A COVID-19 UPDATE TO MEMBERSHIP - Monday, December 21, 2020
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Ford Government Announce
Province Wide Shutdown
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Source: COCA Newsletter
At a News Conference today, the Provincial Government announced that there will be a province-wide lockdown from Boxing Day until Jan. 9 for the northern region and Jan. 23 for Southern Ontario.
The News Release does not specifically mention construction, but it is our understanding that construction remains unaffected. We will provide additional details as soon as we have them.
Measures include, but are not limited to:
- Restricting indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household (the people you live with). Individuals who live alone may consider having exclusive close contact with one other household.
- Prohibiting in-person shopping in most retail settings - curbside pickup and delivery can continue. Discount and big-box retailers selling groceries will be limited to 25 percent capacity for in-store shopping. Supermarkets, grocery stores, and similar stores that primarily sell food, as well as pharmacies, will continue to operate at 50 percent capacity for in-store shopping.
- Restricting indoor access to shopping malls - patrons may only go to a designated indoor pickup area (by appointment only), essential retail stores that are permitted to be open (e.g. pharmacy, grocery store), or, subject to physical distancing and face-covering requirements, to the food court for takeout purchases. Shopping malls may also establish outdoor designated pickup areas.
- Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink -establishments will be permitted to operate by take-out, drive-through, and delivery only.
The government recognizes that small businesses impacted by these necessary public health measures will require additional support so they can continue serving their communities and employing people in Ontario once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. That is why the government is announcing the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period.
Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown will be able to apply for this one-time grant. Each small business will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. For example, some businesses will need support paying employee wages or rent, while others will need support in maintaining their inventory.
Eligible small businesses include those that:
- Are required to close or significantly restrict services subject to the Provincewide Shutdown effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020;
- Have less than 100 employees at the enterprise level; and
- Have experienced a minimum of 20 percent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019.
Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 percent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.
Read the complete news release:
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PANDEMICS & CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY:
QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT FOR CONTRACTORS
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PANDEMICS &
CONSTRUCTION
PRODUCTIVITY:
QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT FOR CONTRACTORS
Was this your first Global Pandemic?
And that notwithstanding, we have had a front-row seat to watch how you have amazingly dealt with the massive change in circumstances you experienced and continue to experience.
Obviously, the construction industry is resilient, but not without a cost for being so.
Now that we are several months into the pandemic, you have, for the most part, adapted to COVID-19 impacts and have developed a greater certainty as to what those costs, or better damages, entail; now permitting claims to be valued, assuming timely notices were provided and the entitlement grounds are laid out, allowing the claims to be negotiated or determined.
The focus of this webinar will be on the entitlement to, which is largely driven by your contract language and its risk allocation, and calculation of such claims with an introduction to how one might establish the costing rationale for disruption, delays and/or loss of productivity. Register here.
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Briefing Note: Briefing Note - Ontario Government Extends Exemption for Temporary Layoffs to July 3, 2021
Please find attached the latest briefing note from Sherrard Kuzz LLP.
The briefing note deals with the December 17, 2020, news release issued by the Government of Ontario in which it made two announcements, each of which may significantly impact employers in the province - MORE
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The Niagara Construction Association (NCA) is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and will do what we can to ensure members have up-to-date information by communicating through e-blast, social media posts, and COVID-19 RESOURCES. (please navigate the drop-down menu for industry-specific news, updates, information, and links).
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Please do not hesitate to contact me at karin@niagaraconstruction.org with any concerns or questions, or suggestions to our website/eblast COVID-19 information.
Thank You,
Karin Sheldrick
General Manager
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www.niagaraconstruction.org
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