COVID-19 Developments and Legal Updates
We are committed to providing you with the latest COVID-19 regulatory initiatives and government programs, and how these developments can impact you and your business. Our real-time updates in areas such as business, labour & employment, litigation and tax, offer valuable legal insights and summaries that will help inform what you need to do for business continuity, to protect your employees, to meet your contractual and regulatory obligations, and to re-open with the ease of government restrictions.
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Harold M. Smith, QC and G. John Samms Effective Monday, August 24, 2020, an order directing the mandatory wearing of masks, pursuant to the Public Health and Protection Act and the Special Measures Orders made thereunder comes into effect. We hereafter refer to this order as the “Mandatory Mask Order”. The original Mandatory Mask Order,…
Read MoreMurray Murphy, QC, CPHR and Kate Jurgens Three new bills have been introduced in the most recent sitting of the Prince Edward Island legislature. In the employment setting Bill 38 aims to address the prevalence of emergency leave in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, while Bill 114 address protections to be provided…
Read MoreStephen Penney and Justin Hewitt As municipalities begin opening up recreational facilities in Alert Level 2 of the COVID-19 public health emergency implemented by the Provincial Government, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador has been receiving inquiries regarding potential liabilities to its member municipalities. We have provided a summary below to outline some of the potential liabilities…
Read MoreThere is no obligation upon a municipality to reduce a business tax due to limited operations secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. A municipality does, however, have the discretion to offer business tax relief. If a municipality were to consider such a policy, they should seek further legal advice in preparing the necessary resolutions to insulate…
Read MoreRuth Trask and John Samms Newfoundland and Labrador employers who continued operations this spring during Alert Levels 4 and 5 of the COVID-19 pandemic should take note of a new program offered by the provincial government that may provide extra wage supports. The federal government pledged up to $3 billion in support to increase the…
Read MoreStephanie Stapleford, Mike Carver, Matthew Craig, Kimberly MacLachlan and Christine Pound Part 2: Electronically-Signed Share Certificates The COVID-19 crisis, and federal, provincial and local government directives for individuals to continue complying with social distancing policies even as measures are gradually relaxing, have forced businesses to re-think traditional corporate governance practices. Questions arise as to whether…
Read MoreTwila Reid and John Samms On Friday, June 12, 2020, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced it has extended the time period under section 50 of the Labour Standards Act (“the Act”) that converts a temporary layoff into a permanent termination. The Order doubles the amount of time a person may be considered to…
Read MoreKathleen Leighton Those who have vacation homes or cottages in Canada may be starting to form their summer plans as temperatures begin to rise. However, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in a host of restrictions limiting travel to Canada, and these rules have been changing rapidly. Many are understandably unclear on whether they are able…
Read More*Flowchart below last updated June 2, 2020 (Originally published April 14, 2020) Dante Manna With the passing of Bill C-14, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2 on April 11, 2020, the federal government has now laid a legislative foundation for various initiatives to assist employers and employees who are affected by COVID-19. The main…
Read MoreBurtley Francis Recently, the Government published for public comment draft legislation referred to as the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19). The underlying purpose of the draft legislation, which was published on May 20, is to allow various timelines and other review periods under certain existing statutes to be extended or suspended up to…
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