Provincial re-integration plans

July 24, 2020

While some countries are preparing to partially open up their borders, the Government of Canada wants to remind all Canadians that a global travel advisory to avoid all non-essential travel outside Canada remains in effect. The government also continues to advise travellers to avoid all cruise ship travel until further notice. Learn more online.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

The outdoor gathering limit has been increased from 100 to 200 people. All public health measures, including physical distancing, remain in place. Learn more online.

View Alberta’s Recovery Plan: Creating jobs, building and diversifying online. 

As of June 29, the Relaunch Grant to help businesses recover is available for eligible small and medium sized businesses, co-ops and non-profits that faced restrictions or closures from public health orders, and experienced a revenue loss of at least 50% due to COVID-19. Learn more online.

Albertans are reminded that although older Albertans and people with heart or other underlying medical conditions are the most at risk of experiencing severe health outcomes, anyone can become ill from the COVID-19 virus. Learn more online.

Alberta’s first phase of free non-medical mask distributions at the three restaurant partners has been paused. Albertans who have not received a mask can continue to call 211 to request a package. The second phase is expected to begin in July. Learn more online.

The Apprentice Training Award was raised to $1,500 for eligible apprentices. Learn more online. 

Free non-medical face masks are available once again to Albertans at the counter or drive-thru of your local A&W, McDonald’s and Tim Hortons restaurant. Learn more online.

Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy

Re-opening in stages, depending on key measures being watched and timing.

Stage 1 (expected to begin as of May 14) - allows some businesses and facilities to resume full operations as early as May 14 with enhanced infection prevention and controls in place.

Lifted restrictions for stage 1 include:

• Some retail businesses like clothing, furniture and book stores.
• Some personal services like hairstyling and barber shops.
• Cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars can reopen for public seating at 50% capacity, but people will not be able to go to the bar to order drinks, they will need to be served at the table.
• Daycares and out-of-school care, with occupancy limits.
• Summer camps, with occupancy limits (this could include summer school).
• Post-secondary institutions will continue course delivery, but method (online, in-person or blend) will depend on the restrictions in place at each phase.

Continuing restrictions during stage 1 include:

• Gatherings of more than 15 people will not permitted.
• Gatherings of 15 people or fewer must follow physical distancing and other public health guidelines.
• Public attendance at businesses, facilities and events that have close physical contact will not be permitted, including: arts and culture festivals, major sporting events and concerts.
• Movie theatres, pools, recreation centres, arenas, spas, nightclubs and gyms will remain closed.
• Visiting patients in health care facilities will remain limited.
• In-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12 students will remain prohibited.

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place – timing to be determined.

Stage 3 will allow the full reopening of most services. Timing will be determined based on health indicators. Some restrictions and enhanced protection controls will remain in place.

The government will be relaxing the 30-day limit for prescription drugs, as of June 15, allowing pharmacists in Alberta to give out larger quantities again, up to a 100-day supply.

The government has shared a re-entry plan for the upcoming school year (starting in September 2020) allowing schools and parents to prepare for three scenarios:

1. In-school classes resume (near normal operations with health measures)
2. In-school classes partially resume with additional health measures
3. At home learning continues (in-school classes are cancelled)

As of June 12, Alberta moved to stage two of relaunch, a week sooner than expected due to COVID-19 cases in Alberta being lower than expected.

Resources

Employee training supports for agri-businesses: to help employers in the food supply chain provide necessary training to new Alberta employees by offsetting costs for COVID-19 safety and training, including the costs for personal protective equipment and to remove any barriers to get Albertans safely working

Employment: Infrastructure and transportation projects across the province are being accelerated to get people back to work and the economy back on track More at here.

The new Alberta Biz Connect webpage provides business owners with information on health and safety guidelines for general workplaces and sector-specific guidelines for those able to open in stage one of relaunch.

Entrepreneurs and landlords can provide feedback online, Commercial Tenancy Support Feedback, to help the government ensure that they are doing everything they can to help businesses open safely and keep Albertans working.

