The Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) is focused on helping its members and staff keep safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation evolves, updates will be provided below with the newest information added on top.
February 15, 2022
British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer Is Easing COVID-19 Restrictions
Premier John Horgan and Dr. Bonnie Henry have announced that BC will be dropping restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings while keeping masks and the BC vaccine card in place. The changes will take place at 11:59 pm on February 16. Capacity limits will return to normal.
Capacity limits in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs will return to full capacity, with no table size limits. The restrictions are also lifted on personal gatherings, organized gatherings and events, exercise and fitness, and adult sports tournaments.
The vaccine card will be reviewed in March and then potentially again in April before a decision is made on how long it will last.
Visit the government’s website for more details.
Starting February 28, fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada will no longer have to take a pre-arrival molecular test (such as a PCR test), but they can instead opt for an authorized rapid antigen test that is typically cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes.
Fully vaccinated travellers may also be randomly selected for a PCR test upon arrival.
January 11, 2022
All B.C. Businesses Must Re-Implement COVID-19 Safety Plans
On January 7, 2022, the provincial health officer announced an order requiring employers to reinstate those site specific, prescriptive COVID-19 safety plans to address the elevated risk currently facing us with the Omicron variant. While communicable disease prevention plans and COVID-19 Safety Plans share some of the same fundamental principles, COVID-19 Safety Plans are formal, written plans with more rigorous controls and are more appropriate for periods of elevated risk.
The COVID-19 safety plan will supersede the basic principles of communicable disease prevention during this period of elevated risk by incorporating more specific protocols for preventing COVID-19 transmission. These may include occupancy limits, physical distancing, and barriers.
What employers need to do
Many employers had COVID-19 Safety Plans earlier in the pandemic, and others may have maintained all or many of the measures from their COVID-19 Safety Plans. All employers are advised to review their COVID-19 Safety Plans to ensure that they are current and aligned with all guidance and orders from the provincial health officer.
With the involvement and participation of workers, employers should review and update their COVID-19 Safety Plans to ensure they remain effective at reducing the risk of exposure, including:
- Reviewing existing procedures and worker protections
- Where needed, enhancing those protections to the extent practicable
- Communicating with workers to ensure they understand their role in controlling the risk
If workers test positive for COVID-19, they need to follow the guidance of the BC Centre for Disease Control around taking care of themselves, self-isolating, and notifying close contacts.
Evidence shows that vaccination is the best control measure available to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to consider staff-vaccination policies based on their own due diligence.
Although employers may face challenges operating with a reduced workforce due to COVID-19 at times, they must continue to protect the health and safety of workers who remain at work. In times of staff shortages, employers should have a contingency or business continuity plan to ensure their business can continue to operate in a safe manner with consideration of factors such as level of training and supervision needed.
With this new order in place, and as part of the regular inspectional work, WorkSafeBC Prevention Officers will look for updated COVID-19 safety plans at worksites.
What workers need to do
Workers play an important role in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 by participating in the review of the COVID-19 Safety Plan. Each worker should be aware of and follow their workplace health and safety responsibilities and protocols outlined in the plan, including guidance on self-managing COVID-19 symptoms as outlined by the BCCDC.
Workers have the right to refuse work if they believe it presents an undue hazard. An undue hazard is an “unwarranted, inappropriate, excessive, or disproportionate” hazard. For COVID-19, an “undue hazard” would be one where a worker’s job role places them at increased risk of exposure and adequate controls are not in place to protect them from that exposure.
For more information, see the WorkSafeBC’s COVID-19 information for workers.
More Information on WorkSafeBC.com
The COVID-19 section of worksafebc.com has been updated to include information about the recent order, a revised template for completing a COVID 19 safety plan, and industry-specific protocols.
Workers and employers with questions or requiring additional advice or direction can call WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line at 1.888.621.7233 to speak directly with a prevention officer.
December 22, 2021
B.C. Strengthens COVID-19 Measures for Safer Holiday Season
Starting Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 11:59 pm, revised provincial health officer orders will take effect.
The restrictions will extend to January 18, 2022, at 11:59 pm, and include:
- no organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size;
- concerts, sports games and theatres reduced to 50 percent seated capacity, regardless of venue size;
- closing gyms, fitness centres and dance studios;
- closing bars and nightclubs; and
- limiting table sizes at restaurants, cafes and pubs to a maximum of six people per table with physical distancing or barriers.
