Friday, May 22, 2020

KEY UPDATES 

• Premier Ford announced the launch of a new Ontario Tools Grant program this summer, to help apprentices purchase equipment. An estimated 11,600 Ontario apprentices are eligible to receive: $1,000 each in motive power sectors; $600 each in construction and industrial trades; and $400 for those in-service sector trades.
• The grant program is slated to invest $2.5 million in 2020-21 and $7.5 million in 2021-22 and ongoing.
• To support tourism and hospitality workers displaced by the economic shut down, the Premier announced a partnership with UNITED HERE Local 75 to launch a Virtual Action Centre. The centre is expected to help up to 7,000 workers in the sector with supports from counselling for mental wellness to employment preparation through video conferencing.
• Read the full announcement and the OCC's response. 

• The CECRA for small businesses application portal opens at 8:00 am on Monday, May 25. Application documents and updated criteria are now available here. 

• The LEEFF was created to provide bridge financing to large employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing. 
• Applications are open for LEEFF. Click here to apply and for additional details.  

ADDITIONAL UPDATES

• On May 20, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer encouraged Canadians to wear a mask if they are to venture into a situation where physical distancing may not be possible. Prime Minister Trudeau has echoed the doctor’s comments. Watch the full update. 
• The federal government has created a new online tool to help you find financial help during COVID-19. 
• Today, Prime Minister Trudeau shared an update on a national testing strategy. Nationwide, Canada is testing on average 28,000 people daily, and the federal government is working to increase the number to a target of 60,000 per day.
• Today, announced an investment in Ontario's first Virtual Action Centre, and online counselling and training portal, to support laid off and unemployed hospitality workers, and is helping apprentices by providing grants to purchase tools, protective equipment and clothing for their trade, along with forgiving previous loans to purchase tools.
• The province continues to update its COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool. The Tool now directs Ontarians with any of 17 listed COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate and contact a doctor or Telehealth Ontario for further instructions as they may be eligible for testing. Click here for a summary of the changes and what this means for employers.
• Following the government's decision to keep schools closed until June, Minister Lecce shared a letter to parents on the government's plan to keep students safe while learning at home. See Minister Lecce's interview on BNN. 

• On May 21, The Ontario government provided an update on innovative research being done to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19 as part of the $20 million Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. So far, the government is funding 15 proposals that have been submitted. 
• On May 21, the OCC joined 27 groups representing businesses and communities across Canada and the United States in a call for continued strong cross-border cooperation, trade, and supply chains as a critical component of both countries' COVID-19 public health and economic response and recovery efforts. Read the release. 
• On May 21, our Policy and Advocacy Meeting Committee met virtually to go over the OCC's upcoming policy pipeline and the exciting reports we're planning to release in the COVID-19 policy brief series. 
• On May 21, the Prime Minister announced $75 million in new funding for Indigenous organizations providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres and off reserve to provide support during the COVID-19 crisis. 

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Indispensable Partners in the Fight Against COVID-19

• This week, the Bruce Power COVID-19 Retooling and Economic Recovery Council