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Essential Services

Update April 10, 2020

URGENT UPDATE
Please see the letter (linked below) from Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Devin Dreeshen, that confirms that all horticulture producers and retailers are essential to Albertans.  Landscape Alberta and the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association have worked closely with the Ministry over the last two weeks to secure this status.
It is important to note, even with essential status, it is required that all public health directives be in place, including increased sanitization, enforced social distancing, and other policies and procedures.  Please visit www.landscape-alberta.com or www.agga.ca for resources to help you adapt your business practices.

Read the Letter

 

In a greenhouse/garden centre setting, operators must consider all opportunities for spread of the virus.

Mitigating measures might include, but are certainly not limited to:

    • ensuring workers, patrons and volunteers maintain a physical distance of 2 metres apart wherever possible.
    • Prohibiting entry to any worker, volunteer or patron who is sick or isolating.
    • Limiting the number of workers, volunteers and patrons in a greenhouse at any one time.
    • Limiting hours of operation.
    • Pursuing options to facilitate pre-payment online, delivery of orders and curbside pick up of goods in order to support physical distancing.
    • Regular cleaning and disinfection of any surfaces and equipment touched by workers, volunteers and patrons.

Greenhouses / garden centres are subject to inspection by enforcement officials. Any individual found to be in non-compliance with orders issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health are subject to fine.

Update - March 28, 2020

Essential Services List Released

*********Update after initial list release***********

Businesses not on the list
If your business type isn’t specifically listed as prohibited to operate, or if you don’t fall within specific parameters that are stating that you are prohibited to operate according to the restrictions on gatherings and businesses, you are safe to continue operations.

Workplaces that are not otherwise restricted or ordered to close can have more than 15 workers on a work site as long as they follow all public health guidelines, including physical distancing measures.

Employers should:

  • self-assess and find alternate ways to organize large group meetings
  • cancel workplace gatherings of 15 or more people in a single space (such as training events)
  • employ mitigation strategies to limit risk
  • continue business continuity planning to prepare critical operations for any potential interruption

Landscape Alberta continues to seek clarification about the list specifically related to ornamental agricultural operations and the sale of garden plants and supplies.  The above notice appears to give permission to operate under guidelines unless you are on the prohibited list.  We again recommend limiting services as new health protocols can be put in place at your business and ease in to a late spring in Alberta.

--------------------------
On Friday, March 27th, Premier Kenney announced the all non-essential businesses must close effective immediately. In the same announcement, the Alberta Government reduced the size of public gatherings from 50 to 15.  Workplaces on the essential services list are exempt from this size restriction as long as social distancing protocols are followed.

Businesses that violate this order are subject to fines and enforcement.

Here is the link to the complete list of Essential Services. https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx

In the following we have extracted the relevant sections from the list to the landscape horticulture industry with some commentary about the ability to operate during the crisis.

IMPORTANT WARNING: Operating during the crisis involves a level of sacred trust with the public and with your employees. Limit operations that may have poor optics or could be seen by the public as non-essential. By limiting your scope to essential services through April it might lead to a more regular resumption of work in May. Ensure that all safety precautions are taken, including the modification of regular business operations to ensure safety. An outbreak or cluster of positive cases connected to a business operation is likely to cause immediate closure of your operation and perhaps the sector. Even with a case to operate, it is ultimately up to the enforcement officer and Government for final determination of what is essential.

First be good humans and employers. Really consider what part of your services are essential and low risk. We will have more information next week about the new Federal subsidy for wages (75%) and new funds for small business loans designed to maintain cash flow.

Business services deemed to be essential are not subject to public health restrictions (closure and 15 people maximum gatherings), as long as they follow all public health guidelines, including physical distancing measures.

Energy and utilities

  • Workers who maintain, ensure, or restore, or are involved in the development, transportation, fuel procurement, expansion, or operation of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, including call centres, control and storage facilities, suppliers, utility workers, reliability engineers and fleet maintenance technicians
  • Vegetation management crews and supporting traffic workers

 Maintenance or vegetation management on Energy or utility sites appears to be deemed essential.

Water

  • Flood and drought control operations, including dams and irrigation operations

 Irrigation operations appear to be deemed essential.

