COVID-19 Business Update: August 27th, 2020

August 27, 2020 | Daily Update

The Ontario Government is investing $43 million in expanded youth training programs to give young people exposure to more employment options.
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • The Ontario Government is investing $43 million in expanded youth training programs to give young people exposure to more employment options. The programs will help increase awareness and encourage youth to acquire the skills that will start them down the path to lifelong success while supporting Ontario’s economic recovery and future prosperity. The government’s investments to attract and train youth in the skilled trades include:
    • $5 million, an increase of $3.5 million, to Skills Ontario so they can increase awareness of the trades among elementary and secondary students.
    • $17 million, an increase of $2.3 million, in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) to send representatives to schools to provide high school students with the opportunity to learn about work in the skilled trades, and/or train as apprentices while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma
    • $21 million in Ontario’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training program, giving students and graduates exposure to a variety of good jobs in the skilled trades. The program is free for participants and includes a work placement.
  • In addition, Ontario is appointing three Youth Advisors to engage with youth, educators, business, parents and other key partners as well as the Minister of Labour Training and Skills Development on how to reduce stigma and make the trades a viable first choice for young people. They will advise on increasing awareness of the skilled trades among elementary school students, starting in grade one, with a focus on grades seven and eight, and on making it easier for high school students to learn about the options in the trades and to begin an apprenticeship pathway while continuing to earn secondary school credits.
  • The Governments of Canada and Ontario are providing more than $5.4 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help food processing businesses improve food safety, increase labour productivity and enable better access markets. These strategic investments will support more than 75 projects across Ontario and strengthen the province’s crucial agri-food supply chain. A list of approved projects is available here.  The Partnership is also investing in programs this year at provincially inspected dairy processors and provincially licensed meat processors to support food safety enhancement projects. These are in addition to new programming launched this year, like the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program, to assist the sector in protecting its workers from the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Elections Canada has announced new administrative changes to the way that Canadian elections will be run during the COVID-19 pandemic, including physical distancing measures, masks, and single-use pencils at polling stations, increasing the capacity of the vote-by-mail system, and removing Vote on Campus options. Elections Canada will also recommend that Parliament adopt further changes, including opening polling for two weekend days instead of one weekday. Internet voting was not considered on the grounds that there was not sufficient time to design, test, and implement a system offering satisfactory confidentiality, secrecy, reliability and integrity.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 26th, 2020

August 26, 2020 | Daily Update

Chambers of Commerce across the country have joined forces to launch the Our Restaurants campaign. A report from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions found that up to 60% of the restaurant industry could fail within three months.
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • Chambers of Commerce across the country have joined forces to launch the Our Restaurants campaign. A report from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions found that up to 60% of the restaurant industry could fail within three months. The campaign calls on Canadians to support their local restaurants through takeout, delivery, or physically-distanced dining in, and to let their elected representatives know that they support their local restaurants and policies that will help them stay afloat. It also calls for policy changes from governments at all levels, including:
    • implementing the proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) improvements
    • eliminating the automatic annual federal excise tax increase on beer, wine, and spirits
    • extending the CECRA program and removing parent company revenue eligibility cap to aid franchises
    • implementing and monitoring a commercial eviction moratorium
    • reducing or deferring property taxes, patio fees, utility fees, and other fees as appropriate.
  • As part of Ontario’s plan for students to return to the classroom in September, the Government of Ontario has released the Operational Guidance: COVID-19 Management in Schools document. Key elements of the guidance document explain:
    • The role of school boards and schools: keeping communities informed by creating a COVID-19 advisory section on both the board and school’s websites;
    • The role of local public health units: leading case and contact tracing activities, declaring outbreaks and directing closure of classrooms or schools where necessary;
    • The critical role of parents: screening their children every day before they go to school and keeping them home if they are ill;
    • Appropriate steps to take when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, including notifying the school community while respecting individual privacy; and
    • Protocols to trigger various levels of public health responses or infection control measures. One case will trigger a public health response, two or more linked cases will trigger the declaration of an outbreak.
  • Join us tomorrow morning for the next edition of GNCC Espresso Live. GNCC CEO Mishka Balsom is joined by guests Danny Pehar, Cyber Security Expert, Bestselling Author and Professional Speaker and Graeme Barrie, President and Founder, Netmechanics Inc. to examine the challenges that COVID-19 has created in the cyber security world. Participants will be able to ask their own questions of the panel and get answers to their IT and cybersecurity issues. Registration is free.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 25th, 2020

