Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is taking action to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 (coronavirus disease). This contains information for those in the agriculture industry (producers, processors, and agri-food businesses).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is working closely with stakeholders and other partners to ensure the safety of Ontario's food supply.
As provinces across Canada have started to reopen the economy, infection control has become a priority for all businesses. To help you better understand COVID-19 exposures and work site infection control best practices, experts in occupational health and safety are providing you with free access to a risk management training program designed to help you understand the risks and how you can create a plan to control infection exposures.
At the WSIB, we understand the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Ontario businesses. To continue to help reduce the financial burden on businesses during this difficult time, any repayment of deferred WSIB premiums as part of our financial relief package will not begin before January 2021.
Our financial relief package deferment period comes to an end on August 31, 2020. Regular reporting and payment schedules for all businesses who report and pay monthly, quarterly or annually based on their insurable earnings will resume in September.
Reporting and paying deferred amounts:
Reporting: Schedule 1 businesses are encouraged to start reporting deferred premiums now and will have to report all deferred amounts by October 31, 2020. You can report your deferred premiums by:
• using our online services
• emailing us at employeraccounts@wsib.on.ca with each outstanding period clearly defined. For example: August 2020 – payroll = $100, premiums = $10
• complete the premium remittance form for the corresponding reporting period and mail to P.O. Box 4115 Station A Toronto M5W 2V3
Payment: Repayment of deferred WSIB premiums, claim payments and administrative fees between March to August 2020, will not be due before January 2021 for all Schedule 1 and 2 businesses. Businesses may choose to start making deferred payments prior to January 2021. We will provide more information on the repayment schedule for deferred amounts, along with 2021 premium rate information, in the fall.
We recognize that some businesses may require longer repayment terms due to the ongoing pandemic. If you require additional support once the repayment period has started, please contact us and we will be happy to work with you.
Beginning September 1, 2020, all upcoming payment obligations will be due on the normal payment cycle for all businesses, as outlined on your statements or invoices.
Fatality & Critical Injury Year-to-Date Overview – Construction
As Ontario enters its second stage of reopening the province, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is releasing a guide to help building owners and operators ensure water quality is restored before opening their buildings to workers and the public.
When water sits in pipes for long periods, it can pose a risk to human health. Prior to reopening buildings to the public, building owners and managers are responsible for beginning water flushing activities to restore the water quality and ensure the safety of drinking water.
The following document, Guide for Maintaining Building Plumbing After an Extended Vacancy, outlines the procedures building owners and managers should take to ensure the water in their building is safe. It is also important to communicate with tenants, local public health units, and, if necessary, the municipality, to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water. See the guide for further details.
Returning to work during COVID-19 raises questions about the steps that employers should be taking to train their employees and adapt their physical workplaces
On behalf of CFBA members, the CFBA reached out to the Honorable Minister Steve Clark of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, on March 20th, 2020 regarding the continuation of Building Inspection Services during COVID-19. The CFBA received the following response
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing made amendments to Ontario’s Building Code related to the delivery of building code services
Regarding continuation of Building Inspection Services
Learn how you can create a plan to help protect your workers and others from novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
It’s not exactly business as usual as construction sites open back up across the country. Without a vaccine or herd immunity, there’s still a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, so any business – including a construction site – that is reopening needs a plan for infection control.
Every construction project comes with its own set of risks – from fire and water damage to equipment theft, slips and falls, cyber-attacks and even infection control.
These risks not only vary in size and complexity but can also evolve over the course of a project. That’s why having proper worksite policies and procedures is so critical to avoiding hazards and potential accidents.
With the world shifting to a new state of risk awareness, construction companies will need a rapid recovery strategy to become more resilient in the post-COVID world.
As return-to-work plans start to take shape for businesses of all sizes, it’s important to keep operations and cash flow management, the ability to leverage government grants and incentives, and business contingency planning top of mind as you navigate this return.
