Paid sick-leave On May 20, 2021 the Employment Standards Amendment Act received Royal Assent. The newly passed legislation immediately provides up to three paid days of COVID-19 related sick-leave to British Columbia employees, and commencing January 1, 2022, will provide for an as yet undetermined amount of paid illness and injury leave (in addition to existing unpaid illness and injury leave) for employees with at least 90 consecutive days of employment. These latest amendments…

On May 25, 2021, BC’s COVID-19 “circuit breaker” measures officially expired as Premier John Horgan announced the government’s new four-step plan aimed toward returning to pre-pandemic life: “BC’s Restart”. Although tentative dates were set for each step of BC’s Restart, actually progressing to each next step is dependant on declining COVID-19 case counts and an increase of the population vaccinated with dose one. The details of each of the four steps of BC’s…

As the third wave of BC’s COVID-19 pandemic rages on, provincial authorities continue to grapple with how to curtail rising caseloads in the province. Although COVID-19 Safety Plans have been required for workplaces for the better part of a year, BC’s workplaces continue to be a source of transmission. In addition to recently increased powers to order workplaces to close, on May 2, 2021, the Provincial Health Officer updated workplace post-secondary institution safety requirements.…

As the “circuit breaker” measures and travel restrictions continue to apply across British Columbia to help combat the third wave of COVID-19, Bill 3: Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2021 (“Bill 3”) received Royal Assent on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Bill 3 amends the British Columbia Employment Standards Act to provide all employees with up to three hours of paid leave to get each dose of their COVID-19 vaccine (the “COVID Vaccine Leave”). The COVID Vaccine…

The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General detailed new travel restrictions for all persons located within British Columbia in effect from April 23, 2021 until at least May 25, 2021. The new restrictions come as a response to record-high hospitalizations in B.C. and the spread of COVID-19 variants. Ministerial Order 172/2021 is aimed at restricting recreational travel across B.C. and encouraging residents to stay in their local health areas designated by the government. Health…

On April 22, 2021, Bill 71: Employment Standards (COVID-19 Vaccination Leave) Amendment Act, 2021 (“Bill 71”) received royal assent to retroactively take effect starting April 21, 2021. Bill 71 amends the Alberta Employment Standards Code to provide 3 hours of paid leave for any full-time or part-time Alberta employee to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (“COVID-19 Vaccination Leave”). Before taking a COVID-19 Vaccination Leave, an employee must provide as much notice as is reasonable and practicable…

A new public health order has expanded the powers of British Columbia’s medical health officers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The Expedited Workplace Closure order, in effect since April 12, allows medical health officers to temporarily close workplaces where one or more persons has become infected with COVID-19 and it is necessary for the workplace, or part of the workplace, to stop operating in order to prevent further transmission. Businesses subject to…