9 June 2020 | Important changes in federal and provincial legislation, filing deadlines and availability of services. This update provides the baseline changes at the federal level and provincial levels (with focus on Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta) due to COVID-19.
General
The federal government maintains a website of ongoing measures and responses, as do the provincial governments. The federal government websites, and websites for Ontario and British Columbia are listed below:
- federal government: Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Ontario government: COVID-19: Support for businesses
- British Columbia government: COVID-19 Supports for Businesses, and Support for Businesses, Organizations and Industry
The federal government has provided a single resource for all federal legislative changes: Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19. The legislative changes have end dates of note. The central federal legislative acts are:
- COVID-19 Emergency Response Act
- Second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19
- Federal Regulation amending the Application of Provincial Laws
Two federal legislative orders of note specifically address the importation of medical devices, and ongoing activities of Export Development Canada.
Insurance
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has prepared an information page on the impacts of COVID-19 on insurance in Canada.
Taxation
The Canada Revenue Agency has prepared information pages on the changes to taxes and benefits due to COVID-19, and changes to tax filing and payment deadlines due to COVID-19.
Financial Institutions
The federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions has prepared an information page on recent updates in relation to COVID-19.
Securities
The Canadian Securities Administrators have prepared a COVID-19 information page, as have the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.
Labor and Employment
The federal and provincial governments have prepared a significant number of initiatives with respect to wages and benefits due to COVID-19:
- Federal
- the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
- the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
- Employment and Social Development notices
- Federal Income Support Payment Amount Regulations
- Federal Income Support Payment (Excluded Nominal Income) Regulations
- Federal Order Amending the Employment Insurance Act
- Federal Order No. 2 Amending the Employment Insurance Act
- Federal Order No. 3 Amending the Employment Insurance Act
- Federal Order No. 4 Amending the Employment Insurance Act
- Ontario
- British Columbia
Immigration
The federal government has prepared guidelines and orders on immigration during COVID-19, as well as orders regarding mandatory isolation and amendments to the Immigration and Refuge Act.
Transportation
The federal government has prepared updates on transportation in light of COVID-19, and regulations regarding ports and seaways.
Intellectual Property
The federal Canadian Intellectual Property Office has prepared an update on CIPO operations due to COVID-19.
Competition
The federal Competition Bureau has prepared a statement on competitor collaborations during COVID-19.
Privacy Commissioners
The privacy Commissioners provide information updates on privacy matters due to COVID-19:
- Federal
- Ontario
- Quebec
- British Columbia
- Alberta
Courts
The Courts provide information updates on how their procedures have changed as a result of COVID-19, for example:
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Federal Court of Appeal
- Federal Court
- Ontario Court of Appeal
- Ontario Superior Court
- Quebec Court of Appeal
- British Columbia Court of Appeal
- British Columbia Supreme Court
- Alberta Court of Appeal
- Alberta Queen´s Bench