COVID-19 Ontario

SEPTEMBER 2020 UPDATE: Mandatory Screening for Ontario Workplaces

On Friday September 25, 2020, the Ontario Government released an amendment to Ontario Regulation 364/20, the “Rules for Areas in Stage 3” under the Reopening Act, 2020. This amendment requires that all employers must screen employees and essential visitors prior to entry into their workplaces.

Read more HERE.

Who can currently operate in Ontario?

 
The Government of Ontario released its updated list of essential workplaces on April 3. Recycling operations continue to be deemed essential under the following categories:
 
SUPPLY CHAINS

Businesses that supply other essential businesses or essential services within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate.

MANUFACTURING
Businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials, including businesses that manufacture inputs to other manufacturers, (e.g. primary metal/ steel, blow molding, component manufacturers, chemicals, etc. that feed the end-product manufacturer), regardless of whether those other manufacturers are inside or outside of Ontario, together with businesses that support and facilitate the movement of goods within integrated North American and global supply chains.

COMMUNITY SERVICES
Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of services including:

Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste.

COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for workplaces

Guidance for Warehouse Workers, Forklift Operators & Material Handlers

Guidance for Supervisors, Production & Operations Management

Guidance for Equipment Operators and General Labourers

Guidance for Waste Collection Workers

Guidance for Transport Drivers

Guidance on Cleaning and Sanitizing Inside Your Vehicle

Provincial support for businesses

Provincial Tax Relief
Tax filing and remittance deadlines remain the same, but interest or penalties will be waived automatically until at least August 31, 2020. Business Education Property Tax payments will be deferred for one payment quarter (90 days after June).

The minimum payroll amount for the Employer Health Tax will be increased to $1,000,000 for 2020. Businesses with payrolls less than a million will not have to pay any EHT. For eligible private-sector employers with payrolls up to $5 million, the first $1 million of total Ontario remuneration is exempt, increasing the exemption to $19,500 for 2020.

Provincial property tax reassessment will be deferred for one year. Assessments for the 2021 taxation year will continue to be based on the same valuation date that was in effect for the 2020 taxation year.

WSIB premium reporting and payments will be deferred for 6 months. In the interim, the Province will cover all employee claims. No interest will accrue on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this period.

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