August 25, 2020 | Daily Update

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced a non-repayable FedDev Ontario investment of $500,000 to support the tourism industry in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced a non-repayable FedDev Ontario investment of $500,000 to support the tourism industry in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With this investment, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake will establish a fund that will provide contributions of up to $20,000 to small- and medium-sized businesses in the tourism sector. Tourism-oriented SMEs will receive support to offset the costs of reopening and adapting. Recipients of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s fund must provide a minimum 20 percent contribution toward total project costs. The project is expected to support 50 businesses and maintain an about 100 jobs. The Minister also announced the intention to provide a contribution of up to $400,000 to the Shaw to support outdoor theatre performances and support visitor activity in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Annually, Niagara-on-the-Lake attracts more than 3 million visitors, while the Shaw Festival draws more than 250,000 festival-goers and generates over $220 million in economic activity. About 25% of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s population are employed in the tourism sector. For more information, visit Niagara-on-the-Lake‘s website.
  • The WTO dispute-resolution panel has ruled that the U.S. countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports violated international trade rules. Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, John Yakabuski, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued statements welcoming the decision.
  • Join us on Thursday for the next edition of GNCC Espresso Live. GNCC CEO Mishka Balsom is joined by guests Danny Pehar, Cyber Security Expert, Bestselling Author and Professional Speaker and Graeme Barrie, President and Founder, Netmechanics Inc. to examine the challenges that COVID-19 has created in the cyber security world. Participants will be able to ask their own questions of the panel and get answers to their IT and cybersecurity issues. Registration is free.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 24th, 2020

August 24, 2020 | Daily Update

Beginning August 21, 2020, facilities that rent out professional meeting and event spaces can have up to 50 guests for each indoor meeting room or event space within the facility. The facility would have to adhere to a plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Please take our survey on our COVID-19 Resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis, the GNCC has striven to offer support to businesses and help them weather the storm. We would like to know how helpful our services have been to you so that we know how best to allocate our resources to better support you, and what else we could do to aid your business success. This survey has only three questions and should take approximately 1 minute to complete.
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • Beginning August 21, 2020, facilities that rent out professional meeting and event spaces can have up to 50 guests for each indoor meeting room or event space within the facility. The facility would have to adhere to a plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Previously, the 50-person rule applied to the entire building; the limit will now apply on a per meeting room or event space basis at professional meeting and event facilities, including convention centres, hotels, motels, resorts, banquet halls and conference centres, able to host multiple meetings and events. Venues hosting such meetings and events can consult the guidance document on doing so here.
  • Canada Revenue Agency is offering an email update service, including notifications of messages and of changes made to an account, including applications for CERB and CESB and changes to banking information. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has recorded more than 700 cases where identity fraud has been used to steal benefits such as CERB. We encourage anyone concerned about the possibility of identity theft to sign up for the service.
  • Visitors who are currently in Canada and have a valid job offer will be able to apply for an employer-specific work permit and, if approved, receive the permit without having to leave the country under a new temporary policy announced today. This temporary policy change takes effect immediately and will benefit employers in Canada who continue to face difficulties finding the workers they need, as well as temporary residents who would like to contribute their labour and skills to Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Any type of visitor who meets the criteria is eligible to apply under this new public policy, including super visa holders, business visitors and those who entered Canada through a Global Skills Strategy work permit exemption. To be eligible, an applicant looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must:
    • have arrived in Canada as a visitor before August 24, 2020,
    • have valid status in Canada as a visitor on August 24, 2020 and remain in Canada,
    • have a job offer,
    • submit an application for an employer-specific work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment, no later than March 31, 2021, and
    • meet all other standard admissibility criteria.
  • The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, for the Bank of Canada’s Economic Progress Report. The event will take place on September 10 at 12:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the Bank of Canada’s website.
    Chamber members have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the event by videoconference and submit questions to the Governor. Please email your questions to kmurray@chamber.ca.
  • Join us on Thursday for the next edition of GNCC Espresso Live. GNCC CEO Mishka Balsom is joined by guests Danny Pehar, Cyber Security Expert, Bestselling Author and Professional Speaker and Graeme Barrie, President and Founder, Netmechanics Inc. to examine the challenges that COVID-19 has created in the cyber security world. Participants will be able to ask their own questions of the panel and get answers to their IT and cybersecurity issues. Registration is free.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 21st, 2020

