COVID-19

This page was last updated at August 24, 2020.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Please find below a list of helpful links for those seeking information on COVID-19 and the response from the Government of Canada.

Due to the nature of this situation, all information is subject to change. As further information is available, this page will be updated as quickly as possible.

 

REAL TIME DASHBOARD FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA

NEW!!! – Download the contact tracing app to help stop the spread of the virus.  The app is free, does not collect personal information and will let you know if you have come into contact with another app user who has contracted COVID in the past 14 days.  The app is not mandatory for Canadians, and can be downloaded voluntarily from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

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To get a summary of the benefits you may be entitled to, please use the COVID-19 Benefits Finder at: https://canada.ca/coronavirus-benefits.  By answering a short list of questions, you can get a summary of benefits that may apply to your situation.

The Government of Canada general COVID-19 website is: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/being-prepared.html

The Province of Alberta general COVID-19 website is: https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx.
The Province of Alberta Economic Relaunch Information – https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-relaunch-strategy.aspx

 

HEALTH:

  • In any case, if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infection and be sure to share your recent travel history with your health care provider.
  • How long does the virus live on surfaces? – It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses.  Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).  If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.  Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
  • Where can I get help with my mental health?
    • – Healthlink Alberta – 811
    • – Mental Health Helpline – 1-877-303-2642
    • – Kids Help Phone – 1 800 668 6868
    • – Health Canada has a new portal dedicated to mental wellness, Wellness Together Canada which will be able to connect Canadians to various mental health professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls.

 

PHYSICAL DISTANCING:

  • Should I be wearing a mask in public? – Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam advised Canadians that wearing a non-medical mask, even without symptoms, is an additional measure that can be taken to protect others, especially where social distancing is a challenge (ie: public transit).  Physical distancing still remains the primary way to avoid contacting the virus.  Non-medical masks are not considered suitable protection against contracting the virus yourself, but it can help protect others.

TRAVEL:

  • Changes to travel restrictions for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents – The Canada Border Services Agency is announcing that as of June 8, 2020, foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and who do not have COVID-19 or exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or who do not have reason to believe they have COVID-19, will be exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada if entering to be with an immediate family member for a period of at least 15 days.
  • Foreign nationals who are admitted into Canada pursuant to this exemption must quarantine for 14 days.
  • An immediate family member refers to a person’s:
    1. spouse or common-law partner;
    2. dependent child, as defined in section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or a dependent child of the person’s spouse or common-law partner;
    3. dependent child, as defined in section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, of a dependent child referred to in paragraph (b):
    4. parent or step-parent or the parent or step-parent of the person’s spouse or common-law partner;
    5. guardian or tutor.

     

  • https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2020/06/changes-to-travel-restrictions-for-immediate-family-members-of-canadian-citizens-and-permanent-residents.html
  • Passport services continue to be available if you need to travel urgently. If not, please wait until services return to normal. If you applied and do not need to travel urgently, your application will be processed when services resume.
    For valid reasons to travel urgently and how to apply see: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/passport.html#passport-services
  • Canada has closed its borders to most people who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada. There is an international flight ban in effect.  Anyone showing symptoms (Canadian or otherwise), will not be allowed into the country.

    • Temporary reduction of service at Canadian land border crossings – The CBSA is temporarily reducing service hours at a total of 27 Canadian land border locations.  The temporary hour adjustments will remain in effect until the expiration date of the Order in Council made under the Quarantine Act prohibiting entry into Canada from the United States.  The CBSA regularly reviews its operations and adjustments are made when necessary.  https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2020/04/covid-19–temporary-reduction-of-service-at-canadian-land-border-crossings.htmlAll Canadian-bound international flights will only be allowed into four Canadian airports – Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. This does not currently apply to USA flights, but that is subject to change.  No current flight restrictions are being placed on domestic in-Canada flights (except if you exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or do not have a mask).  Crews, planes, trains, and truck drivers will have access to cross-border travel under exemptions.
    • Canadians who are suffering from symptoms of COVID-19 will be prohibited from traveling by air or rail both domestically and internationally.
      The second emergency order on mandatory isolation came into force April 15.  All travellers must provide suitable plans for their mandatory quarantine (asymptomatic) or isolation (symptomatic) and wear a mask while in transit to that place.  All people entering Canada are required to comply with additional quarantine measures.  This includes having a suitable quarantine plan in place and reporting as required to public health officials.  Some travellers may be required to enter a federal quarantine facility (usually a hotel) for 14 days even if they do not show any symptoms. Details will be discussed with those returning at the Port of Entry.