These restrictions are in addition to the revised orders that took effect on Monday, December 20.
Read more at: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021HLTH0234-002431
June 14, 2021
B.C. Moves to Step 2 of Its Restart Plan
Beginning on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, British Columbia will take the next step in safely bringing people back together, transitioning into Step 2 of B.C.’s restart plan, including lifting restrictions on travel within B.C.
The transition into Step 2 of the four-step restart plan aligns with key metrics for moving forward. More than 75 percent of adults are vaccinated with their first dose, exceeding the target Step 2 minimum threshold of 65 percent. The other metrics for moving through the stages—COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations—continue to steadily decline.
Moving from Step 1 to Step 2 includes:
- B.C. recreational travel—non-essential travel ban lifted. Out-of-province non-essential travel advisory continues;
- maximum of 50 people for outdoor personal gatherings;
- maximum of 50 people for indoor seated organized gatherings (e.g., movie theatres, live theatre, banquet halls) with safety plans;
- indoor faith gatherings—a maximum of 50 people, or 10 percent of a place of worship’s total capacity, whichever number is greater— with safety plans;
- maximum of 50 spectators for outdoor sports;
- liquor service at restaurants, bars and pubs extended until midnight; and
- indoor sports games (no spectators) and high-intensity fitness with safety plans.
All other capacity limits and guidelines listed in Step 1 stay in place unless noted in the list above.
The earliest target start date for Step 3 is July 1, and September 7 for Step 4. Businesses can expect to see updated guidance available through WorkSafeBC’s website prior to July 1. Businesses will then adapt their safety plans to reflect this updated guidance.
Learn more
- To view the updated B.C. restart plan four-step graphic, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Step_2_graphic_changes.pdf
- To learn about B.C.’s current travel restrictions, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel
- To get registered to get a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated.html
June 3, 2021
COVID-19 Sick Leave Reimbursement
Effective May 20, 2021, employers are required to offer their employees three days of paid sick leave if they need to stay home as a result of circumstances related to COVID-19. As an employer, you can apply for a reimbursement, if your workplace does not have an existing paid sick leave program.
In order to apply for the B.C. government’s COVID-19 Paid Sick-Leave Reimbursement Program, administered by WorkSafeBC, you need to sign up for WorkSafeBC’s online services.
Through this program, which will be available starting June 15, employers can apply to be reimbursed for up to three days of wages paid to workers for COVID-19-related sick leave.
How to apply:
In order to apply for the B.C. government’s COVID-19 Sick-Leave Reimbursement Program, employers must:
· Be registered for WorkSafeBC insurance coverage
· Have signed up for WorkSafeBC’s online services
· Not have an existing paid sick-leave program
The program application will be available on WorkSafeBC’s online-services portal starting June 15. Visit worksafebc.com to learn more.
In addition to hosting the sick-leave reimbursement application, WorkSafeBC’s online-services portal for employers offers you an easy and convenient way to report payroll, pay premiums, and access additional tools.
Create your online-services account
Watch this short video to learn how to create your online-services account, then visit worksafebc.com to sign up. For technical issues related to setting up your account, please contact WorkSafeBC’s technical support team.
For more information
For questions about the program, please visit the B.C. government’s COVID-19 Paid Sick-Leave Reimbursement program website.
May 25, 2021
B.C. Launches a Four-Step Restart Plan
The BC government has announced a four-step plan to gradually lift restrictions in the province, with safety and health protocols such as mask wearing and physical distancing remaining in place and mandatory during the initial two steps of the plan. Four steps:
Step 1: May 25
- 60% of adult population with Dose 1
- COVID-19 cases stable, hospitalizations stable
- Maximum of five visitors or one household allowed for indoor personal gatherings
- Maximum of 10 people for outdoor personal gatherings
- Maximum of 10 people for seated indoor organized gatherings with safety protocols
- Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized gatherings with safety protocols
- Recreational travel only within travel region (travel restrictions extended)
- Indoor and outdoor dining for up to six people with safety protocols
- Resume outdoor sports (games) with no spectators, low-intensity fitness with safety protocols
- Start gradual return to workplaces
- Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place
- Return of indoor in-person faith-based gatherings (reduced capacity) based on consultation with public health
Step 2: Mid-June (June 15 – earliest date)
- 65% of adult population with Dose 1
- Cases declining, COVID-19 hospitalizations declining
- Maximum of 50 people for outdoor social gatherings
- