News

November 11, 2020 – Today we pause to honour the sacrifice, courage and extraordinary service of our veterans, and those who continue to serve and defend our country. This is a unique year in which many of us, who traditionally visit sites across the country, must find an another path to demonstrate our respect and thanks. ECA Ottawa is proud to have a wreath places on Ottawa’s Cenotaph, as we cannot be there in person. The wreath is decorated with poppies, which are used to remember those who have given there lives in battle. The poppy is the flower that grew on the battlefields after World War One ended and is described in the famous poem, In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lt. Colonel John McRae. We ask that you please observe 2 minutes of silence at 11:00am in honour of our men and women who served and sacrificed.

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.