Albertans can receive up to four non-medical face masks from one of almost 600 A&W, McDonald’s Canada or Tim Hortons drive-thrus in the province, free of charge with no purchase necessary.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

British Columbians are asked to provide feedback as provincial recovery plans continue to be developed. Learn more online.

Restrictions will be lifted in phases.

B.C. is currently in Phase 1 of the restart plan. Phase 2, which will begin in mid-May, includes:

• small social gatherings;
• a resumption of elective surgeries and regulated health services like physiotherapy, dentistry, chiropractors and in-person counselling;
• provincial parks open for day use;
• opening more non-essential businesses in keeping with safe operations plans;
• recalling the provincial legislature for regular sittings.

Phase 3 will include opening up of additional businesses and services. Target date is between June and September 2020, if transmission rates remain low or in decline.

Phase 4 will only be achieved when the threat of COVID-19 has been significantly diminished through widespread vaccination, broad successful treatments, evidence of community immunity, or the equivalent.

Most provincial parks will reopen, starting May 14, for day-use only.

On June 1, many remaining facilities, including campgrounds, will reopen. A small number of parks that attract large crowds, or where reopening would pose a health risk to nearby communities, will remain closed.

The provincial state of emergency has been extended to June 23, 2020. More here.

The Province is extending a temporary ministerial order until Dec. 31, 2020, to continue to allow health-care workers and other public sector staff to use communication tools not normally permitted for use during the COVID-19 state of emergency. More on the provincial website.

Resources

B.C. Surgery Renewal Plan: Surgeries that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic are starting back up as part of a massive surgical renewal plan.

Support for workplaces resuming operations: Sectors that were ordered closed will be asked to work with WorkSafeBC to develop plans to reopen safely. WorkSafeBC is developing industry-specific guidance to help employers bring workers and customers back safely.

The B.C. government is providing $300,000 to support industry-led Buy BC e-commerce activities, implemented to help the province’s farmers and food and beverage processors overcome some lost sales during the COVID-19 pandemic by moving their products online.

Note: “Restarting economic activity will look different in B.C. than in other jurisdictions, because only a small number of sectors in the province were closed by public health order. Many other provinces are just now reaching the level of safe operations B.C. has been able to maintain throughout the pandemic.” – BC Govt.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

The Manitoba government released feedback on phase three of COVID-19 reopening and school restart plans. Detailed survey results are available here and here.

Manitobans looking to return to work can apply for up to $2,000 in direct payments from the Manitoba Job Restart program. Eligible program participants must voluntarily stop collecting CERB or CESB support from the federal government. Learn more online.

Information on the planning framework for resumption of in-class learning for September 2020 can be found online.

Manitoba’s Pandemic Economic Recovery Roadmap consists of multiple phases to restore safe services.

Restoring Services (Phase One) – Beginning May 4, 2020

• Critical public health measures and travel restrictions remain.
• priority elective surgeries have been restarted and diagnostics screening will resume and
• Some non-essential businesses will reopen but must limit occupancy to 50 per cent of normal business levels or one person per 10 square metres, whichever is lower. Services, businesses and venues include:
  
  • non-urgent surgery and diagnostic procedures;
  • therapeutic and medical services;
  • retail businesses;
  • restaurants – patio/walk-up services;
  • hair salons;
  • museums, galleries and libraries;
  • seasonal day camps; and
  • outdoor recreation and campgrounds.

The province will continually re-evaluate and adjust plans for further easing of secondary public health measures and may reintroduce others. Restoring Services (Phase Two) is expected to begin no earlier than June 1.

Restoring Services (Phase Two) is expected to begin no earlier than June 1.

Future phases dependant on ongoing public health data and surveillance.

As part of Manitoba’s Phase Two reopening, hospitals and health centres will be restoring visitor access for patients. More on the provincial website. 

Resources

Full details are available at www.manitoba.ca/restoringsafeservices.

