FEDERAL
The Government of Canada announced the following measures:
Additional Support for Indigenous Peoples
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $75 million in new funding for Indigenous organizations providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres and off reserve. This additional funding will support more community-based projects that address the critical needs of Indigenous populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food security, mental health support services, sanitation and protective equipment. It could also help with other needs, such as support for Elders, transportation, and educational materials for Indigenous children and youth.
ALBERTA
The Government of Alberta announced the following measures:
Enhanced Online Tool for Farmers
Agriculture and Forestry provided $81,000 to the Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association (AFFPA) through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to enhance its online producer directory. This will allow farmers to connect directly with food and service retail operations. The site will now give retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and the food service industry more opportunities to connect with farms.
The AFFPA will also be offering complimentary memberships for farmers and ranchers for 2020 and 2021. For more information, visit: Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association.
SASKATCHEWAN
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the following measures:
Phase 3 - Re-Open Saskatchewan
Phase 2 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan began this week. June 8 is the target date to begin Phase 3 of the plan to re-open the provincial economy.
In Phase 3, restaurants and licensed establishments will be able to open at 50% capacity. Gyms and fitness facilities will also be able to open for business, as will childcare facilities and places of worship - subject to guidelines that are being developed. Personal service businesses that did not open in Phase 2 are also allowed to begin providing services including:
- Estheticians;
- Tattoo artists;
- Make-up applicators;
- Electrologists;
- Manicurists and pedicurists;
- Sun tanning parlours;
- Facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services are provided; and
- Other personal service facilities.
The size of indoor public and private gatherings will increase to 15 people in Phase 3, while the size of outdoor gatherings will increase to 30.
Guidelines are currently being developed for restaurants and licensed establishments, and gyms and fitness facilities. They will be included in the updated re-opening plan, which will be available at saskatchewan.ca/re-open on Friday, May 22.
Guidelines for the safe re-opening of places of worship will be developed in consultation with faith leaders. Further information will be added to these guidelines and others will be developed as the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan continues to be updated to allow business operators and service providers to prepare to re-open.
All businesses that are eligible to re-open must follow the guidelines in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan and the current public health orders. However, businesses are not required to open at this time and can determine when they are ready to open and operate in a safe manner.
SARCAN is also preparing to resume its recycling operations. Beginning June 8, commercial and bulk customers will be able to bring in their recycling by appointment only. SARCAN will open to the general public on June 15.
Find the most up-to-date version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan at saskatchewan.ca/re-open.
MANITOBA
The Government of Manitoba announced the following measures:
Phase Two - Restoring Services
Today Premier Brian Pallister announced that the province is considering additional steps to safely restore services and open additional businesses.
In careful consultation with Public Health experts, as part of Phase Two, the province is currently examining limited access to educational facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, to allow for additional tutorial days, such as one-on-one learning, assessment and specific programming. Additional teaching days are also being examined for the upcoming school year, including starting schools on August 31, and repurposing some of the non-instructional days throughout the school year.
These plans have not yet been finalized and the Department of Education will continue planning and consulting with school divisions and other education stakeholders.
The draft plan for restoring services in Phase Two builds on measures in Restoring Safe Services Together: Manitoba's Pandemic and Economic Roadmap for Recovery, which sets out an evidence-based plan to ease public health measures that had escalated since mid-January.
Other measures being examined for the second phase of service restoration include:
- increasing child-care centre occupancy to up to 24 children plus staffing;
- increasing day camp group sizes to 24;
- resuming sports activities for children and adults;
- lifting occupancy limits at outdoor recreation facilities and golf courses outdoors, as long as physical distancing can be maintained, and allowing limited access to indoor spaces;
- allowing direct travel to northern parks, campgrounds, cabins, lodges and resorts while ensuring physical distancing;
- allowing public/private swimming pools, spas, fitness clubs, gyms and community/service centres to reopen with some limitations;
- allowing religious or other organizations to hold outdoor services without limitation on numbers if people stay in their vehicles;
- reopening manicurists and pedicurists, tattoo parlours, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists and tanning parlours at 50% capacity;
- allowing restaurants to reopen indoor spaces at 50% capacity and continue to offer patio services at that capacity level;
- allowing bars, beverage rooms, micro-brewers and similar businesses that serve food and drinks to operate patio service at 50% of site capacity and to reopen indoor spaces at 50% capacity; and
- allowing the resumption of film productions while ensuring physical distancing.
Changes that come into effect on May 22 include increasing gathering sizes to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, and allowing residents of personal care homes and long-term care facilities to have visits outdoors.
