News

New temporary benefits – CERB is now ending and is being replaced with new Employment Insurance (EI) program. Canadians with 120 insurable hours—which equates to 3.5 weeks of work in the last 52 weeks—across Canada can apply and receive a taxable benefit at a rate of at least $500 per week, or $300 per week for extended parental benefits, for up to 26 weeks. If you are collection CERB you will automatically be transferred over to the new program

Along with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which open April 27, 2020 there are also a number of additional programs available to employers including:
– Business Credit Availability Program
– Canada Emergency Business Account
– EDC Loan Guarantee for Small & Medium Enterprises
– BDC Co-Lending Program for Small & Medium Enterprises
– Deferal of WSIB Insurance Premium Payments,  Income Tax & GST/HST
– Increase in the Employer Health Tax Exemption

To read more please click here.

For any WSIB questions, we have contracted TeksMed through ECA Ontario to provide support for all issues. The number is 1-877-850-1021. This is a complimentary service for ECA Ottawa members.

Business owners can call a new HOTLINE established to answer questions concerning your essential business status. The ‘Stop The Spread’ hotline number is 1-888-444-3659. The line will be available from 8:30am – 9:00pm Monday – Friday and 8:30am – 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday.

The emergency order regarding the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act has been lifted. This allows for the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors in the normal course, helping to resolve a potentially significant cash flow problem.

The suspension was lifted on April 16, 2020 to give the industry time to prepare for these changes. Once lifted, parties will have the same amount of time to meet a deadline that had been remaining before the suspension began on March 16, 2020.

New Drop Off Rules – City of Ottawa’s 100 Constellation building has now been closed to the public and in order to facilitate the receiving of physical documents (such as signed and sealed performance bonds, contracts) during this time. Supply has made arrangements to allow vendors to drop off their documents at the Provincial offense’s fine payment drop box which is located on the exterior of the building just to the left of the front doors. You MUST indicate that your envelope is for Supply Services, 4th floor West.

Issuing Employee ROE`s:
ROEs need to be coded with a reason for why they’re being issued:

Use Code A — Shortage of Work / End of Contract or Season if
You’ve closed your business or adjusted your workforce as a precaution.

Use Code D — Illness/Injury for:
Actual illness or an employee who has tested positive.
An employee who has travelled and is now self-isolating.

Use Code N — Leave of Absence if
The employee is showing no symptoms but is making a personal choice to distance themselves just to be safe.

NOTE: Do not put a note in BOX 18. This “flags” the ROE in the system and may slow processing.