BUILDING DURHAM

Premier Ford Appoints Team to Develop Plan for Post-Pandemic Growth and Prosperity

TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee which will focus on getting businesses up and running and people back to work after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. While the government's primary focus is on combatting the virus, supporting frontline health care workers and providing immediate relief to people and businesses, this new committee will be developing a plan to stimulate economic growth and job-creation in the weeks and months ahead.

"My heart goes out to those individuals and families who have been out of work, or whose business has closed through no fault of their own," said Premier Ford. "I can assure each person affected by this crisis that we will do everything we can to support you, and get you back on the job as soon as possible. While our government battles this virus, members of our new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee will roll up their sleeves and develop a roadmap to a stronger, more prosperous economy." 

The membership of the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee includes: 
• Rod Phillips, Chair, Minister of Finance 
• Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade 
• Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board 
• Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation 
• Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health 
• Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 
• Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs 
• John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry 
• Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure 
• Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries 
• Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services 
• Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development 
• Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction 

The Committee will be consulting with a wide variety of people to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the provincial economy and develop an action plan to move forward, including business associations, chambers of commerce, municipal leaders, corporate leaders, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.

"While we focus our energy and resources on defeating COVID-19, today's job numbers highlight why we also need to plan for an economic recovery," said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. "At Premier Ford's request, I have convened the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee. And our first order of business is to prepare for the next phase of Ontario's Action Plan, which will be ready to launch as soon as COVID-19 is contained. This team will get our economy moving again ― with a focus on job creation, opportunities for growth, and protecting our province from future threats."

Today, Statistics Canada released its monthly job numbers, which showed a 402,800 decrease in employment in Ontario. To support the provincial effort to deal with this crisis, the government launched Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. This is a $17 billion package with funding targeted to help families and a variety of sectors across the province.

In addition to $3.3 billion in more health care resources, the plan includes $3.7 billion to support people and jobs, and relief of $6 billion by temporarily deferring taxes for 100,000 Ontario businesses, $1.9 billion to allow employers to defer Workplace Safety and Insurance Board payments, and $1.8 billion to defer municipal education property tax payments.

The government is also providing $52 million from the package to better support individuals and families in financial crisis through social assistance. This funding will support those who are not able to access federal assistance to cover needs such as food costs, rent, medicine and other essential services during this time. Individuals can easily apply online for assistance.

To support small businesses, the Ontario government has also worked with the federal government to develop the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Loan that will enable up to $40 billion in lending, supported through Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank. This new program will help businesses meet cash flow requirements through guaranteed loans.

"Our government is pulling out all the stops to support our job creators and workers today, during this very difficult time," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "But it is incumbent upon us to look ahead and map out a plan that considers life after COVID-19, a plan that will guide us into a future filled with hope, new employment opportunities and steady economic growth."

"While the health and safety of Ontarians is our top priority, we need to ensure that our province is positioned to support and facilitate economic growth when we lift the State of Emergency," said Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board. "This starts with the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee, which will ensure we have a long-term, strategic vision to responsibly reopen our economy."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Apply for emergency assistance.
• See how your organization can help fight COVID-19.
• Learn more about Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

 

Extending Construction Hours Will Help Keep Ontario Workers Safe

TORONTO — In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, Ontario is extending construction hours for essential construction projects, like critical projects in the health care sector, to 24 hours a day. Work on new hospital builds, expansions, and COVID-19 assessment centres will be able to continue any time of the night or day in order to help accelerate the construction of these important projects and enable employers to take additional steps to protect the health and safety of workers on these job sites.

Premier Doug Ford, Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, today announced extended construction hours and other measures to keep Ontario workplaces safe.

"During this escalating crisis, we are taking immediate steps to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place, particularly to properly care for those with severe COVID-19 symptoms and other patients who require critical care," said Premier Doug Ford. "That's why we're extending construction hours to allow us to build essential infrastructure faster, while ensuring construction workers can practice physical distancing on work sites to stay safe and healthy."