August 21, 2020 | Daily Update

Earlier today, we had the opportunity to address the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs regarding the SME sector.

While you work hard to rebuild and recover, know that we are here to support you:

  • Earlier today, we had the opportunity to address the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairsregarding the Small and Medium Enterprises sector and recommendations relating to the Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020 and the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on certain sectors of the economy. Based on your input, some of the recommendations included:
    • Ensuring the liquidity of businesses and organizations in form of extended subsidies and loans
    • Sector specific needs and opportunities (i.e. tourism, food service industry, retail, arts)
    • Incentives to retrain workforces
    • Changes to the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program to ensure direct support for commercial tenants
    • Removal of beverage alcohol inter-provincial trade barriers
    • Ontario Government to prepare credit and relief programs as contingencies for a possible second-wave
    • Childcare infrastructure and more.
  • Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
  • The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.
  • We also encourage everyone to support local businesses by shopping local and joining Niagara Shop Local Facebook Group.

Today’s vital updates:

  • Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, announced that they are partnering with 3M Canada to expand its Brockville, Ontario manufacturing facility to produce made-in-Ontario N95 respirators. Both levels of government are investing $23.33 million to support 3M’s capital investment of $70 million. The expanded facility will produce enough respirators to meet private sector, provincial and North American market demand throughout the pandemic and beyond.
  • Over 188,000 Ontario tourism and hospitality workers have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and remain unemployed, and thousands of others are working fewer hours. Help is available for workers through Tourism & Hospitality Emergency Response, a new initiative led by OTEC and funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre and the Government of Ontario. For more information on training, employment support and relief programs, visit TourismHospitalityWorkers.ca.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 20th, 2020

August 20, 2020 | Daily Update

Today, the Federal government announced changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program and new income support benefits.

While you work hard to rebuild and recover, know that we are here to support you:

Today’s vital updates:

  • Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program and new income support benefits. They also announced that in preparation for this transition, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will be extended by an additional four weeks to a maximum of 28 weeks. This means that for the many Canadians expecting to exhaust their CERB benefits at the end of August, they will now be able to access an additional month of support.
    • Those receiving EI will be eligible for a taxable benefit rate of at least $400 per week, or $240 per week for extended parental benefits, and regular benefits will be accessible for a minimum duration of 26 weeks.
    • The government will also freeze the EI insurance premium rates for two years, so Canadian workers and businesses will not face immediate increases to costs and payroll deductions due to the additional expenses resulting from the pandemic.
    • Additionally, they are proposing to implement three new benefits:
      • The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) will provide $400 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI and who still require income support and who are available and looking for work.
      • The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) will provide $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19.
      • The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) will provide $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible Canadians unable to work because they must care for:
        • a child under age 12 due to the closures of schools or daycares because of COVID-19
        • a family member with a disability or a dependent because their day program or care facility is closed due to COVID-19
        • a child, a family member with a disability, or a dependent who is not attending school, daycare, or other care facilities under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high-risk if they contract COVID-19.
      • The Government intends to introduce new legislation to support the implementation of the new benefits. Background
  • Today, Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) published three decisions. Commissioner’s Decisions are an important aspect of FCAC’s oversight of financial institutions to promote compliance with their consumer protection obligations.
    • FCAC’s Supervision Framework explains the activities and tools that FCAC employs to conduct its supervision and enforcement work.
    • FCAC’s Adjudicative Guidelines describe the process for examining violations of legislative obligations, and with non-compliance of codes of conduct and public commitments. They also inform federally-regulated financial institutions on the process for making representations when the Agency issues a Notice of Violation against them and describe how impartiality is maintained during an investigation.
    • FCAC’s new powers under the Financial Consumer Protection Framework came into force on April 30, 2020 through legislative amendments to the Bank Act and the FCAC Act. For all three Decisions, FCAC applied the provisions on naming and penalties that were in effect prior to the legislative amendments because the violations occurred before April 30, 2020. Details
  • The Ontario government announced the hiring of an additional 200 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers. These new recruits will provide OPP frontline officers with the additional resources they need to better protect communities, while safeguarding their mental health and well-being. Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique at OPP General Headquarters in Orillia. Link
  • Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced that the Ontario government is expanding eligibility for agriculture societies to apply for funding to help offset the financial losses due to the cancellation of fall fairs, exhibitions and activities during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. For this year only, nearly $1 million will be made available to all qualifying agricultural and horticultural societies to help ensure operations. In previous years, organizations could only qualify for provincial funding if they operated fall fairs.
  • The Ontario government released Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, the province’s plan to create jobs and encourage economic growth in the forest industry. The strategy will support the Indigenous, northern and rural communities that depend on the sector, while ensuring the province’s forests stay healthy for generations to come. The announcement was made today by John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
  • The Ontario government is providing $500,000 to retrain veterans for jobs in the IT and technology sector. This funding is part of a $1.8 million investment in IT and technology training projects announced today by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 in Scarborough.
  • The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020(ROA). The extensions provide the government with the necessary flexibility to address the ongoing risks and effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and ensure important measures remain in place to protect vulnerable populations, such as seniors, people with developmental disabilities and those with mental health and addiction issues. All orders under the ROA have been extended to September 22, 2020, with the following exceptions:

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 19th, 2020

August 19, 2020 | Daily Update

Details of the Enhanced Agency Evaluation were announced by Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board.

While you work hard to rebuild and recover, know that we are here to support you:

Today’s vital updates:

  • Details of the Enhanced Agency Evaluation were announced by Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board. The Ontario government is reviewing how provincial agencies deliver services with a focus on improving the customer experience, adopting service innovation, offering more services virtually and online, and eliminating redundancies. The evaluation will build on the advancements in digital service delivery made during the pandemic. Many of the Agency Review Task Force recommendations have already begun improving service delivery, including:
    • Agricorp, a provincial agricultural agency, is developing a new self-serve system that will allow farm owners to register their business and pay fees all through one convenient website.
    • The Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee is implementing online applications that will improve the user experience for candidates and help fill vacancies faster.
    • The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal now uses online filing for applications, saving Ontarians, and the agency, time.
    • The Ontario Labour Relations Board now delivers video conferencing options so Ontarians can appear at hearings remotely. Details
  • MNP has produced a video highlighting the changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. They are also hosting a live Q&A session on August 20th; registration is free. Find out more.
  • In partnership with the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC), the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, announced a non-repayable contribution of close to $5 million, for a project aiming to boost the commercialization of Canadian aluminum products by equipping the industry with a traceability system that makes it possible to authenticate and document the origin of products throughout the value chain. This financial assistance could benefit many businesses operating across Quebec and Canada and will help to maintain favourable conditions for the development of the aluminum industry.
  • Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, released a statement today, outlining that national daily case counts have ranged from 350 to 500 cases, with just over 390 cases being reported daily during the most recent 7 days. Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
  • Today on World Humanitarian Day, the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, issued the following statement: “On this day, we honour the bravery and dedication of workers, who work tirelessly to provide life-saving support and protection to the people most in need around the world. Every day, these real-life heroes put their own lives on the line to offer life-saving care, such as food, water, protection and health services, in response to communities affected by crises. This year, humanitarian workers continue to support the most vulnerable people, who are often already fighting the effects of natural disasters, climate change and armed conflict—and now must also face the challenges and risks of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, use a face mask. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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Niagara Health Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres lifting visitor restrictions

August 18, 2020 | COVID-19 Member News, Members in the News

Patients visiting Niagara Health Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres can have one caregiver / visitor accompany them for support beginning Tuesday, August 18 at noon. 

