Ford said, "I heard there was a petition going around (saying) 'just don't pay rent.'  That's wrong, that's hurting people across the board.  We're standing up here for the tenants here so please don't take advantage of it."

Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Steve Clark echoed the Premier's sentiments in an op-ed published in today's Toronto Sun.

"Tenants who can pay their rent must do so, to the best of their abilities.  But I want to be very clear - you cannot be forced to leave your home if you cannot pay your rent on April 1.  Period.  Today, I'm calling on landlords to be as flexible as possible when it comes to collecting rent, starting with April, at a time when many people are struggling.  The same goes for any planned rent increases landlords are contemplating, whether already approved by the Landlord and Tenant Board or not.

Of course, some landlords are also facing challenges, especially small landlords.  While mortgage deferrals are available, some of you are waiting for news from your bank.  Everyone needs to do their part right now.

To the tenants out there who are having challenges paying rent, please speak to your landlord about whether it can be postponed or if other payment arrangements can be agreed to.  And landlords, please be as flexible as you can..."

According to a March 19, 2020 release on Tribunal Ontario's website, all incoming applications will continue to be processed.  Hearings for matters not relating to evictions will proceed by the most appropriate means (telephone or written hearing) and orders for these matters will be issued.

On March 25, the Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips delivered a 1-year fiscal updated entitled "Ontario's Action Plan 2020: Responding to COVID-19."

The government will provide $7 billion in additional resources for the health care system and provide direct support for people and jobs. It will also make available $10 billion in support for people and businesses through tax credits and deferrals to improve their cash flow, protection of jobs and household budgets, while providing resources to protect their health. The fiscal update includes historic levels of prudence, including a dedicated $1.0 billion COVID‐19 contingency fund as part of the additional health care investments, an increased contingency fund of $1.3 billion and a reserve of $2.5 billion to provide continued flexibility.

Fiscal Update Highlights:

$3.7 billion to support people and jobs, including:

• Making electricity bills more affordable for eligible residential, farm & small business consumers through a $1.5 billion increase in electricity cost relief.  The government is also setting electricity pricing for time-of-use customers at the lowest rate (off-peak - 10.1 cents per KWH), 24 hours a day for 45 days;
• Cutting taxes by $355 million for about 57,000 employers through a proposed temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption;
• Helping to support regions lagging in employment growth with a proposed new Corporate Income Tax credit - the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit;

$10 billion in support for people and businesses to improve cash flows by:

• Providing a five-month interest and penalty free period to making payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes, providing $6 billion in relief to help support Ontario businesses
• Deferring the upcoming quarterly (June 30) remittance of education property tax  to school boards by 90 days. This will provide municipalities with the flexibility to, in turn, provide property tax deferrals of over $1.8 billion to local residents and businesses; and 
• Providing $1.9 billion in new financial relief by the WSIB allowing employers to defer payments for a period of six months.  

Fiscal prudence:  

• A dedicated $1.0 billion COVID-19 contingency fund as part of the additional health care investments;
• An increased contingency fund of $1.3 billion; and
• Reserve of $2.5 billion (largest in Ontario’s history).

Key Business Sector Details:

 

Employer Health Tax 

• The government is cutting taxes by $355 million for about 57,000 employers by proposing a temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption from $490,000 to $1 million for 

• 2020. With this plan, more than 90 per cent of private-sector employers would not pay EHT in 2020. 

• Eligible private-sector employers with annual payrolls up to $5 million would be exempt from EHT on the first $1 million of total Ontario remuneration in 2020. 
• The maximum EHT relief from the exemption would increase by $9,945 to $19,500 for 2020 for eligible employers. 
• The exemption would return to its current level of $490,000 on January 1, 2021.  

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit

• To support business investment in regions of the province where employment growth has been significantly below the provincial average, Ontario is proposing a new 10 per cent refundable Corporate Income Tax credit. 
• The Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit would be available to eligible businesses that construct, renovate or acquire qualifying commercial and industrial buildings in designated regions of the province, saving them up to $45,000 in the year. 

Support for People and Businesses to Improve Cash Flow

• Ontario is making $10 billion available to improve cash flows for people and businesses through tax and other deferrals over the coming months to provide relief during this challenging economic time, in coordination with the federal government. 

$6 Billion in Tax Deferrals

• To help support Ontario businesses, the government is providing a five-month interest and penalty-free period for businesses to make payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes.  
• Beginning April 1, 2020, the Province is providing flexibility to about 100,000 businesses in Ontario to help manage their cash flows. 
• This will continue for a period of five months, up until August 31, 2020, and is expected to make available $6 billion to improve the cash flows of Ontario businesses. 
• For this period, the Province will not apply any penalty or interest on any late-filed returns or incomplete or late tax payments under select provincially administered taxes, such as the Employer Health Tax, Tobacco Tax and Gas Tax. 
• The initiative and relief period complement the relief from interest and penalties from not remitting Corporate Income Tax owing that was announced by the federal government on March 18, 2020.