Transportation

  • Businesses that provide materials and services for the operation, maintenance and safety of transportation systems (road, transit, rail, air and marine) including delivery of maintenance services such as clearing snow, response to collisions, and completing needed repairs to the transportation systems
  • Services stations and mechanical repair of motor vehicles, trucks and specialized equipment for industries, including unmanned air/ground vehicles

 Snow operations appear to be deemed essential.  Safe access to even closed businesses is likely to be seen as required.

Industrial

  • Businesses that ensure global continuity of supply of aggregates to support critical infrastructure repairs and emergency response requirements (such as gravel, cement, concrete, and asphalt)

Supply of aggregates appears to be deemed essential.

Construction

  • Construction work and services, including demolition services, in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors
  • Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of critical provincial and municipal infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond day-to-day maintenance
  • Any other construction project that can safely abide by the CMOH Public Health guidelines/directives

All landscape construction appears to be deemed essential.  Note the last bullet about safely abiding by Chief Medical Office of Health Public Health guidelines/directives.

Agricultural and horticultural

  • Services or businesses that farm, harvest, process, manufacture, produce or distribute food, including beverages, crops, animal products and by-products, aquaculture, hunting and fishing

All Agriculture operations could to be deemed essential. Wording is less than clear and will require clarification for nurseries, sod farms, and greenhouses.

Retail

  • Businesses engaged in the retail and wholesale sale of food, pet food and supplies, and household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences and businesses, including grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, markets and other similar retailers
  • Hardware stores and stores that provide hardware products necessary to the essential operations of residences and businesses
  • Businesses that supply and deliver remote or online ordering

Ability to operate appears to be deemed as partially essential.  Recommend limiting of products sold.  Delivery and online ordering are specifically named, and many retail garden operations appear to already be adding this option.

​Gift wear, clothing, etc. sold at some garden centres and retail greenhouses is named as non-essential in other documents.  Cafes or restaurants can not offer service in the facility (take out and delivery only). Educational workshops may or may not fall under the 15 people maximum gathering.  Suggest either cancellation or groups smaller than 15 with physical distancing enforced.

Other essential services

  • Businesses that support the safe operations of residences and essential businesses

Landscape maintenance services appear to be deemed essential.

All these descriptions and thus commentary is open to interpretation with only the Provincial Government having authority.  If clarity is gained on any specific service Landscape Alberta will update industry.  If you have questions about if parts of your daily operations apply or anything related to COVID-19 response, please contact the Landscape Alberta office.  We are here to help you!

 

Update - March 25, 2020

Over the last week, many states (approximately 15), and now ON and QC have announced ‘shelter in place’ legislation that requires all businesses to close except for essential businesses.

In general terms, everyone has allowed parts of our industry to continue working.  Some in very limited scopes. In an effort to insulate the Alberta members from financial disaster, we have asked the Government of Alberta to consider the industry as essential.

  1. The government has asked everyone to do their part in fighting the COVID virus and is urging all citizens and workplaces to curtail and modify their activities for 2 weeks or longer.
  2. Even if allowed to work, we must take extraordinary measures to protect our employees, customers and the general public. There is a sacred trust involved.  Every precaution must be taken.  If clusters of our workers start to show spread of the corona virus, we would likely be shut down immediately.
  3. Now may the time from a public, health and responsibility perspective to urge all members able to shut down for 2 weeks. We have had late starts to our season before because of weather. Perhaps we should treat the shut down as bad weather. Flattening the curve now might leave more opportunity for safe work later.
  4. Even though Landscape Alberta represents the collective, it is ultimately up to you to make this decision.

 

Yesterday the Board of Directors approved that a letter be sent to Premier Kenney to request consideration for essential status.  Given the pattern of activity throughout the crisis we expect some variation of a ‘stay home’ order that will close non-essential business by the end of the week.

We kindly ask members to contact their MLA with a copy of the letter (download here) and tell them what being able to operate as essential service means to you and how you are being vigilant in ensuring the safety of your employees.  Don’t’ know who your MLA is, visit here. https://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/mla/mla_help.htm

We also remain committed to assisting industry through this crisis, including providing resources and working with government on meaningful financial aide for small businesses and their employees.

 

Joel Beatson

CEO

Landscape Alberta

 

App A Health Questionaire

App B Return to work declaration

App C Cleaning and sanitizing

App G COVID 19 awareness sheet

Essential Services Letter - template

Payroll

Q&A Document of ROEs and Payroll
The Canadian Payroll Association has made this resource available through ESDC.  It is a great resource to ensure through this crisis you as the employer are ensuring prompt access to EI for your employees as well as providing several options for alternative pay structures supplemented by EI.  Check it out HERE to ensure you are up to speed on the technical details around payroll and COVID-19.

