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April 22, 2020
New information
Number of cases: 255 (confirmed and presumptive) as of Tuesday April 21
Total number of recovered Manitobans: 150
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy calculator
When applying for the Canada Employment Wage Subsidy (CEWS), business owners are asked to enter amounts such as the number of eligible employees and gross payroll. To get ready, you can determine these amounts and preview your subsidy claim now, based on information you enter. The calculator is a tool to help you estimate the amount of your wage subsidy. Click here to access the calculator.
Prairie Agricultural Climate Services Survey
KAP is working with the Prairie Climate Centre (PCC) in order to understand specific needs regarding climate services for farmers. A climate services network for the Prairie region is under development and KAP is looking to Manitoba farmers to provide input into what services will be useful as we continue to build resiliency within the agriculture industry. Examples of climate services include mapping, forecasting, workshops, and any other useful tools that farmers are using or would like to use to adapt to a changing climate. PCC is a Winnipeg based organization that communicates the science, impacts and risks of climate change through maps, documentaries, research reports, training and outreach. Click here to take the survey.
Worker’s Compensation Board surplus return
In May, eligible employers will receive a credit to their Worker’s Compensation Board account based on 20 per cent of their 2019 premium. To be eligible to receive the surplus, employers must have fulfilled their payroll reporting responsibilities for 2019 and paid a WCB premium in 2019. Employers can still report their 2019 payroll to receive the surplus distribution. Earlier this month, WCB announced it would defer premium payments until the end of May, not charge business interest and/or penalties for non-payment until October, extend the payroll-reporting deadline until the end of May and ensure that coverage remains active for accounts that choose to defer payments until the end of October. Clearances will remain in good standing.
AgriHR Toolkit
Farm owners and workers experiencing high stress are 1.7 times more likely to have a serious injury than those with low to moderate stress. Both a farm business's performance and safety will improve when owners and managers ensure worker wellness.
As a KAP member, you get FREE access to the Agri-HR Toolkit developed by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) using the discount code KAP2019. This toolkit, regularly $99/year, will help you:
- Meet your legal obligations regarding worker health
- Reduce worker stress
- Support worker health and well-being
- Help temporary foreign workers to adjust
- Support worker mental health
Click here to access the AgriHR Toolkit.
Environmental Farm Plan update
All in-person EFP workshops have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Manitoba Agriculture is now offering EFP workshops for farmers delivered on-line. To register, please call your local Manitoba Agriculture office to put your name on a wait list for an upcoming on-line workshop, and let the office know if your need is urgent. EFP reviews are being conducted remotely at this time. Please call or e-mail KAP’s office to get the contact information for the EFP reviewer in your area and set up a contact -free review of your EFP.
CFA president’s message
CFA president Mary Robinson has released her weekly message to the agriculture sector, focused on what the federal government can do to support the industry. Click here to read this week’s message.
CFA farm level survey
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is reaching out weekly to Canadian farmers as the COVID-19 crisis continues, to identify any issues being caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and to your respective businesses. Responses to this survey will be integral as we work with the Federal Government to support Canadian Agriculture effectively throughout this difficult situation. The deadline to complete the survey is this Thursday at 11am. Click here to take the survey.
Health-related information
COVID-19 pandemic
Manitobans are reminded to call Health Links (1-888-315-9257) should you believe you have come into contact with COVID-19. You do not need to be tested if you are not experiencing symptoms. At this time, Manitobans are best served by listening to public health professionals, enacting social distancing protocols, ensuring that handwashing is taking place regularly, and ensuring that adequate supplies are on-hand without hoarding or over purchasing. We will all get through this together.
Testing expansion
Public health officials have continued to expand testing criteria and want to ensure all those who are eligible for testing are tested. Anyone who thinks they might meet the criteria for testing should call Health Links–Info Santé or work through the online screening tool to determine if they should be tested.
- Testing is focused on symptomatic people from the following categories:
- travellers returning to Manitoba;
- close contact with a confirmed case;
- lab workers who have worked with COVID-19 tests;
- health-care workers;
- people who live/work in the north, isolated or group settings, correctional facilities, shelters, long-term care or residential facilities or remote work camps;
- first responders;
- workers or volunteers at workplaces that have been identified as essential services; and
- any symptomatic person who lives with a health-care worker, first responder or worker in a congregate setting such as a correctional facility, shelter, long-term care or residential facility.
Screening tool
Shared Health’s online screening tool is available and is the recommended first step that Manitobans should take prior to calling Health Links or attempting to visit a doctor’s office. Click here to access the online screening tool.
Testing facilities
A reminder that all testing facilities are to be accessed by referral from Health Links and are not walk-in clinics. The provincial government has announced more rural testing sites will be open in the coming days. Testing facilities at this time are:
| Town |
Facility |
Address |
Hours of Operation |
| Winnipeg |
St. James Assiniboia Centennial Pool |
644 Parkdale St. |
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
Weekends, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Sergeant Tommy Prince Plance |
90 Sinclair St |
| Thompson |
Thompson Clinic |
Plaza Mall |
Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Flin Flon |
Channing Auditorium |
2 North Avenue |
| The Pas |
Royal Canadian Legion |
4 Veterans Way |
| Brandon |
Brandon Town Centre |
800 Rosser Ave |
Daily 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Selkirk |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
622 Superior Ave |
Daily 9:00AM to 4:00PM |
| Steinbach |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
365 Reimer Ave |
Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Winnipeg |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
15 Barnes St. |
Daily 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
1284 Main St. |
Daily 9:00AM to 5:00PM |
| Winkler |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
600 Park St. |
Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Portage |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
Stride Centre, 245 Royal Rd. |
Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Eriksdale |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Stie |
35 Railway Ave |
Daily 10:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Pine Falls |
École Powerview School |
33 Vincent St |
Monday to Friday, 9:00AM to 4:00PM |
| Dauphin |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
217 Industrial Rd |
Daily 10:00AM to 3:00PM |
Industry-specific information
AgriStability enrollment deadline extended
The AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2020 program year has been extended without penalty, from April 30th to July 3, 2020. This extension will allow farmers more time to sign up for the program. Farmers experiencing losses are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability for more rapid support.
