Nova Scotia announces plan to re-open economy, new funding
Mark 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 will be permitted to reopen, including:
- Restaurants, for both dine in and take out;
- Bars, wineries distilleries and craft beer taprooms (lounges are not permitted to reopen yet);
- Personal services, including hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tattoo parlours;
- Fitness facilities, including gyms, yoga studios;
- Dentistry and other self-regulated health professions such as optometry, chiropractic and physiotherapy;
- Unregulated health professions such as massage therapy, podiatry and naturopathy; and
- Veterinarians.
The province is working on a plan to re-open childcare centres by June 15.
To reopen, industry associations representing businesses and organizations that were required to close under the Health Protection Act Order must develop a plan for their sector. Public Health is meeting with industry associations to share public health principles and provide information to help them develop their plans.
Industry associations need to share their plans with the businesses and organizations in their sector. Businesses and organizations should contact their association to learn what they need to do to reopen safely.
Every business now permitted to re-open must follow protocols in the industry plan that is tailored to their sector. Businesses and organizations that were not required to close under the Health Protection Act Order should develop a plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and must adhere to public health protocol.
All businesses must continue to follow public health protocol, namely:
- Adhering to the “2m/6ft rule” wherever possible;
- Abide by applicable limits on gathering sizes;
- Increase cleaning, especially high-touch surfaces and washrooms;
- Encourage increased handwashing and wearing face masks where it is difficult to maintain a 2m distance.
Businesses and other organizations can find information to help them safely reopen at https://novascotia.ca/reopening-nova-scotia
Small business reopening and support grant
The province also announced that eligible businesses, non-profits, charities and social enterprises will be able to access the new Small Business Reopening and Support Grant, a $25 million fund that will provide grants of up to $5,000 to help them open safely and business continuity vouchers for advice and support to become more resilient in the coming months.
In addition to the grant, Premier McNeil said that the province is offering a voucher worth $1,500 to access consulting services to offer advice.
More information will be available online at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus and applications will begin June 1. If you received the Small Business Impact Grant, you do not need to apply and will be contacted by the province directly.
New infrastructure funding
The province also announced a $230 million infrastructure investment, for projects such as road paving, bridge replacement, school repairs and museum upgrades. The investment is estimated to create approximately 2,000 jobs this fiscal year.
Planning to reopen
We continue to assist many businesses as they deal with the various legal issues associated with COVID-19, including recalling staff and reopening.
This article is provided for general information only. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour and Employment group.
Click here to subscribe to Stewart McKelvey Thought Leadership articles and updates.
Archive
As many of you will now know, the Nova Scotia Government introduced legislation on Friday, December 6, 2013, amending provisions of the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act dealing with First Contract Arbitration. This client update sets out…
Read MoreIn a decision that will largely be of interest to international organizations that have been granted some type of immunity in Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has confirmed that international organizations enjoy immunity…
Read MoreThe Prince Edward Island (“PEI”) legislature has proposed changes to the PEI Human Rights Act to add “gender expression” and “gender identity” as new protected grounds of discrimination. First introduced on November 13, 2013 the…
Read MoreWe previously circulated a client update regarding contemplated changes to automobile insurance in Prince Edward Island. Government has now published a consultation paper (www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/eljautoinreform.pdf), seeking responses in writing on or before December 2, 2013. According to the consultation…
Read MoreThe Association of Caribbean Corporate Counsel (ACCC) released the inaugural edition of its quarterly journal, Caribbean Corporate Counsel, featuring CEO, John Rogers, Q.C., advisor on the International Advisory Board, and an article by partner Paul Smith, entitled “Governance…
Read MoreCHANGES, CHANGES AND MORE CHANGES: KEEPING UP WITH THE TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM These days, Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (“TFWP”) is more top of mind than ever for Canadian employers. This is in part…
Read MoreBy October 17, 2014 existing not-for-profit corporations incorporated under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act (the “Old Act”) are required to be continued under the new Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (the “New Act”) or face the possibility of automatic administrative…
Read MoreIN THIS ISSUE: Reasonable Cause: A necessary prerequisite for random alcohol testing policies by Mark Tector, Steve Carpenter, CHRP, Melissa Everett Withers, Ruth Trask Business Succession: Why is it critical? by Richard Niedermayer, TEP Privacy Please: Nova Scotia brings in new…
Read MoreOn May 19, 2011, Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code was amended to protect foreign workers from exploitation by recruiters and employers. These amendments imposed a requirement for third-party recruiters to obtain a license from the Province to…
Read MoreFacts This appeal arose from a decision which held that the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (“Dominion”) has a duty to defend Larry and Lona Hannam and their teenage son Jordan in an action…
Read More