COVID-19

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (the “OHSA”) statutorily imposes duties on everyone in the workplace, including a positive duty on employers to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect employees’ health and safety. Businesses deemed “essential”, or “non-essential” businesses continuing to operate remotely, must ensure their health and safety policies and practices meet […]

Great article today in Kawartha Lakes This Week, featuring our advice and comments about balancing cyber security, employees’ privacy and working-at-home relationship during the pandemic: ______________________ Working online, from home? Protect yourself from cyber criminals The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced many Kawartha Lakes businesses to rely on the online market for the first time NEWS 03:00

CKL businesses leasing commercial property from an inflexible landlord, and which cannot afford to pay ongoing commercial rent, should consider taking the following steps: [1]    promptly request your landlord to apply for the new Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) and to relieve you from your monthly rent for April, May and June, 2020; [2]   

Section 7 of the Constitution Act, 1982, Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11,. “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, parenting disputes potentially trigger

On April 11, 2020, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2, which includes the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (the “CEWS”), received Royal Assent and is now available to employers. Am I eligible? The CEWS is available to all “eligible employers,” which includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, non-profits and registered charities. In order to qualify for the CEWS,

On April 14, 2020, the local Medical Officer of Health issued the following Class Order under Section 22 (5.01.1)  under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. This order is designed to protect the health of local residents by reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the City of Kawartha Lakes.  The order applies to ALL persons in the City of

Commercial tenancy relationships in Ontario are governed by Ontario’s Commercial Tenancies Act (the “CTA”) and the lease agreement itself. They are largely a matter of contract, in terms of rights and obligations, rather than statutory rules. During Ontario’s State of Emergency (as of Mar. 17, 2020), many businesses in the City of Kawartha Lakes (“CKL”) have been

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (the "CERB") has been expanded, now offering more financial/wage support to low-income, essential workers. The CERB eligibility rules have been changed to: allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month, while collecting the CERB; extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to

Today the federal Government announced: [1]      CEBA: Eligibility for this interest-free line of credit (loan) has been expanded. The previously announced program, which offers businesses up to $40,000 in a government-backed loan, will now be available to businesses with payrolls worth between $20,000 and $1.5 million. Previously, the interest-free loan was only for those with

Some CLK businesses have been deemed non-essential and, therefore, cannot operate during the emergency. Other essential businesses, despite being legally permitted to operate, have had to consider or undertake downsizing, restructuring, or otherwise cost-cutting. Either way, as a result, local businesses have had to consider or have implemented temporary or permanent layoffs. While temporary layoffs