COVID-19 Response Actions in Each Jurisdiction

FEDERAL

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB)
  • 75% emergency wage subsidy
  • Unpaid 14 days leave for COVID-19 absences
  • Waiver of need for doctor’s note for medical leave
  • Extension of EI Work Sharing + waiver of 1-week waiting period.

ALBERTA

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • Unpaid 14 days leave for COVID-19 absences
  • Deferral of all 2020 WCB premiums until 2021

British Columbia

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • $1,000 tax-free emergency benefit to supplement EI and CERB
  • Unpaid 14 days leave for COVID-19 absences
  • New, permanent unpaid 3 days personal illness and injury leave
  • 3-month extension of Q1 workers comp payments until June 30, 2020
  • COR audit waivers on COR certificates due to expire by August 31, 2020.

MANITOBA

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • Temporary elimination of limits on how long temporary layoffs can last
  • Deferral of WCB payments and reporting until end of May.

NEW BRUNSWICK

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • $900 emergency income benefit to employees and self-employed hit by COVID-19
  • 3-month deferral of WorkSafeNB premium payments and payroll reporting.

NEWFOUNDLAND

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • New unpaid leave for permanent communicable disease
  • Quarantine benefits for private employers
  • Deferral of WorkplaceNL premium payments and payroll reporting until June 30, 2020
  • Extension of workers’ safety training certificates expiring on or after Feb. 28, 2020 until June 30.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • One-month extension for WSCC premium payments that were due April 30, 2020.

NOVA SCOTIA

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • $1,000 bridge payments to supplement EI and CERB benefits
  • 3-month extension of WCB premium payments until July 1, 2020.

NUNAVUT

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • One-month extension for WSCC premium payments that were due April 30, 2020.

ONTARIO

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • Unpaid leave for COVID-19 absences
  • 6-month deferral of WSIB premium reporting and payments until August 31, 2020.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • $200 weekly Emergency Income Relief allowance for employees ($500 for self-employed)
  • $750 taxable COVID-19 Income Support Program payment to supplement EI and CERB
  • $1,000 Special Situations Fund payment to Islanders who don’t qualify for EI, CERB or PEI relief
  • Deferral of WCB premium payments until July 1, 2020.

QUBEC

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • $573 per week for 14 days to workers in self-isolation without EI or other sickness benefits
  • CNESST limits OHS enforcement activities to serious incident response
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding workers with COVID-19 concerns may stop working immediately without first consulting doctor
  • Extension of CNESST payroll reporting to June 1 and account payments to August 31, 2020.

SASKATCHEWAN

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • New permanent unpaid leave for public health emergencies
  • $450 per week for 2 weeks to workers in self-isolation without EI or other sickness benefits
  • WCB suspends payroll audits and waives penalties and interest charges for late premium payments from March thru June 30, 2020.

YUKON

COVID-19 Response Measures

  • Mandatory closure of non-essential workplaces
  • Unpaid 14 days leave for COVID-19 absences
  • Up to 14 days Paid Sick Leave benefits for workers in self-isolation without EI or other sickness benefits
  • Indefinite deferral of YWCHSB premium payments.

Opportunity for employers to revise 2020 YWCHSB payroll estimates due to COVID-19 staff cuts.