Ontario will temporarily limit local noise bylaws from applying to these types of essential construction activities beginning April 7, 2020. This will allow for expedited construction on key facilities, such as new hospital builds, expansions, temporary COVID-19 response units or structures, and COVID-19 assessment centres. Extending hours for essential construction will also give worksite managers more flexibility to stagger shifts, limit the number of people in one place, and take reasonable precautions to keep workers safe and healthy under the recent guidelines issued by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer for construction sites.

Ontario is also making essential workplaces across the province safer during the COVID-19 pandemic by:

• Redeploying more than 30 employment standards officers to help businesses understand and comply with health and safety requirements;
• Working with health and safety associations to deploy up to 30 specialists to support employers and workers in the field;
• Issuing health and safety guidance notes to support specific sectors;
• Doubling the capacity of Ontario's Health and Safety Call Centre from 25 to 50 phonelines;
• Providing job-protected leave under the Employment Standards Act for workers who need to self-isolate or care for a loved one because of COVID-19;
• Issuing a call to recently-retired inspectors who may be able and willing to return to their positions;
• Providing compliance assistance and enforcing the emergency orders issued under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act.

"Our government is doing everything in its power to make sure workers on the job are safe during this pandemic," said Monte McNaughton , Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. "That means more inspections, more inspectors, more phone lines, and more people to take your calls. We have conducted thousands of inspections and investigations across the province in March and we will continue to conduct more this month. We will do everything in our power to keep the essential workers of our province safe."

"We're helping to protect the health and safety of construction workers and ensure that critical health care-related construction projects continue during this outbreak," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Temporarily limiting noise bylaws to extend the hours for construction work will help make it possible to stagger shifts and have fewer workers on site at any given time so they can practice physical distancing."

"As part of our plan to stop the spread of COVID-19, we are continuing to expand health care capacity in communities across the province," said Minister Elliott. "That includes building new assessment centres and field hospitals, both of which are critical to ensuring we are able to care for Ontarians as we contain this new virus. Extended hours will ensure that work on these facilities continues safely to the benefit of all Ontarians."

QUICK FACTS

• All Ontarians should stay home unless absolutely necessary for essential reasons, such as such as accessing health care services, shopping for groceries, picking up medication, walking pets when required, or supporting vulnerable community members with meeting essential needs. If you must leave your home, stay at least two (2) meters apart from others.
• If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health: wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; sneeze and cough into your sleeve; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; avoid contact with people who are sick; and stay home if you are sick.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• See a list of essential services in Ontario.
• See how your organization can help fight COVID-19.
• Learn more about Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

After careful monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Shaun Collier has taken the unprecedented step to declare a state of emergency in the Town of Ajax. This was done in close consultation with the Town’s Municipal Emergency Control Group.  

Today’s decision follows Mayor Collier’s strong statement about physical distancing on Friday, April 3rd, and is a significant action that underscores the importance of staying at home. This is not a step taken lightly. It is the strongest tool available to a municipality, and ensures that the Town is able to continue to respond quickly and decisively to COVID-19, keeping residents safe. 

Public Health leaders are cautioning people that the next two weeks are critical to fighting the virus, stopping community spread and flattening the curve. Ajax is stepping up our messaging and doing everything within our power to support our community during this difficult time.  

Ajax Council implores the community to take the strongest precautions possible to save lives.   

The declaration is effective immediately, and will remain in effect until further notice.

“With Easter long weekend approaching, it is critical that we persevere for the health of our community. We cannot afford to take steps backward. We miss our friends and families, but we are fighting to save lives.” said Mayor Shaun Collier. “I continue to ask residents to physically distance, cancel all in-person social activities and stay home. Heed the warnings of provincial and public health orders and observe Town amenity closures. In the difficult days ahead, we must unite as a community with one goal – to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. We are all in this together. #StayHomeAjax.”

“Every measure we have taken to date provides a clear indication of how seriously we take COVID-19, and our responsibility to the people and businesses of Ajax. I want to thank our residents and businesses for every sacrifice they have made, and continue to make. We must all be a part of the solution. The Town remains at your service, to provide information and support. Our website is continually updated, phone lines remain open and social media is monitored. I encourage you to reach out if we can be of assistance during this time of uncertainty.” – Shane Baker, CAO

The Town of Ajax remains open for business. For a complete list of service reductions and helpful links, visit ajax.ca/COVID19.