Mass gatherings such as concerts, festivals and major sporting events will not be considered before September 2020.
Detailed information on the draft plan for Phase Two of service restoration can be found at manitoba.ca/covid19/restoring/index.html.
QUEBEC
The Government of Quebec announced the following measures:
Day Camps Opening
On May 21, the Quebec government authorized the opening of day camps in all regions starting June 22. Municipalities and organizations responsible for holding day camps must, however, offer activities that respect the rules of distancing and ensure the application of hygiene measures. In this regard, the camp counsellor/children ratios will be reduced in accordance with the requirements of the public health authorities.
The opening of overnight summer camps is, however, postponed to the summer of 2021, except in the case of specialized camps with accommodation for the disabled. In order to provide additional respite to families and caregivers, these specialized camps will be able to operate during the 2020 summer period.
CNESST Supports the Day Camp Sector
On May 21, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) published a toolkit to specifically support the stakeholders in the day camp sector in their management of occupational health and safety. More specifically, a guide to health standards, a poster and a daily checklist are now available on the CNESST website.
State of Emergency Renewal
On May 20, the Quebec government adopted an Order to renew the state of public health emergency throughout the Quebec territory and extend the measures provided for by Orders-in-Council until May 27, 2020.
Manufacturing Businesses
On May 20, the government adopted an Order in which it lifted the limit that was applicable to the number of employees present on the sites of manufacturing businesses.
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Le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé les mesures suivantes :
L'ouverture des camps de jours
Le 21 mai, le gouvernement du Québec a autorisé l'ouverture des camps de jour dans toutes les régions à compter du 22 juin. Les municipalités et les organismes responsables de la tenue des camps de jour devront toutefois proposer des activités qui respectent les règles de distanciation et s'assurer de l'application de mesures d'hygiène. Dans cette optique, les ratios animateur/enfants seront réduits conformément aux exigences des autorités de santé publique.
L'ouverture des camps de vacances est quant à elles remise à l'été 2021 sauf en ce qui concerne les camps spécialisés pour les personnes handicapées avec hébergement. En effet, afin d'offrir un répit supplémentaire aux familles et aux proches aidants, ces camps spécialisés pourront opérer pendant la période estivale 2020.
Support de la CNESST au secteur des camps de jours
Le 21 mai, la Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) a publié une trousse à outils pour appuyer spécifiquement les acteurs du secteur des camps de jours dans leur prise en charge de la santé et la sécurité du travail. Plus spécifiquement, il s'agit d'un guide virtuel de normes sanitaires, une affiche de même qu'une liste de vérifications quotidiennes qui sont disponibles dès maintenant sur le site Web de la CNESST.
Renouvellement de l'état d'urgence
Le 20 mai, le gouvernement a adopté un décret pour renouveler l'état d'urgence sanitaire sur tout le territoire québécois et prolongé les mesures prises par arrêtés ministériels jusqu'au 27 mai 2020.
Entreprises manufacturières
Le 20 mai, le gouvernement a adopté un décret par lequel il a levé la limite qui était applicable au nombre d'employés présents sur les sites des entreprises manufacturières.
NEW BRUNSWICK
The Government of New Brunswick announced the following measures:
Driver's Licenses
Effective May 21, drivers may now renew their licenses online.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The Government of Prince Edward Island announced the following measures:
Phase 2
Effective tomorrow, May 22, the province will enter the second phase of its easing of public health restrictions. Specific details about the modified restrictions can be found on the government's website.
YUKON
The Government of the Yukon announced the following measures:
Yukon Business Relief Program Extended
On May 20, the government extended the Yukon Business Relief Program to July 23, 2020. The Yukon Business Relief Program helps Yukon businesses that have experienced a 30% reduction in revenue and need immediate support to cover fixed costs, including rent, utilities and business insurance. Eligible businesses can apply for a grant of up to $30,000 per month to cover fixed costs.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The Government of the Northwest Territories announced the following measures:
Highway Ferries
On May 20, the territory's four highway ferries will be expanding their operating hours, subject to COVID-19 restrictions including passenger limits and enhanced screening procedures.
NUNAVUT
The Government of Nunavut announced the following measures:
Medical Travellers
Effective May 21, Kitikmeot medical travellers receiving treatment in Yellowknife are no longer required to undergo the 14-day isolation period, and instead will be permitted to return home immediately. This decision has been made through consultation with the Northwest Territories and is contingent on there being no active cases of COVID-19 in the NWT.
Originally published May 21, 2020
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