Workplace Guidance for Business Owners. 

Restoring Safe Services Together: The Road map.

June 5 2020 Update

The government launched an online tool that helps match employers and students with work opportunities.

The Canada-Manitoba Job Grant program amount is being increased to help businesses with staff training costs. Employers can apply for up to $10,000 for each employee. Learn more on their website.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE 

The Southern Labrador-Quebec border and the border at Labrador West-Quebec is open to interprovincial travel amongst local communities. Residents are not required to self-isolate if they are asymptomatic and have not travelled outside Newfoundland and Labrador or Quebec in the previous 14 days. Learn more online. 

As of July 3^rd, an Atlantic province travel bubble is in effect allowing residents of the Atlantic provinces to travel within the four provinces without the requirement to self-isolate. Learn more online.

Residents are reminded of the public health guidelines in effect when traveling by Taxi. Learn more online.

Alert Level System – There are five levels, five being the starting level. The goal is to reach level one.

The following is being monitored in order to make decisions to lower Alert Levels:

• Spread of COVID-19 is controlled
• Ability to test, trace and isolate all cases
• Health system readiness to handle any surge in COVID-19 cases
• Risk of outbreaks
• Workplaces preparedness to protect the health and safety of staff and the public
• Identification and isolation of travel-related cases
• Community readiness to live with COVID-19

Currently at Alert Level 4, with focus on beginning to relax public health measures to allow more social and business activities, while minimizing the risk of outbreaks. This level includes:

• Ability to expand household bubble
• Gatherings at funerals, burials and weddings are restricted to no more than 10 people, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.
• Retail stores that do not offer essential services, bars and lounges, cinemas, and personal service establishments remain closed.
• Restaurants remain closed for in-person dining.
• Professional services such as accounting firms, law firms, and financial services can offer in-person services. (Work from home policies are encouraged, where possible.)
• In-person worker and workplace safety training will be permitted (e.g. Standard First Aid, Basic Safety Training, food safety, etc.).
• Limited expansion of child care services
• More at: https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/alert-system/alert-level-4/

The province is moving to Alert Level 3. Training materials have been prepared to assist employees returning to the workplace and will be available on PSAccess. 

Resources

Public Health Guidance for all alert levels. 

Summary table of all the alert levels, including individual responsibilities and public health measures.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

Service New Brunswick centres will be opened by July 13. However, residents are reminded that most services can be accessed online or through Tele-Services at 1-888-762-8600. 

As of July 3^rd, an Atlantic province travel bubble is in effect allowing residents of the Atlantic provinces to travel within the four provinces without the requirement to self-isolate. Learn more online.

The province has a pre-travel registration service available. The Travel Registration Program website will allow those who intent to travel to pre-register, verify that they meet the health screening criteria and see what documents are required to enter the province. Pre-registrants receive documents and information about the current health guidelines. Learn more online.

The plan to re-open businesses, educational facilities, the health-care system, recreational activities, and cultural events will be guided by four distinct public health alert levels:

• Red: This phase is aimed at flattening the curve and containing the virus as quickly as possible.
• Orange: The goal of this phase is to balance the reopening of social and economic settings while preventing a resurgence of transmission.
• Yellow: The goal of this phase is to further increase the reopening of social and economic settings after the ability to control transmission has been demonstrated.
• Green: This phase will likely come after a vaccine is available or more is learned about how to protect people from the virus.

As a first step, the following is now in effect:

• Two-household bubbles: Households may now choose to spend time with one other household, if both households agree. The selection made is not interchangeable.
• Golf courses and driving ranges: If all physical distancing and safety measures are in place, golf courses and driving ranges can now open.
• Recreational fishing and hunting: The delay on springs seasons has been lifted.
• Outdoor spaces: With physical distancing, people can now enjoy the outdoors including parks and beaches.
• Carpooling: Co-workers or neighbours can carpool if physical distancing measures are maintained by transporting the passenger in the backseat.
• Post-secondary education: Students requiring access to campus to fulfill their course requirements will be able to do so.
• Outdoor religious services: As an alternative to online worship, religious organizations can hold outdoor services if parishioners stay in their vehicles that are two metres apart.