Mayor Dan Carter today declared a local state of emergency for the City of Oshawa in response to health authorities indicating that the next 14 days are crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

With the statutory holiday weekend upon us, it is critical that we follow government orders to not gather in groups of more than five people and health authority guidelines to stay home as much as possible and keep a physical distance of 6 feet (2 metres) from others. Everyone has a role to play.

“It is devastating to hear reports from police and municipal by-law officers that community members are ignoring the Ontario Government’s order not to gather in groups of more than five people. Declaring a state of emergency for Oshawa serves as a really clear signal that people need to stay home. We have taken proactive measures and closed our facilities and outdoor amenities and we’re relying on everyone in our community to do their part.”

“Every effort must be made by each of us to protect our families, friends and the community – only go outside for essential trips, avoid close contact and maintain physical distancing, don’t gather in groups, and continue to follow recommendations of provincial health officials,” said Fire Chief Derrick Clark, Oshawa’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator.

On Friday, March 13, the City of Oshawa activated its Emergency Plan and City Council delegated authority to the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer for use in emergencies. These measures provide the City the ability to make key decisions to maintain business continuity to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has established key objectives and protocols to keep critical services operating and providing service to the community and we continue to focus on business continuity and maintaining critical functions and services.

The City continues to work with Durham Regional Police Services on enforcement.  Under the Ontario Government’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual.

Community members can report a gathering of more than five people or a non-compliant business on www.drps.ca under Online Services - Community Concerns or call the DRPS non-emergency line at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5802 and leave a message.

The City continues to post updates to its Coronavirus webpage. For a list of closures, changes to services, more information and F.A.Q.s, visit www.Oshawa.ca/Coronavirus.

Community members concerned about their health are asked to use the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment tool to determine if they need to seek care or refer to Lakeridge Health’s COVID-19 Assessment Clinic.

WSIB understands the impact the evolving COVID-19 situation is having on businesses across Ontario. WSIB has made a decision regarding COVID-19 related claims costs.  

They have determined that costs associated with COVID-19 related claims will not be allocated at an employer or class level. Instead, they will be allocated on a Schedule-wide basis and there will be no change in premium rates for 2020.  

 As always, you can find more information on their website including information on their financial relief package and adjudicative guidance for COVID-19 claims.   

With a busy week of COVID-19 updates, OHBA has prepared a "Members Update on COVID-19 Document" designed to cover a broad range of issues that OHBA members may have questions about as they and their businesses navigate a rapidly changing public policy environment through this health crisis.

As part of the "state of emergency" that has been declared, the provincial government has been releasing a steady stream of emergency orders, policy changes, updates on lists of essential workplaces and initiatives to support people and business.

Download the document 

Today, the government of Ontario updated the essential services list, specifically with how it relates to construction.

This is the updated limitations to construction:

Construction

1. Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.
2. Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, critical provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance.
3. Critical industrial construction activities required for,
   1. the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries,
   2. significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work has already commenced,
   3. industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance, and/or enhancement of Personal Protective Equipment, medical devices (such as ventilators), and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Residential construction projects where,
   1. a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
   2. an above grade structural permit has been granted for condominiums, mixed use and other buildings, or
   3. the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before April 4, 2020.
5. Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety.

Additional Measures Necessary to Protect the Health and Safety of the People of Ontario

TORONTO — Following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is reducing the list of businesses classified as essential and ordering more workplaces to close. This measure is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the people of Ontario, while ensuring that necessary goods and services remain available.

The government is ordering all businesses not covered by the updated Emergency Order to close effective as of Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. This closure will be in effect for 14 days, with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves. Teleworking, online commerce and other innovative ways of working remotely are permitted at all times and are strongly encouraged for all businesses. All supply chains necessary for the production of vital food and healthcare supplies are being protected and remain intact.

The updated essential businesses list can be found here.

