COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Competition Bureau investigates Canada Tax Reviews' marketing practices regarding pandemic benefit programs

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 9, 2021
Government of Canada, Government, Canada, 43rd Canadian Parliament, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Government in Canada, National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Competition Bureau, Gatineau

GATINEAU, QC, July 9, 2021 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau has obtained a court order to advance an ongoing investigation into potentially false or misleading claims made by Canada Tax Reviews when promoting services to Canadians wanting to apply for government benefit programs implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • GATINEAU, QC, July 9, 2021 /CNW/ -The Competition Bureau has obtained a court order to advance an ongoing investigation into potentially false or misleading claims made by Canada Tax Reviews when promoting services to Canadians wanting to apply for government benefit programs implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • These programs include the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).
  • The order grantedby the Federal Court of Canada on July 2, 2021, requires Canada Tax Reviews to produce records and information relevant to the Bureau's investigation.
  • The Bureau's investigation is looking to determine if Canada Tax Reviews'marketing practices raise concerns under the deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act.

The Government of Canada reminds travellers returning to Canada of COVID-19 border measures

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Government of Canada, Government, Borders of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Border control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Quarantine Act, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

OTTAWA, ON, March 30,2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Government of Canada has put in place emergency border measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, ON, March 30,2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Government of Canada has put in place emergency border measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada.
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are reminding travellers and returning Canadian residents about what to expect at the border.
  • For travellers arriving at a land border crossing, their COVID-19 molecular test must have been performed in the U.S.
    Get tested when arriving in Canada.
  • If flying, travellers will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival to Canada, before leaving the airport.

Support to workers and families increases with the passage of EI legislation and the coming into effect of recovery benefit regulations

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Labour law, Unemployment benefits, Articles, 43rd Canadian Parliament, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Disability benefits, Government, Canada, Employee benefits

Over the past year, this support has included the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, three recovery benefits and a more flexible and accessible Employment Insurance (EI) program.

Key Points: 
  • Over the past year, this support has included the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, three recovery benefits and a more flexible and accessible Employment Insurance (EI) program.
  • Workers claiming EI regular benefits can now access up to a maximum of 50 weeks for claims established between September 27, 2020 to September 25, 2021.
  • In addition to Bill C-24, new regulations to increase the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefits have come into effect.
  • As of March 5, 2021, the numbers of unique applicants that have accessed the recovery benefits are:
    o,781,370 for the Canada Recovery Benefit;
    o47,450 for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit; and
    420,680 for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.

Government of Canada welcomes interim report from the COVID Alert Advisory Council

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Mobile applications, COVID Alert, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Exposure Notification, Software, Application software, Privacy, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 apps

"We welcome the recommendations the COVID Alert Advisory Council has given to guide the COVID Alert app and thank them for their work.

Key Points: 
  • "We welcome the recommendations the COVID Alert Advisory Council has given to guide the COVID Alert app and thank them for their work.
  • We're continually reviewing and improving COVID Alert to improve its effectiveness, and as such we welcome the work of the COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council."
  • "We thank the Advisory Council for their guidance on the COVID Alert exposure notification app.
  • The Government of Canada continually reviews and improves COVID Alert.

Government of Canada introduces legislation to increase number of weeks for EI regular benefits and to prevent international travellers from qualifying for recovery benefits during mandatory quarantine

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Unemployment benefits, 43rd Canadian Parliament, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Government in Canada, National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Disability benefits, Government, Canada, Articles

The proposed legislation would provide workers with up to a maximum of 50 weeks for claims that are established between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The proposed legislation would provide workers with up to a maximum of 50 weeks for claims that are established between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
  • This change would be retroactive to claims established as of January 3, 2021 and would apply until September 25, 2021.
  • As announced on Feb. 19, 2021 , the Government will be increasing the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefits through regulations.
  • As of February 14, 2021, the numbers of unique applicants that have accessed the recovery benefits are:
    1,715,090 for the Canada Recovery Benefit;
    333,760 for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit; and
    392,280 for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.