More details are available on the New Brunswick Province website. 

We are now in Phase 2, also designated as Orange level. Re-openings and activities include:

• Elective surgeries and other non-emergency health services, including dental, physiotherapy, optometry and massage therapy.
• Outdoor public gatherings, with physical distancing, of 10 or fewer people.
• Indoor public gatherings, with physical distancing, of 10 or fewer people for in-person religious services, weddings and funerals.
• All in-person programs at post-secondary institutions, subject to the COVID-19 directives from Public Health. Virtual education options should be continued wherever possible.
• Cultural venues such as museums, galleries and libraries.
• Offices not deemed essential during the initial phase.
• Retail establishments, including malls.
• Restaurants.
• Campgrounds and outdoor recreational activities, such as zoos and outfitters.
• Early learning and child care centres regulated by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will be permitted to reopen as of May 19. The department will contact operators to provide further information in the coming days.
• Non-regulated child care providers may open as of today but must adhere to Public Health guidelines, including having an operational plan.
• Day camps, if the organization can adhere to Public Health measures set out in the document called COVID-19 Recovery Phase: Guidance to Early Learning and Childcare Facilities and Day Camps.
• ATV trails across the province.

Provincial parks and major tourism attractions to reopen. 

Anyone who is in a public area, where physical distancing of two metres cannot be maintained, must wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth unless they are a child under the age of two or if they cannot wear one for medical reasons. People are strongly encouraged to have a mask with them at all times when in a public area so they can put it on if physical distancing cannot be maintained. More on the provincial website.

Resources

Businesses do not need to be inspected before re-opening, but they must prepare an operational plan that can be provided to officials, if requested.

Personal protective equipment: The government is developing a website, which will be available next week, that will have a list of suppliers that provide personal protective equipment to private industry.

Guidelines for New Brunswick workplaces from WorkSafe NB, including Operational Plan templates.

Public Health Measures Guidelines.

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

As of July 3^rd, campers from all four Atlantic provinces can make reservations at any of Nova Scotia’s 20 provincial campgrounds. The province will also open more than 300 additional campsites at provincial parks for bookings starting July 6^th. Learn more online. 

The application deadline for the Small Business Reopening and Support Grant was extended to Friday, July 17^th. Learn more online.

Effective July 3^rd, the gathering limit for outdoor events has been increased to 250 people with physical distance rules in place. The limit is 50% capacity to a maximum of 200 with physical distance rules in place for indoor events. Learn more online. 

As of July 3^rd, an Atlantic province travel bubble is in effect allowing residents of the Atlantic provinces to travel within the four provinces without the requirement to self-isolate. Learn more online. 

Wearing non-medical masks on public transportation has become mandatory as of July 17^th and visitor restrictions at long-term care homes are gradually being eased. Learn more online.

Nova Scotia’s reopening plan is under development. It will be based on the following:

• advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s recommendations and guidelines to lift public health measures
• status of COVID-19 in the province
• consultation with sectors
• the ability for people and businesses to continue to follow public health measures

Reopening will be done in phases, over time. Each phase could last a minimum of 28 days. Readiness to reopen – and to move onto the next phase – will be assessed weekly.

Effective Monday, June 15, long-term care facilities and homes for persons with disabilities can resume visits, provided they follow public health guidelines. More on the Nova Scotia website.

RESOURCES

Nova Scotia has a Reopening and Support Grant to help small businesses, non-profits, charities, and social enterprises open safely and continue business. Learn more on the website.

 The province has released guidelines to support safe community celebration of graduates, provided they are led by an established organization and follow public health guidelines. 

