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.
Our longstanding dedication to practice innovation means we are prepared to navigate unforeseen circumstances like these. With our innovative tools and project management methodologies, we continue to deliver uncompromised service to our clients while working in a remote environment.
We are here to help you think: forward when you need it most.
Brittany Trafford Last week the Maritime provinces announced various re-opening plans based on vaccine trajectories, with Newfoundland and Labrador making an announcement today¹. These plans address, among other things, who will be able to enter the provinces and who will need to quarantine upon entry. Of course, this is promising news for businesses and those…
Read MoreKatharine Mack Premier Ian Rankin and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang provided details on Nova Scotia’s reopening plan this afternoon. The Province’s plan has a total of 5 phases. Phase 1, which focuses on more outdoor activities and small groups, will begin on Wednesday, June 2. The following rules and restrictions will apply:…
Read MoreIn light of the improving COVID-19 situation in Newfoundland and Labrador, our St. John’s office will reopen to the public beginning Monday, March 15. With lockdown restrictions beginning to loosen, we will be reopening at a reduced in-office capacity, as we continue to follow the provincial government guidelines and the advice of health officials. The…
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 MoreMark Tector and Katharine Mack The province of Nova Scotia announced today that most sectors of the economy may begin to reopen. Provincial grant funding was also announced to help businesses open safely, as well as new infrastructure spending. Re-opening plan Effective June 5, most businesses that were required to close under the Public Health Order…
Read MoreChad Sullivan and Clarence Bennett As many employers resume operations during the ongoing pandemic, we have prepared a list of FAQs and a reopening checklist for businesses operating in Atlantic Canada. Do employers need to have a written plan for reopening? Some provinces have made it mandatory to develop a COVID-19 operational plan before reopening.…
Read MoreRuth Trask On a typical, “normal” day in many Canadian households, adults leave home to go to work, and kids attend school or perhaps daycare. As we keep hearing, though, these are far from “normal” times. StatsCan reports that some five million Canadians worked from home during April, including 3.3 million who did not work…
Read MoreTo our clients who have been innovating to protect our communities, from all of us here at Stewart McKelvey, we thank you and are proud of your efforts. As we grapple with the profound impact that this virus has had on the world around us, it has brought tremendous opportunity for innovation, and for many,…
Read MoreClarence Bennett and Chad Sullivan The May 8, 2020 announcement On Friday, May 8, 2020, the New Brunswick Government made a significant announcement that the province was moving into the second phase of NB’s four phase economic recovery plan – the “Orange Alert Phase” – permitting the reopening of several businesses. With this announcement came…
Read MoreMurray Murphy, QC, CPHR, and Charlotte Jenkins Mental health impacts of COVID-19 The mental health impacts of COVID-19 have been, and will continue to be significant and wide-spread around the world. Individuals are continuously required to adapt their daily lives to reflect the ever-changing public health and government directives. As restrictions began to be implemented…
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