Statistics Canada crop survey
Statistics Canada is preparing for the collection of the June Crops Survey (seeded area), however, a final decision has not been made since this survey involves direct data collection from farmers. To limit the number of surveys going to farmers Statistics Canada is investigating the feasibility of using modeling and administrative data for the July Livestock and July Crop Survey.
Canada Summer Jobs program
Last week, the federal government released new details and funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program, including 100% coverage for young workers. This information came after the sign-up deadline for the program and we have heard of individuals looking to access it after the deadline. We have been advised that if producers are interested, they should contact their MP’s office where they can be provided with more information and be granted an extension to register.
Updated public health order
The chief provincial public health officer has updated public health orders that take effect on April 17 and will be in effect until May 1, 2020. They mandate that anyone entering Manitoba, regardless of whether it was from another country or another province must self-isolate for 14 days. The new orders build on the current orders and maintain the gathering size of no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor premises. Travel to northern Manitoba (north of the 53rd parallel of latitude) is prohibited with some exceptions including:
- residents of northern and remote communities may continue to move within the north;
- delivery of goods and services may continue; and
- exceptions include those who travel to the north for employment, medical treatment or to facilitate child-custody agreements.
Additional updates include:
- a clarification that businesses not listed as critical may operate, and have customers attend to pick up ordered items, providing social distancing measures are in place;
- a provision to allow farmers markets to operate, providing social distancing measures are in place;
- hotels may operate, but must close common areas such as pools, hot tubs and game rooms;
- campgrounds can provide accommodation to recreational vehicles that act as a primary residence;
- garden centres and greenhouses can operate, providing social distancing measures are in place; and
- appliance, electronic and furniture stores are excluded, and should not be open to the public, except where orders are placed remotely and orders are delivered or picked up with social distancing measures in place.
Click here to read the full update.
Expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account
The federal government is expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. This new range will replace the previous one of between $50,000 and $1 million and will help address the challenges faced by small businesses to cover non-deferrable operating costs. Since the launch of the CEBA on April 9, 2020, more than 195,000 loans have been approved by financial institutions, extending more than $7.5 billion in credit to small businesses.
Cross-border courier services
We have heard from several producers who have made shipments of parts and supplies to Pembina ND using various parcel services and used Runnin’ Red courier services to get these packages to Winnipeg. At this time, this is the only service we are aware of, but we will promote these local businesses as we hear more. Click here for more information on Runnin’ Red.
License renewals – MPI clarification
We have received several questions about the medical requirements to renew Class 1 licenses due to the inability to meet with family doctors and obtain a physical. MPI has informed us that they have temporarily postponed notifications to commercial drivers requesting completion of periodic medical reports, and that no automated suspensions will be applied for the time being. It is important to note that the process for reviewing the license of a driver with a newly diagnosed medical condition will still occur and suspensions may apply if appropriate. Click here to view our factsheet on this temporary change.
Changes to CERB rules and eligibility
To help more Canadians benefit from the CERB, the government will be changing the eligibility rules to allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB, extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19. The change that impacts agriculture is that Canadians receiving the CERB will be able to accrue up to $1,000 in wages before losing access to the benefit. Click here for more details on the announcement.
Temporary reduction of service at land border crossings
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA is temporarily reducing service hours at a total of 27 Canadian land border locations. The temporary hour adjustments are in effect as of April 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. 6 Manitoba ports are impacted: Coulter, Goodlands, Gretna, Lena, Windygates, and Winkler. Click here for the full list of changes.
Changes to Manitoba Employment Standards
The provincial government is moving forward with changes that would allow employees protected leave for eligible purposes. Employees would be able to take as much unpaid time off work as needed to:
- be in isolation or quarantine or take any other control measure in accordance with information or directions related to COVID-19 by health professionals, health officers, Health Links–Info Santé, the government of Manitoba or the Government of Canada, a municipal council or a board of health;
- obtain medical examination, supervision or treatment;
- comply with an order made under The Emergency Measures Act or The Public Health Act;
- provide care or support to a family member as a result of COVID-19, including but not limited to, school and daycare closures; or
- comply with travel restrictions.
The new provisions would apply to any leave that started between March 1, 2020, and a date to be prescribed in regulation, specified once the pandemic is over.
PPE drop-off locations
KAP is encouraging all producers with personal protective equipment that is not required for spring work to donate to the Manitoba health system. As Manitoba’s health system continues with preparations to ensure our province is prepared to meet the needs of our patients and to ensure appropriate protection from COVID-19 is available to health care workers, donations of the following supplies are now welcome and greatly appreciated. Supplies must be in original packaging, clean and in useable condition. Expired supplies are not able to be accepted. Drop-off locations exist across Manitoba in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Winkler and Steinbach. Click here for detailed locations for drop-off and donation requirements.
Jobs in the agricultural sector
Given that many Canadians have been laid off from their jobs and that there is still some uncertainty as to how the federal government is working to bring seasonal workers into the country, we are encouraging employers in our sector to post jobs on three sites:
We will begin to promote these sites on social media in effort to reach out beyond our industry. Our hope is that we can match job seekers with employers as we approach the busy spring season.
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