TEXT SIZE  

Re-opening the Province Framework

December 21, 2020: Ontario Announces Provincewide Shutdown to Stop Spread of COVID-19. Effective as of Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. Please visit Covid-19: Provincial Government for additional information.

Provincewide Shutdown PDF. The information contained in this document is intended to communicate a summary of information about measures proposed to come into effect in Ontario or in areas of Ontario at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 26.

Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework (Nov 2020)

Reopening Ontario After COVID-19

Health & Safety Guidelines

October 27, 2020: New Guidance on Using Masks in the Workplace

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Restaurant Servers, Cooks and Dishwashers during COVID-19

Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace Find sector-specific guidelines and posters to help protect workers, customers and the general public from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ontario.

Guidelines for Meeting & Event Facilities:

PROVINCIAL:

Refer to the Provincewide Shutdown PDF and O. Reg. 82/20: RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 1 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17 for Current Ontario restrictions. Note local health units have the authority to establish their own rules, please refer to your local health unit here: https://www.gtha.com/COVID19PublicHealthResources

INDOOR WEDDINGS:

Refer to O. Reg. 82/20: RULES FOR AREAS IN STAGE 1 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17.

SCHEDULE 4

ORGANIZED PUBLIC EVENTS, CERTAIN GATHERINGS

Gatherings, Stage 1 areas

1. (1) Subject to sections 2 to 4, no person shall attend,

(a) an organized public event that is held indoors;

(b) a social gathering that is held indoors, including a social gathering associated with a gathering described in clause (d);

(c) an organized public event or social gathering of more than 10 people that is held outdoors, including a social gathering associated with a gathering described in clause (d); or

(d) a gathering of more than 10 people for the purposes of a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite or ceremony.

(2) A person attending an organized public event, social gathering or a gathering for the purposes of a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite or ceremony shall comply with public health guidance on physical distancing.

(3) For greater certainty, subsections (1) and (2) apply with respect to an organized public event, social gathering or a gathering for the purposes of a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite or ceremony, even if it is held at a private dwelling.

Exception, members of single household

2. Section 1 does not apply with respect to a gathering of members of a single household, or a gathering that includes members of a household and one other person from outside that household who lives alone.

Exception, attendance at business

3. The prohibitions on attendance at an organized public event in subsection 1 (1) do not apply with respect to attendance at a business for a purpose related to providing or receiving the goods or services provided by the business if the business is not required to close under this Order.

November 20, 2020: Peel & Toronto Under Lockdown Effective November 23, 2020 as Ontario Takes Further Action to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Ontario's Guidance for Professional Meeting and Event Facilities During COVID-19

MUNICIPAL:

Please refer to Guidelines for municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area here: https://www.gtha.com/Covid-19/MunicipalGovernment 

NOTE: Local health units have the authority to establish their own rules, please refer to your local health unit here: https://www.gtha.com/COVID19PublicHealthResources

Guidelines for Bars & Restaurants:

PROVINCIAL:

Refer to the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework for Current Ontario restrictions. Note local health units have the authority to establish their own rules, please refer to your local health unit here: https://www.gtha.com/COVID19PublicHealthResources

November 20, 2020: Peel & Toronto Under Lockdown Effective November 23, 2020 as Ontario Takes Further Action to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Fire Prevention Week: Guidelines for the Safe Use of Heaters on Outdoor Patios

-  Patio Heaters Safety Guidelines

AGCO: Changes to Tied House Liquor Sales Licence Requirements

AGCO: Liquor sales licensees may extend their patios for the duration of 2020 once permitted to open 

AGCO: Liquor sales licensees may now sell liquor for takeout or delivery along with food

MUNICIPAL:

Please refer to Guidelines for municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area here: https://www.gtha.com/Covid-19/MunicipalGovernment 

NOTE: Local health units have the authority to establish their own rules, please refer to your local health unit here: https://www.gtha.com/COVID19PublicHealthResources

Guidelines for Gyms, Pools, Spas & Water Recreational Facilities:

PROVINCIAL:

Facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities

MUNICIPAL:

Please refer to Guidelines for municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area here: https://www.gtha.com/Covid-19/MunicipalGovernment 

NOTE: Local health units have the authority to establish their own rules, please refer to your local health unit here: https://www.gtha.com/COVID19PublicHealthResources

Support for Businesses and Employers:

Support for businesses:

Managing your business during COVID-19​

November 20, 2020: Additional Supports Available for Businesses Affected by COVID-19 Public Health Measures - Province Doubling Financial Support for Businesses Affected by Additional Restrictions
Businesses can apply online for temporary property tax and energy cost rebate grants from the province, via an easy-to-use one-window portal. The rebates will cover the length of time that a business is required to temporarily close or significantly restrict services as a result of being located in an area categorized as Red-Control or Lockdown, or previously categorized as modified Stage 2 public health restrictions. Most businesses can expect to receive their rebate payments within a few weeks of submitting a complete application.

A detailed list of eligible businesses, as well as instructions for applying, can be found at Ontario.ca/covidsupport.

