Month: March 2020

Update March 26 

Closure of Personal Services (as defined under Bylaw 13138)

On March 26, the City of Edmonton implemented additional measures to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19 by renewing the State of Local Emergency, as well as implementing three emergency orders, including the following:
That all personal services shops providing services related to the care and appearance of the body and body rub centres, as those businesses are defined in the Business Licence Bylaw, Bylaw 13138, are immediately closed...

For more on this notice go to:

https://www.edmonton.ca/business-economy.aspx

For more information, please refer to the related news release.

As of March 25, law enforcement agencies have been granted full authority to enforce the public health orders outlined below and can issue fines.
New restrictions on mass gatherings and businesses are now in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.

No gatherings with more than 15 people are allowed, including:

• conferences
• workshops
• worship gatherings
• family events, such as weddings and funerals
• social gatherings outdoors

Business, workplace and facility closures

Retail businesses

Albertans are prohibited from attending all non-essential businesses, including:

• gift, hobby, antique and specialty stores
• non-essential health and beauty care providers
• clothing stores that sell mens’, ladies’ and children’s wear as well as unisex, lingerie and maternity wear, shoes, bridal wear, jewellery and accessories
• retail stores that sell, luggage, art and framing supplies, computers and gaming equipment, toys, photos, music, books, and sporting goods

These businesses may choose to offer online shopping and curb-side pick-up.

This is a partial reposting. For the full information go to:

https://www.alberta.ca/restrictions-on-gatherings-and-businesses.aspx

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

This information centre includes a dozen links to federal programs and initiatives supporting both individuals and businesses.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

News release

From: Department of Finance Canada

To support workers and help businesses keep their employees, the government has proposed legislation to establish the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CERB would be a simpler and more accessible combination of the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit.

March 25, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

The Government of Canada is taking strong, immediate and effective action to protect Canadians and the economy from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. No Canadian should have to choose between protecting their health, putting food on the table, paying for their medication or caring for a family member.
For more…

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/introduces-canada-emergency-response-benefit-to-help-workers-and-businesses.html

Our thoughts go out to the many artists and arts organizations, and their loved ones around the world whose health and livelihood are being directly affected by the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

We know these are likely to be difficult times. The effects of the pandemic continue to raise many important questions across our borders and boundaries. Although we can’t predict the extent of its impact on Canada’s national arts community, we are sensitive to the many challenges ahead for artists, organizations and their stakeholders. – © Canada Council

https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information …

If you’re a small business owner in North America, the past couple of weeks have certainly been anxiety-inducing. According to a recent survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), 23% of U.S. small business owners are already feeling negative impacts from the COVID-19 outbreak. Another 43% of small business owners anticipate they will feel the impacts very soon, especially if the virus spreads.

Meanwhile, north of the border in Canada, of the small business owners surveyed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), 48% have seen a drop in sales. No matter how your business is being affected during these uncertain times, we want you to know that Fresh Books is here for you. It’s why we’ve curated this list of helpful resources specifically for U.S. and Canadian small business owners affected by COVID-19. – © Fresh Books |

https://www.freshbooks.com/blog/covid-19-resources …

A pandemic is a very stressful event for individuals and communities. It’s normal to feel some stress and anxiety. It’s also very common for people to display great resilience during times of crisis. We should remember that this is absolutely the time to lean on each other. Even if we can’t be close physically, we need to stay close emotionally. So, while you’re staying in, stay in touch with each other, and reach out if you need support.

Those who are self-employed face additional risks. There is no employment insurance to fall back on and often few surplus financial resources to sustain cashflow. Fortunately, they may have a home office in which they are already set up and should be in the habit of working alone and online.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has put together some resources and suggestions to help support your mental health at this time of uncertainty. We encourage you to share this page.

They will be updating it regularly, please check back for new resources.

– © CMHA | https://cmha.ca/news/covid-19-and-mental-health … | LCA

Emergencies and disasters, big and small, can occur at any moment. It’s important that you and your business are prepared when, and if, they do. Having an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in place can offer guidance for you, your employees, and your customers in times of uncertainty, and will support an effective response to the challenges that may present themselves.

A well develop ERP will also allow your business to recover quicker and more efficiently. – © The Business Link | https://businesslink.ca/blog/creating-an-emergency-response-plan-erp/ …