Peak Power Inc. Closes Latest Funding Round with Investment from The Atmospheric Fund

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Software, Technology, Hardware, Other Technology, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Export Development Canada, Smart city, Electric vehicle battery, Canada, Peak Power, The Atmospheric Fund

Toronto-based Peak Power (Peak) today announced that it has closed funding from The Atmospheric Fund (TAF), representing the fifth investor in Peaks capital funding round.

Key Points: 
  • Toronto-based Peak Power (Peak) today announced that it has closed funding from The Atmospheric Fund (TAF), representing the fifth investor in Peaks capital funding round.
  • TAF will join Sensata Technologies, Export Development Canada (EDC), BDC Capital, and Hatch/Canadian Shield as a strategic investor in Peak.
  • Founded in 2015, Peak Power ( www.peakpowerenergy.com ) develops AI-powered software to create intelligent energy systems in smart cities.
  • It optimizes the use of synthetic, stationary, and electric vehicle batteries through its offerings: Peak Insight, Peak Synergy, and Peak Drive.

Government of Canada proposes increase to number of weeks for recovery benefits and EI regular benefits to ensure continued support for Canadians who have been hardest hit

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 19, 2021
Government of Canada, Government, Unemployment benefits, Labour law, Articles, 43rd Canadian Parliament, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Disability benefits, Canada Revenue Agency, Employee benefits

As some workers could begin to exhaust their benefits in late March, this increase would ensure continued support as Canada's economy and labour force recovers.

Key Points: 
  • As some workers could begin to exhaust their benefits in late March, this increase would ensure continued support as Canada's economy and labour force recovers.
  • They include the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.
  • As of February 14, 2021, the numbers of unique applicants that have accessed the recovery benefits are:
    1,715,090 for the Canada Recovery Benefit;
    333,760 for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit; and
    392,280 for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.
  • Canadians would continue to apply for the recovery benefits through the Canada Revenue Agency and for Employment Insurance benefits through Service Canada.

Businesses are skeptical about vaccine effectiveness

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Vaccination, Vaccine, Virology, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Medical specialties, Medicine, Health

While executives are not pessimistic about the vaccines effectiveness, fewer than a majority are strongly convinced that the vaccine will be effective in decreasing the spread of COVID in Canada.

Key Points: 
  • While executives are not pessimistic about the vaccines effectiveness, fewer than a majority are strongly convinced that the vaccine will be effective in decreasing the spread of COVID in Canada.
  • Also, the vast majority of businesses think it is at least somewhat likely that the pandemic will worsen before a vaccine is fully rolled out in Canada.
  • This survey was carried out among a representative sample of over 700 Canadian managers and executives at the end of 2020.
  • Unlike other business surveys, the sample is fully random and representative of all Canadian businesses.

COVID Alert updated to help evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the spread of COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Mobile applications, COVID Alert, COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Patty Hajdu, Privacy, Government of Canada, Software, Government in Canada

Millions of Canadians are downloading and using the free COVID Alert app in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Key Points: 
  • Millions of Canadians are downloading and using the free COVID Alert app in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  • Today, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, and the Minister of Digital Government, the Honourable Joyce Murray, announced that the COVID Alert app will be updated to help measure its uptake, performance and effectiveness in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
  • Update the app and see how COVID Alert works, with user statistics being published on Canada.ca/COVIDAlert in spring 2021.
  • "With these new performance metrics, we are still prioritizing privacy while increasing our understanding of the apps' effectiveness on reducing the spread of COVID-19."

Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on February 1, 2021

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 1, 2021
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, World Health Organization, Republic of Ireland

Due to reduced reporting over the weekend, national seven-day averages have not been updated in today's statement.

Key Points: 
  • Due to reduced reporting over the weekend, national seven-day averages have not been updated in today's statement.
  • Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 778,972 cases of COVID-19 in Canada.
  • These factors underscore the importance of sustaining public health measures and individual practices and not easing restrictions too fast or too soon.
  • A range of public health measures and restrictions are in place across Canada as we continue our collective effort to interrupt the spread of the virus.