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

In hopes to help large industrial and commercial companies return to full levels of operation without the fear of electricity costs spiking, companies that participate in the Industrial Conservation Initiative (ICI) are not required to reduce their electricity usage during peak hours, as their proportion of Global Adjustment (GA) charges will be frozen. Learn more online.

A free online workplace health and safety training is available through Employment Ontario. Learn more online.

Find guidance for public transit agencies and passengers in response to COVID-19 online.

Effective July 17^th, various regions in the province have moved into stage 3 of reopening which allows for most businesses and public spaces to resume with public health and workplace safety measures in place. Learn more online.

The government has released a framework for reopening the province which outlines the gradual reopening of businesses, services and public spaces.

The government is planning a stage-by-stage approach to reopening the economy to ensure there are appropriate measures in place so workplaces can open safely. Public health officials will carefully monitor each stage for two to four weeks, as they assess the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak to determine if it is necessary to change course to maintain public health.

Stage 1: The following will be considered:

• opening select workplaces that can meet current public health guidelines
• allowing essential gatherings of a limited number of people
• opening some outdoor spaces
• continued protections for vulnerable populations

Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.

Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.

More information on the Ontario Province website. 

Update as of May 12:

• Access to limited recreational activities at Ontario Parks is being permitted as of May 11 (or May 15 for certain areas) while maintaining physical distancing.
• Retail stores with street entrance can open for curbside pick-up and deliveries.

The government has extended all emergency orders currently in force until June 19, 2020. Learn more about the emergency orders in place on the provincial website.

As part of Ontario’s stage 2 reopening plan, beginning June 12, more facilities and services will be available at provincial parks in certain regions.

The government has developed and shared a plan to reopen post-secondary education. Starting July 2020, limited in-person education and training may restart for students who were unable to graduate due to COVID-19 closures. In September 2020, all students will have the opportunity to attend post-secondary education through virtual learning, in-class instruction, or hybrid formats. 

The provincial declaration of emergency has been extended to June 30, 2020. More online. 

Resources

Sector specific resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

Request a temporary rule or regulation change to help your business respond to COVID-19.

June 5 2020 Update

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program supports consumers with electricity bills. Similarly, the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) supports small businesses with electricity bills. Learn more on the website.

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

As of July 3^rd, an Atlantic province travel bubble is in effect allowing residents of the Atlantic provinces to travel within the four provinces without the requirement to self-isolate. Learn more online.

The province released a Welcome Back to School Plan for the return of all K-12 students and staff to school in September. Learn more online.

Provincial Park campgrounds will reopen for two-night minimum stays on Wednesday, July 8^th. Learn more online.

Starting July 20, all public libraries across the province will reopen with some services reduced and safety measures in place. Learn more online.

The government released a plan to ease public health restrictions related to COVID-19. Renew PEI, Together outlines the guiding principles and phased approach to the reopening of businesses, services and public spaces. The plan will be implemented in four distinct phases with a progressive lifting of public health measures on individuals, communities and organizations over three-week periods.

Phase one – Beginning May 1, 2020

• Traveler screening in place at points of entry to PEI and self-isolation requirements
• Limited outdoor gatherings of no more than 5 individuals involving people from different households
• Priority non-urgent health care services
• Non-contact outdoor recreational activities
• Select outdoor and construction services
• Child care for essential service workers
• Priority public services
• Home-based learning options, with some limited activities
• Visitor restrictions in place at long-term care facilities

More information on the Prince Edward Island Province website. 

Select Access PEI locations will open to the public on Tuesday, May 12 with modified service and appropriate public health precautions in place.

Phase Two – expected to start May 22, 2020.

Phase Three – will potentially start June 12, 2020.

Phase Four – to be determined.

The province moved into phase three of the Renew PEI Together plan as of June 1, allowing for the expansion of education and child care services, as well as the re-opening of additional government services and provincial spaces. More on the provincial website.

Resources

Guidance public health measures for Phase 1. 

Workplaces with offices guidance.

Outdoor gathering guidance. 