November 16, 2020: Applications Now Open for Ontario's COVID-19 Relief Funding for Your Business (Main Street Relief Grant for Personal protective equipment (PPE), Property Tax and Energy Cost Rebate Grants)

November 10, 2020: Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover Promotes Job Creation by Reducing Taxes on Employers​

November 06, 2020: Ontario Increasing Services to Workers and Small Businesses. Ensuring non-unionized workers have access to the workplace representation they need and the benefits they deserve

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Operational Review Report

November 03, 2020: Ontario's Property Tax and Energy Cost Rebates Program (Application forms will be available starting on November 16, 2020.)

Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB)

-  WSIB Financial Relief

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Businesses that qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program (CEWS) who are receiving a subsidy used to pay employees who are on leave and not working, do not need to report the earnings received through the subsidy for those employees. Businesses are able to retroactively adjust insurable earnings reported from March 15, 2020 onwards. 

Please complete the CEWS exemption worksheet to confirm if your business has been approved for the subsidy and to submit any required adjustments to your account if the exemption criteria has been met. The worksheet will also help you stay organized with what earnings you are deducting from WSIB premiums moving forward.

Completed forms or any questions you may have about CEWS and how to report your premiums, can be sent to employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca. 

Should wages paid to employees with funds received under the CEWS and Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers programs, be considered when reporting and paying my WSIB premiums?

Businesses that qualify for the CEWS who are receiving a subsidy used to pay employees who are on leave and not working, do not need to report the earnings received through the subsidy for those employees. Businesses are able to retroactively adjust insurable earnings reported from March 15, 2020 onwards. 

We will share more information for businesses that qualify for the CEWS exemption moving forward and continue to work with businesses as we adjust to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For questions about premium reporting and payment, email us at employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca or call us at 1-800-387-0750, Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How should businesses participating in the CEWS program who have employees on leave and not working request retroactive premium adjustments for earnings reported from March 15 onwards? How should businesses report premiums moving forward?

Businesses who have previously reported and now require retroactive adjustments to their account should complete the CEWS exemption support worksheet and send it to employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca. The WSIB will review and process adjustments on your account once we have received the worksheet. 

Moving forward, as long as your business continues to receive a CEWS subsidy and meet the exemption criteria outlined, those earnings may be deducted at the time they are reported to the WSIB. 

You should capture the deduction for the period in which you have received the subsidy. For example, a business who applied for the CEWS claims period of August 30 – September 26, but did not receive the approval/funds until October, should account for any amounts when reporting their October period, as that is when the approval/funds were received.

Employment Standards Act (ESA):

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government made a regulation that changed certain Employment Standards Act (ESA) rules during the “COVID-19 period.” This regulation has been amended to extend the COVID-19 period to July 3, 2021.

Extension of the COVID-19 Period

During the COVID-19 period (March 1, 2020 to July 3, 2021):

  • A non-unionized employee is deemed to be on a job-protected infectious disease emergency leave under the ESA any time their hours of work are temporarily reduced or temporarily eliminated by their employer for reasons related to COVID-19.  
  • A non-unionized employee is not considered to be laid off under the ESA if their employer temporarily reduces or temporarily eliminates their hours of work or wages for reasons related to COVID-19. 
  • A non-unionized employee is not considered to be constructively dismissed under the ESA if their employer temporarily reduces or temporarily eliminates their hours of work or wages for reasons related to COVID-19.

Beginning on July 4, 2021:

  • Non-unionized employees will no longer be deemed to be on infectious disease emergency leave.
  • The ESA’s regular rules around constructive dismissal will resume. This means a significant reduction or elimination of an employee’s hours of work or wages may be considered a constructive dismissal, even if it was done for reasons related to COVID-19. 
  • The ESA’s regular rules around temporary layoff resume. For practical purposes, a non-unionized employee’s temporary layoff clock re-sets on July 4, 2021.  

Learn more about these COVID-19: Temporary changes to ESA rules or read the regulation (O. Reg. 228/20).

Hotel Association of Canada Resources:

Guidance for Employers to Plan & Respond to Coronavirus 

Temporary Guidelines for Modified Operations

Hotel Operating Procedures – Self-Isolation

FAQ: Taking Care of Employees and Guests 

Travel Restrictions

January 12, 2021: Canada-U.S. Border to Remain Closed Until at Least Feb. 21

Travel Restrictions, Exemptions and Advice

Returning to Work Resources:

COVID Alert App

-  Download the marketing bundle here

-  Print Poster

The Canadian Payroll Association: Payroll and COVID-19

Dentons: Return To Work Employer Toolkit

In this toolkit, you will find discussion of the following topics:

A. Temporary layoffs: Extensions, recalls, and other Issues
B. Flexible work arrangements
C. Managing workplace health and safety
D. Other considerations

Statistics Canada

Economic Insigths

October 2020: The Economic Impact of Travel Restrictions on the Canadian Economy due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Archived News: Covid-19 Industry Resources