COVID-19

May 15 – The Ontario government announced the following businesses will be permitted to open, with restrictions, effective Tuesday May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. E.D.T.: "Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the […]

The governments of Canada and Ontario have jointly announced they are investing up to $2.25 million to help farmers better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy food products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), the federal and provincial governments are launching the second intake of

The Government of Canada has announced a new national $962 million Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), which provides $675 million in financing support to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are unable to access existing COVID-19 measures and $287 million to support rural business’ and communities with access to capital through Community Futures Development

$500 weekly – maximum of 16 weeks Retroactive to Mar. 15, 2020 Available between Mar. 15 and Oct. 3, 2020 Must be 15 and Canadian resident Must have declared $5,000 total income in preceding 12 months or in 2019 (including by self-employment) 7, 4-week eligibility cycles or claiming periods Does not need to be consecutive

As we gradually reopen, what can an employer require an employee to provide before the employee may take the new infectious disease emergency leave in Ontario? An employer may require an employee to provide evidence reasonable in the circumstances at a time that is reasonable in the circumstances that the employee is eligible for infectious

New Ontario Funding for Victims of Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking During COVID-19 The government recently announced new measures to support people experiencing or at risk of sexual assault, gender-based violence and human trafficking during COVID-19: “May is Sexual Assault Prevention Month, an important time to recognize those on the frontlines who are working each and every

May 12 – The federal government announced additional support to mid-size and large businesses. The support is bridge financing and loan guarantees, rather than bailout funds, including: [1] expanding the Business Credit Availability Program to mid-sized companies with significant financing needs, including loans of up to $60-million per eligible company, and guarantees of up to $80-million; and [2] establishing

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has invested $1.3 billion in a one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit in April, being an average of $375 for single seniors and $510 for senior couples. Investment was also made in community organizations that provide practical services to Canadian seniors,

Ontario’s three-phase framework for Re-opening Ontario after COVID-19 (the "Framework") outlines general methods and guidelines to follow to reportedly safely and efficiently contain the spread of COVID-19, while re-opening businesses, services and public spaces: Stage 1 (in progress) Stage 2 Stage 3 opening select workplaces that can meet current public health guidelines allowing essential gatherings of a