Ontario Suspends Audit Interactions for IFTA, IRP
To support Ontario’s emergency relief measures, the government is extending temporary suspension of audit interactions with most Ontario businesses and representatives beginning the month of April 2020 until further notice under the following provincial taxes:
- Employer Health Tax
- Tobacco Tax
- Fuel Tax
- Gas Tax
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Tax
- Mining Tax
- Insurance Premium Tax
- International Fuel Tax Agreement
- Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans
- Race Tracks Tax
Read: Interest and Penalty Relief for Businesses Tax Bulletin
Road Hammers, Tim Hortons, CTA Join Forces to Play Tribute to Truckers
Trucker-friendly musicians, the Road Hammers will be paying tribute to truck drivers across North America by streaming gigs live each Thursday evening on Instagram.
Supported by Tim Hortons, the band will play live and give out free #ThankaTrucker gear. They are asking audiences to nominate a trucker (aka ‘Road Warrior’) for a $50 gift certificate and a #thankatrucker prize pack from the Canadian Trucking Alliance by sharing a story of their nominee to theroadhammers@rgk.ca
The show begins at 7 pm each Thursday. Click here to visit their Insta page.
Labour Related Resources During COVID Pandemic
Some COVID-related stories of interest affecting the labour sector:
- Reopening business – considerations for employers:https://www.fasken.com/en/knowledge/2020/05/1-covid-19-reopening-businesses-canada
- Some businesses reopening in Ontario:https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/coronavirus-covid19-may1-canada-world-1.5550865?ref=mobilerss&cmp=newsletter_CBC%20News%20Top%20Headlines%20%20%E2%80%93%20Evening_717_24627
- KPMG webinar on wage subsidy (CWWS):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGESA6GtV6o&feature=youtu.be
- COVID layoff may not be termination:https://www.mondaq.com/canada/employment-and-workforce-wellbeing/924536/a-covid-19-lay-off-may-not-be-termination?email_access=on
- BC employers may be exempt from providing termination notice:https://www.mondaq.com/canada/redundancylayoff/924384/bc-employers-may-be-exempt-from-providing-termination-notice-due-to-covid-19?email_access=on
- Sound OHS practices required during crisis:https://www.mondaq.com/canada/operational-impacts-and-strategy/924132/covid-19-sound-ohs-practices-key-to-continued-operations?email_access=on
- Temperature screening at workplaces:https://www.mondaq.com/canada/employment-and-workforce-wellbeing/924518/temperature-screening-at-workplaces-a-hot-topic-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic?email_access=on
- Thermal screening at workplaces:https://business.financialpost.com/technology/thermal-cameras-proximity-sensors-and-even-more-zoom-companies-eye-tech-to-aid-the-reopening
MTA & Manitoba
- The Province of Manitoba issued a new Order on April 30 that allows a variety of businesses to re-open, including businesses that provide commercial truck driver training courses (page 18, Schedule A, item 81). The effective date of this Order is May 4, 2020.
Under the Order, if members of the public are allowed to attend the place of business, “the operator of the business must implement measures to ensure that members of the public attending the business are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from other members of the public at the business.”
MTA continue to work with all stakeholders surrounding questions of what road testing will look like. Members with questions are encouraged to contact Terry at the MTA office.
The Motor Carrier Division has put together an easy to read resource outlining many of the provisions allowed under the Trucking and Transportation Provisions Order. This site outlines clearly the regulatory relief for industry under this new, temporary order. This includes information on
- IRP,
- annual overweight/overdimensional permits,
- PMVIs,
- Safety Fitness Certificates,
- temporary validity of out of province driving permit, and
- the driving of overweight vehicles.
The Government of Manitoba is now accepting applications online for the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP). The MGPP provides an interest-free, forgivable $6,000 loan to small and medium-sized businesses in Manitoba that have experienced hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health orders. Loans are available to businesses that fail to qualify for the various federal government assistance programs and wage subsidies created because of COVID-19.
Applications are also being accepted online for the Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program, a wage subsidy program to support high school and post-secondary students employed in the private and non-profit sectors.
RPM is now offering training online. The first course being offered is Incident Reporting & Investigations. For any members interested in this course, pleasecontact Rebekka at the RPM office to get started.
Alberta Staged Relaunch
n April 30, the Government of Alberta announced, via press conference, a phased relaunch, which “will put Albertans’ safety first” with gradual re-opening of closed businesses and services in the province.
“I’m confident Albertans will approach relaunch with the same adaptability and resilience they have shown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Premier Jason Kenney in a release. “We will move forward together with care and common sense, knowing tough times are still ahead. We will support and protect vulnerable Albertans and keep them safe as we build our province back up one stage at a time.”
Government said because Albertans have acted responsibly, respecting public health advice, that it has thus far been able to limit the spread of COVID-19, keep localized outbreaks within the capacity of the province’s health-care system, and now take these first incremental steps to re-open some businesses and services.
Government says the plan to move forward requires careful and ongoing monitoring and respect of all guidelines outlined by Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
Click here for more eon the plan.