PAYROLL-AND-COVID-19-PAYROLL-INFOLINE-QA-FINAL

Work Sharing
This Federal program allows for employees to remain working during times where there is a reduction in normal levels of business activity.  Employees wages are supplemented by EI payments.  This has been expanded to 76 weeks due to COVID-19 related issues.  Please note this does not apply to seasonal staff and must be by mutual agreement between employer and employees.

Full details here – https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html

Fact Sheets

Federal Updates

Updates April 6, 2020

Updated resource page for all Federal programs and supports - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Today, the Canadian Government provided clarity on eligibility and the application process for the CERB program which can be found here.  Highlights included that Canadians will be able to begin applying for the CERB on April 6, 2020 and, if approved, should receive their first payment within 10 days. The CERB will provide approved applicants with $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.

The benefit will be available to workers:

  • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
  • Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits:
  • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
  • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment income.

The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you are looking for a job but haven’t stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.

Applications for The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are now being accepted via the Canada Revenue Agency’s My CRA Account portal here or via telephone at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

Please note, to manage the high volume of applications, your month of birth determines which day you can apply on:

If you were born the month of: Apply for CERB on: Your best day to apply is:
January, February or March Mondays April 6
April, May or June Tuesdays April 7
July, August or September Wednesdays April 8
October, November of December Thursdays April 9
Any month Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays  

 

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
The CEWS would enable employers to re-hire workers previously laid off, and to keep those who are already on payroll. Details of today’s announcement can be found here. Please note, the CEWS is currently only being proposed by the Canadian Government, it will need to be passed by Parliament before being launched. Details on the proposed subsidy announced today included:

  • That it would apply at a rate of 75 per cent of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per week. The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
  • Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy.
  • Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
  • For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances. The government is also considering additional support for non-profits and charities, particularly those involved in the front line response to COVID-19. Further details will be announced in the near term.
  • An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.

Eligible employers would be able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy by applying through a Canada Revenue Agency online portal. If passed by Parliament, further details will be made available.

TFWP

Letter to Health Minister, Patty Hadju to Employers - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/minister-letter-foreign-workers.html

New TFW FAQs - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/employer-compliance/covid-faq.html

Economic Response Package from Canadian Government for COVID-19

March 18, 2020 – The Government of Canada has announced details on the $82 billion aid package for Canadians and Businesses. This includes the information below that details how and when assistance will be arriving. We encourage all employers to share the resources below with employees. Each company will have to best decide how to achieve a contingency plan with help from these aid programs. Combined support for both employers and employees offers the best option to maintain health concerns with being able to have a business to return to.

There is a potential as the pandemic progresses that all non-essential businesses will be forced to close.  Please ensure you are taking that possibility in to consideration when planning for the next weeks and months.

 

March 27, 2020

Support for people who are sick, quarantined, or in directed self-isolation

The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

We will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

  • workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
  • workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
  • working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
  • workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
  • wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accessible through a secure web portal starting in early April. Applicants will also be able to apply via an automated telephone line or via a toll-free number.

 

Support for Businesses

Support for Individuals

The full details on the Government of Canada Economic Response Package can be found at the link below.  Please visit there directly for more details.  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html

Health Resources

Best Practices

Best Practices for Cleaning and Prevention

General Cleaning

  • Increase daily cleaning and disinfection of common areas and surfaces. Pay particular attention to door knobs, light switches, staff rooms, desktops, washrooms and other high touch surfaces.
  • Cleaning refers to the removal of visible dirt, grime and impurities. Cleaning does not kill germs but helps remove them from the surface.
  • Disinfecting refers to using chemical to kill germs on surfaces. This is most effective after surfaces are cleaned. Both steps are important to reduce the spread of infection.
  • Use a disinfectant that has a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and a virucidal claim. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to disinfect effectively. Alternatively, you can prepare a bleach water solution with 100 ml of unscented household bleach per 900 ml of water.
  • Be sure to use / take the appropriate precautions when using chemicals for cleaning and disinfecting. Consult the product Safety Data Sheets.

Prevention

  • Wash your hands often and well (at least 20 seconds)
  • Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
  • Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
  • When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands (sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue)