Ontario Enacts Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order |
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Additional measures needed to protect health system capacity and save lives during third wave of COVID-19
TORONTO — The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.
Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise , or for work that cannot be done remotely.
Rapid Testing
Rapid testing continues to be deployed in workplaces for asymptomatic staff in key sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, mining, construction and food processing. Approximately 5.4 million rapid antigen tests have been sent to over 1,150 workplaces, including 100 essential industry sites, under the Provincial Antigen Screening Program. To encourage the use of these tests under the program, additional outreach will occur to employers in regions with highest rates of transmission to increase access to testing, and the process for enrollment in the screening program will be streamlined to allow for quick access to these supports.
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Workplace Inspection Campaign Launching In COVID-19 Hotspots |
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Inspections begin this Friday in Peel and Halton warehouses, manufacturers, and retail businesses
TORONTO - The Ontario government is launching a series of zero-tolerance workplace safety inspections in sectors and regions hardest hit by COVID-19, with warehouses, food processors and manufacturers in Peel and Halton Regions.
On Friday April 9th, officers will be checking for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) to ensure appropriate physical distancing, screening, and masking.
There will also be increased inspections and enforcement across the province that will include:
- Enhanced education and outreach to the construction sector, a robust and expanding program for rapid antigen screening for COVID-19 in construction, along with a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement of COVID-19 safety requirements on construction projects.
- Continued risk-based inspections of farms employing temporary foreign workers, including working closely with Service Canada and local public health units to coordinate inspections and share information.
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COVID-19 Crisis Makes Companies Think Outside the Box for Solutions, Say CEOs |
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Construction company CEOs recently weighed in on the opportunities for the industry in the next few years and all of them agreed innovation and sustainability are at the top of the list.
CCA chair Ray Bassett moderated the panel which also included Dave Filipchuk, president and CEO at PCL Construction and Frederic Roussel, president and general manager at Colas Canada Inc.
While the construction industry has been slow to adopt and deploy new technology, the pandemic has made it necessary to think outside the box.
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Sherrard Kuzz LLP: COVID-19 Vaccination
and The Workplace
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With COVID-19 vaccination within reach for most Canadians, many employers want to know if they can require employees and, in some cases, customers to be vaccinated once vaccines are readily available. Employers are also uncertain about the information they can collect about vaccination and whether widespread vaccination in the workplace means fewer health and safety protocols such as distancing, masking, disinfecting, etc.
This briefing note addresses four common vaccination questions:
- Can an employer mandate COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment?
- Can an employer collect information about COVID-19 vaccination status from its employees, even if not mandating vaccination?
- Can a business screen its patrons (customers, clients, etc.) for COVID-19 vaccination prior to entry into the workplace?
- Is a business permitted to relax its masking, physical distancing and other public health and safety measures if it can confirm all employees have been vaccinated?
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TCA Resources on COVID-19 |
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To access TCA dedicated Covid-19 Updates, click here.
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