Re-integration plans

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

The Southern Labrador-Quebec border and the border at Labrador West-Quebec is open to interprovincial travel amongst local communities. Residents are not required to self-isolate if they are asymptomatic and have not travelled outside Newfoundland and Labrador or Quebec in the previous 14 days. Learn more online.

Information on gathering limits for public and private places can be found online.

Consult the webpage on gradual resumption of activities and the guide summarizing the main directives currently in force.

Residents wishing to vacation to another region may do so, but are asked to comply with the instructions to ensure safe vacations in Quebec.

The province recommends that residents who have a chronic disease or are seventy years of age and more ask a close friend or family member to pick up their medications at the pharmacy, or ask if there is a delivery service. The restriction on pharmacists to only deliver a 30-day supply for medications to their clients was lifted on June 15. Learn more online.

In the coming weeks, activities will gradually resume in Québec, with the consent and collaboration of public health authorities. The reopenings will occur in phases.

Starting on May 4, 2020:

• Retail stores with a direct exterior access can resume their activities, except for those in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), which can reopen on May 11, 2020. Businesses in the supply chains of retail stores can resume their activities on the same dates.
• Withdrawal of checkpoints in the regions will be spread over several weeks. As of May 4th, access will be allowed to the territories of:
  
  • the Antoine-Labelle, Argenteuil, Pays-d’en-Haut and Laurentides regional county municipalities for the Laurentides health region;
  • the territories of the Autray, Joliette, Matawinie and Montcalm regional county municipalities for the Lanaudière health region;
  • the territories of the Bellechasse, L’Islet and Montmagny regional county municipalities for the Chaudière-Appalaches health region;
  • Rouyn-Noranda for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue health region.

As of May 11, preschools and elementary schools, as well as all child care services, including non-subsidized daycares and recognized and non recognized family daycare centres, will be progressively reopened in all regions of Québec, with the exception of schools and child care services located in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal metropolitan community).

Full details are available on the Quebec Province website. 

Resources

• Preschools, elementary and secondary schools
• Plan for opening schools during COVID-19
• Safety measures for workers and children in elementary schools and daycare services during COVID-19

June 5 2020 Update

Instructions to ensure safe vacations in Quebec.

July 24, 2020 - UPDATE

Saskatchewan Provincial Parks opened the rest of its campsites for the peak summer season. Learn more online.

Beginning July 6, indoor pools, indoor rinks, indoor sports and activities, and the performing arts – including music, dance and theatre – will be able to re-open. Beginning July 9, casinos and bingo halls are able to re-open for business. Learn more online.

As the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is well underway, guidelines continue to be released. New guidelines for temporary food vendors, racing and rodeos, banquet and conference facilities and trade shows have been released. Learn more online.

The Re-Open Saskatchewan plan consists of five phases.

Phase One – Beginning May 4, 2020

• The first phase of the plan includes the re-opening of medical services restricted under the current public health order, and the resumption of low-risk outdoor recreational activities, including fishing and boat launches, golf courses and a fixed date for parks and campgrounds. The size restrictions of public and private gatherings will remain at a maximum of 10 people.
• On May 4, public access to medical services will be reinstated, including access to dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, opticians, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment. When it is not possible to physically distance, providers will be required to take precautionary measures as outlined by the Chief Medical Health Officer.
• Low-risk outdoor recreational activities will be allowable with precautionary measures, including fishing and boat launches (May 4), golfing with physical distancing guidelines (May 15) and a fixed date (June 1) and clear guidelines for the operation of parks and campgrounds.

The timing and order of the businesses and workplaces included in each phase is subject to change throughout the process based on a continuous assessment of various factors. Phase two is expected to begin May 19, 2020.

Full details are available on the Saskatchewan Province website.

Saskatchewan moved to phase 3 of reopening as of June 8, 2020. 

As part of the province’s reopening plans, the 2020-2021 school year will resume in-class learning and is set to start as early as September 1, 2020. Guidelines will be released in the coming days.