    REPATRIATION

    The Government of Canada has completed its last rounds of repatriations (this applies to all countries). Currently, the government is not planning any additional government-facilitated flights to repatriate Canadians.

    As commercial options are becoming more and more available, the government is advising Canadians and permanent residents outside Canada who are unable to return to Canada to monitor local media and follow the advice of local public health officials about COVID.

    As of End of Day, July 17th: Approximately 56,856 Canadians have returned to Canada from 698 flights (228 of which were Canadian commercially assisted or facilitated departures) from 109 countries.

  • Canadians traveling outside of Canada in need of emergency consular assistance can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at 613 996 8885 or email sos@international.gc.ca.
    •  Cruise Ships –  No large cruise ships would be allowed to visit Canada before October 31st, 2020.

    INCOME SUPPORT:

    IMPORTANT:  You must have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account set up and your direct deposit information completed BEFORE applying for benefits.  This can be done at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/cra-login-services.html.

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    • DEFERRING THE PAYMENT OF INCOME TAXES. The government is allowing all taxpayers to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of income tax amounts owed on or after March 18 and before September 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act.  No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.
    • Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Important changes to tax-filing and payment deadlines https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update.html

    • SMALL BUSINESSES:

    • CANADA EMERGENCY COMMERCIAL RENT ASSISTANCE (CECRA) program is available to eligible small businesses.  This is for small business tenants that pay less than $50,000 per month in rent, that have temporarily ceased operations or experienced a significant drop in pre-pandemic revenues, and which rent their commercial space from mortgaged property owners. This includes non-profit and charitable organizations.
      • The CECRA provides forgivable loans to qualifying, commercial property owners to cover 50% of the rent otherwise payable by eligible small businesses during April, May and June. These loans will be forgiven if the owner agrees to reduce their tenant’s rent by at least 75% for the three months. The CECRA requires that the rent forgiveness agreements include the following terms:
      • – the tenant will be responsible for paying 25% of its monthly rent;
      • – the owner will be responsible for covering 25% of the monthly rent that would otherwise be paid to it; and
      • – the federal government and provinces will share responsibility for the remaining 50% by way of a forgivable loan disbursed directly to the owner’s mortgage lender.
      • – the rent forgiveness agreement must also include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement applies.
    • The CECRA is now accepting applications at https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/covid19-cecra-small-business 

     

    • CANADA EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY – The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) helps employers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to keep workers on their payroll or bring back previously laid-off employees. The following information will help guide conversations with constituents who have questions about the CEWS.Enhancements to the CEWS program – To ensure that Canadian workers and businesses are in a better position as our economy safely re-opens, the Government has recently implemented changes to the CEWS that broaden the reach of the program and provide better targeted support.The new CEWS online calculator – The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) launched an updated and improved CEWS online calculator to help small and large employers alike prepare to apply for the next period of the CEWS program, which will open for applications on August 17, 2020.The CEWS calculator can be found on the CRA’s updated Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy web page, which includes detailed information to help employers understand how the CEWS can support their employees and operations, who is eligible to apply, and how claim periods are structured.

      The calculator uses a step-by-step process to invite employers to enter information about their business situation and then provides an estimate of the subsidy they can expect to receive.

      It also includes printable spreadsheet and statement features that employers can use to view their claim at a glance and enter required information into the CEWS application form quickly and easily.

      By providing employers with detailed information about their subsidy claim, the CEWS calculator can assist them in making informed decisions about retaining or re-hiring workers.

     

    • CANADA EMERGENCY BUSINESS ACCOUNT – The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. Through EDC, the program will provide Canadian financial institutions with additional funding to support micro enterprises. This program will roll out in mid-April and interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions.To qualify, interested businesses will need to demonstrate that they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000). The objective of this program is to support covering non-deferrable costs of very small business, such as payroll, rent, insurance and utilities.This tool will help farmers and food processors access the capital they need, at a zero-per-cent interest rate. This will help them cover extra costs over the next number of months if their revenues are temporarily reduced due to the COVID 19 situation.

     

Member of Parliament - Len Webber, MP