"We are facing a critical moment in the fight against COVID-19 and we must do everything in our power to keep everyone safe and healthy and prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed," said Premier Ford. "Everyone must do their part to stop the spread and flatten the curve. If you are not an essential business, you need to close your doors, work from home if possible and play a role to help contain this outbreak. This is a matter of life and death."

As a temporary measure the Ontario government has revised the list of essential businesses. The updated list will direct additional businesses to close and restricts specified businesses to providing services by alternate methods such as curb side pick up and delivery, except in exceptional circumstances. This includes stores that sell hardware products, vehicle parts and supplies, pet and animal supplies, office supplies and computer products and repairs and safety supplies.

"We have now reached a critical time in our fight against COVID-19." said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health "Every step taken by the province and every effort made by each of us to avoid close contact with others are the key to our success as a province to stop the spread of this virus."

Only critical construction projects will continue, including industrial projects such as refineries and petrochemical plants and infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, roads and bridges. New starts in residential projects will stop, while residential construction that is near completion will continue. Business-owners with questions concerning their essential business status are encouraged to call the Stop the Spread hotline at 1-888-444-3659. The hotline is available from 8:30 a.m.― 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 a.m.— 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

 "We recognize the toll this outbreak is taking on business owners and workers," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "Ontario businesses are top of mind during this unprecedented time. We know that the only way to ensure the health of our businesses and our economy is to ensure the health of all Ontarians."

The government is implementing additional measures to protect frontline workers in essential businesses by adding more than 60 special consultants and officers and doubling the number of phone agents at its Health and Safety Call Centre to 50 to make it easier for workers to report safety concerns. Workers worried their workplaces are unsafe can phone 1-877-202-0008 to speak with an agent.

"If you're a worker on the frontlines of this outbreak, you should know we're doing everything in our power to keep you safe at work," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. "We're beefing up our inspectors and making it easier for you to report your concerns. We're working around the clock."

QUICK FACTS

• Everyone in Ontario should stay home unless absolutely necessary and practice physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Avoid close contact (within 2 metres) with people outside of your immediate families.
• If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health: wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; sneeze and cough into your sleeve; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; avoid contact with people who are sick; and stay home if you are sick. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Learn more about these temporary measures and see a list of the essential services.
• See how your organization can help fight COVID-19.
• Learn more about Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Please join Tarion for a series of webinars on how COVID-19 is impacting the warranty and Tarion processes.  Over the next three weeks, Tarion will be hosting regular webinars on two topics: impacts on warranty and registration, and understanding unavoidable delays.

The content for both warranty impact webinars will be the same, as will the content for the three unavoidable delay webinars. However, they will be offered several times each, so we can reach as many builders as possible. Each webinar will feature a short presentation and a question and answer session. Attendees are welcome to attend multiple sessions, or drop-in for the live question and answer session.

Please see the links below to register for these upcoming sessions.  Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the webcast you have registered for session.

If you have any questions about the webinars, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  We also have a dedicated COVID19@tarion.com email address that you can write to for all questions related to impacts of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Impacts on Warranty & Registration
Tuesday, April 7, 2020	10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 21, 2020	9:30 a.m. - 11a.m.	Click here to register
Understanding Unavoidable Delays
Tuesday, April 7, 2020	1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 14, 2020	1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Click here to register
Tuesday, April 21, 2020	2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.	Click here to register

Tarion hosted a webinar on March 30th on the impacts of COVID-19 on the warranty and unavoidable delays.  To view the recording of that webinar, click here.

The Ontario Home Builders' Association has created a new health and safety package to help members stay within the MOL guidelines.  The document contains key documents for employers and employees:

• COVID-19 Sector Briefing: provides information on MOL expectations for jobsites
• COVID-19 Site Checklist: covers major areas of enhanced health and safety
• COVID-19 Notice: notice for all personnel onsite (should be posted and visible for all)
• Government of Ontario-Stop the Spread Poster (should be posted and visible for all)
• COVID-19 Employer Information Sheet: provides important information for employers to review and implement
• COVID-19 Employee Intake Information Sheet: enables employers to better track who is coming onsite (should be filled out by anyone coming onsite)

Download the document