Friday, June 12, 2020

KEY UPDATES 

• Today, the regional approach to Stage 2 of reopening the province begins. Ontario is expected to announce on Monday additional regions can join stage 2. The full guide to stage 2 can be found here. 
• Also, effective today the limit on social gatherings will increase from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2. Ontario is changing its public health advice to households. Multiple households to a max of 10 people can now have close contact. The province is calling these "social circles."
• For a complete list of regions entering stage 2 and businesses that can reopen, please click here.

• On June 11 the Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, announced the Digital Main Street platform. The $57-million program will help small businesses create and enhance their online presence.
• The platform will help support 22,900 Ontario businesses and create jobs for more than 1,400 students. 
• Read the OCC's response. 

UPCOMING REPORTS

• Next week on June 16, the OCC will release a report exploring the opportunities and threats the data-driven economy presents for Ontario, with policy recommendations and organizational best practices to help position the province for success. 
• Topics will include:
  • Privacy;
  • Cybersecurity;
  • Data sharing; and
  • Artificial intelligence.

• On June 22, the OCC will release Small Business, Big Impact, the third report in our series of COVID-19 Policy Briefs examines explores Ontario’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which have been at the centre of the economic crisis created by COVID-19.
• Since small businesses are the backbone of the economy and key to vibrant communities, this situation has sparked great concern among policymakers. The 27 SMEs profiled in this policy brief share best practices and how they have pivoted during this unprecedented period.

• On June 11, the OCC supported RBC's release of its latest report, Small Business, Big Pivot: A devastating downturn and how Canadian enterprises can pivot, a five-point plan to help Canadian small businesses thrive in a post-pandemic economy.
• Read RBC's report here and read the OCC's release. 

Additional Updates

• In his daily address, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that passengers travelling by air to, from and within Canada will now be subject to mandatory temperature checks. Anyone with a fever will be prohibited from flying. These checks will be rolled out in phases, beginning with those travelling to Canada. It is also now mandatory that travellers and airline staff wear masks on flights.
• He also announced an extension to the Canadian Armed Forces deployment in long-term care homes, new protocols for air travel and $14 billion in funding to the provinces and territories for a safe restart agreement. 
• The Prime Minister also announced $14 billion in funding to the provinces and territories to develop a safe restart agreement for the next six months.
• On June 10, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade announced that the Government of Canada has partnered with the People Outside Safely Together (POST) Promise program, an initiative launched today by Canadian private-sector organizations to help businesses across the country reopen safely.
• ????On June 10, we were joined by the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Steven Del Duca for our weekly Ontario Chamber call.  

UPCOMING WEBINARS

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Current Opportunities

• On June 4, the Ontario government announced the Premier's Council on Equality of Opportunity, a new advisory group that will provide advice on how young people can overcome social and economic barriers and achieve succ