$1.8 Billion in Education Property Tax Deferrals

• Many residents and businesses are facing challenges in making property tax payments. 
• The government is working with municipalities as they introduce measures to provide property tax relief, by allowing taxpayers to defer property tax payments. 
• To encourage these actions, the government is deferring the property tax payments municipalities make to school boards by 90 days. 
• In addition to collecting municipal property taxes, municipalities collect and remit education property taxes to school boards on a quarterly basis. 
• Deferring the June 30 quarterly remittance to school boards by 90 days will provide municipalities with the flexibility to, in turn, provide over $1.8 billion in property tax deferrals to residents and businesses. 
• To ensure this does not have a financial impact on school boards, the Province will adjust payments to school boards to offset the deferral.  

$1.9 Billion in Workplace Safety Expenses

• The WSIB will allow employers to defer payments for a period of six months. This will provide employers with $1.9 billion in financial relief. 
• All employers covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the financial relief package. 
• Schedule 1 employers with premiums owed to the WSIB will be allowed to defer reporting and payments until August 31, 2020. 
• The deferral will also apply to Schedule 2 businesses that pay WSIB for the cost related to their workplace injury and illness claims. 
• In addition, no interest will be accrued on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this six-month deferral period.  

Responsibly Managing the Province’s Finances 

• Through its action plan, Ontario is immediately allocating the necessary resources to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, while continuing to invest in people. 
• The 2020–21 deficit is projected to be $20.5 billion.  

New financial measure will allow insurance premium payment deferrals for six months.

Toronto -  The Ontario government is enabling $1.9 billion in relief for employers to reduce the financial strain on business brought on by COVID-19.  The measure, which will run through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), will see premium payments deferred for six months for all businesses in the province.

"During this unprecedented period of uncertainty and hardship, our government is doing everything possible to support businesses and protect jobs," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.  "By making this change today, we are building upon the substantial financial help we are providing business owners and workers.  The top priority is to keep people safe."

All employers covered by the WSIB's workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the provisions of the relief package and can defer premium reporting and payments until August 31, 2020.  They will not be required to opt in to receive this benefit.

Additionally, the WSIB will cease interest accrual on all outstanding premium payments.  They will not charge penalties during this six-month deferral period.  There will be no negative consequences for businesses who defer premium reporting and payments.  The WSIB will continue to fully cover workers at eligible workplaces.

"We have worked closely with the Government of Ontario to help Ontario businesses as they face this unprecedented challenge," said Elizabeth Witmer, Chair of the WSIB.  "We're here to help."

The relief program is in addition to a $17 billion package included in Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

The government's action plan will make available $10 billion in support for people and businesses through tax and other deferrals to improve their cash flow, protecting jobs and household budgets.

Additionally, through the WSIB, the government reduced costs to employers by a new rate framework and the elimination of the unfunded liability charge, putting more than $2 billion back into the economy.

"Our government is working day and night to provide Ontarians with certainty and support during this difficult time.  This Relief Package being implemented by the WSIB will help sustain businesses, protect our economy and save jobs," said Minister McNaughton.

The new measure builds on the government's previous actions to support business and protect jobs.

Quick Facts

• WSIB covers over 5 million people in more than 300,000 workplaces across Ontario.
• Businesses are not required to inform the WSIB that they will be taking advantage of this financial relief package.
• The deferred premiums will amount to an average $1,760 for approximately 275,000 Ontario businesses.

The City of Pickering remains committed to working with the development community during these uncertain times and evolving business operations.

Although their facilities are currently closed to the public, they are "open for business" via telephone, email, and other digital means.

View/Download Service Level Update 

Dear OHBA Members,

Premier Doug Ford made it clear, the construction industry has been put on notice regarding health and safety standards on jobsites during the COVID-19 State of Emergency with residential construction being included as an essential workplace under that order.

The Premier stated that Ministry of Labour inspectors will be active on jobsites to assess sanitary conditions and to confirm that enhanced precautions are being taken.  Premier noted that while the majority of businesses, general contractors, renovators and builders are taking extra precautions, there remain a few bad actors in the sector.

In Ontario, workers have always had the right to refuse work if the deem conditions unsafe.

Premier Ford has been absolutely crystal clear: if the industry does not take every step necessary to look after the health and safety of workers, jobsites will be shut down. 

If businesses are not meeting the health and safety standards of the Ministry of Labour, jobsites will be shut down.

It is NOT business as usual - take enhanced health and safety seriously and implement new measures or be shut down.

OHBA leadership agrees with the Premier.  If jobsites are not safe, they should be shut down.  Worker safety is the top priority during this COVID-19 State of Emergency.

There have been public calls to "suspend" or "pause" construction sites for up to 2 weeks by various groups and now the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

It is important that members immediately enhance health and safety on their sites and implement COVID-19 protocols if they want to keep their sites open.  We know many of our homebuilders and renovators are on the tools, working with their employers and trade partners, so let's keep each other safe.

As the Ministry of Labour and Chief Prevention Officer work to provide more direction, we encourage you to consult our industry guide on enhanced health and safety precautions and implement them as soon as possible.

This document has been approved for circulation by the respective Co-chairs of the Provincial Labour Management Health and Safety Committee - Section 21 Construction and the Provincial Labour Management Safety Committee - Section 21 Electrical Utility.

Let's keep each other safe.  We are all in this together. #OntarioSpirit