Niagara Health is reminding the public that visitors must pass screening, wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash their hands throughout their visit. Ensuring the safety of everyone is a top priority at Niagara Health. 

As Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres often see a high number of patients, visiting may be restricted at times, if physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

Patients coming for clinic visits and other outpatient services are still asked to come alone. This includes Diagnostic Imaging (e.g. X-rays, CT scans, etc.), the Walker Family Cancer Centre and Dialysis Units. Patients with extenuating circumstances are encouraged to contact their care provider directly to discuss their needs. 

Visiting guidelines for inpatients (patients admitted to hospital) remain unchanged and include one visitor at a time during the following time slots: 

  • 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
  • 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Patients and visitors are encouraged to complete the online screening form prior to visiting Niagara Health sites to expedite the screening process. The screening form can also be accessed through the Niagara Health Navigator mobile app. Members of the public can download the app from the App Store or Google Play. 

For more information, please see the Visitor Information section of the Niagara Health website here. 

Media Contact:
Lisa Pepperall, Communications Specialist
(905) 378-4647 ext. 47576
lisa.pepperall@niagarahealth.on.ca 

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COVID-19 Business Update: August 14th, 2020

August 14, 2020 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, and how to apply for them, is available here.
The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates:

  • The Ontario government is applying a capacity limit on a per room basis at sport, fitness and recreation facilities. Beginning August 15, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., these facilities can have up to 50 patrons for each indoor sport or fitness room, while ensuring physical distancing of at least two metres. They will apply to the gymnasiums, health clubs, community centres, multi-purpose facilities, arenas, exercise studios, yoga and dance studios and other fitness facilities that are able to follow the new guidance. Businesses, not-for-profits, and municipalities may need or choose to take more time before implementing this change in capacity limits. Facilities may also adopt their own protocols that are more restrictive than the guidance. Sport, fitness, and recreational facilities can access further information and guidance here.
  • Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced Canada’s Flight Plan for Navigating COVID-19 (Canada’s Flight Plan), which is the foundation for Canada’s current and future efforts to reduce the public health risks of COVID-19 while travelling by aircraft. Key changes apply to all aspects of air travel, including in airports and aircraft. They include travel restrictions; mandatory use of face masks for passengers and crew; mandatory health checks by air carriers prior to passenger boarding; temperature screening at the busiest Canadian airports and at points of origin for all incoming flights to Canada; restricted services and passenger movement during flights; and enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols and practices. In airports, these designs and measures include enhanced air conditioning and filtration systems; frequent cleaning of high-touch areas; new touchless technologies to scan boarding passes; and physical distancing measures.
  • The Competition Bureau is inviting market participants to provide input to inform its civil investigation into conduct by Amazon. The Bureau’s investigation is ongoing and there is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time. The Bureau is examining whether Amazon is engaging in conduct on its Canadian marketplace, Amazon.ca, that is impacting competition to the detriment of consumers and companies that do business in Canada. The Bureau is conducting its investigation under the restrictive trade practices provisions of the Competition Act, with a focus on potential abuse of dominance. Areas of interest to the Bureau include:
    • any past or existing Amazon policies which may impact third-party sellers’ willingness to offer their products for sale at a lower price on other retail channels, such as their own websites or other online marketplaces;
    • the ability of third-party sellers to succeed on Amazon’s marketplace without using its “Fulfilment By Amazon” service or advertising on Amazon.ca; and
    • any efforts or strategies by Amazon that may influence consumers to purchase products it offers for sale over those offered by competing sellers.
  • The Bureau encourages sellers and businesses with relevant information to confidentially share their experiences with the Bureau by providing the following information via email (ic.mpd-amazon-dpm-amazon.ic@canada.ca):
    • their name,
    • the name of their business,
    • their contact information, and
    • an overview of the issues they wish to discuss with Bureau representatives, with an emphasis on the three areas of interest noted above.

Reading recommendations:

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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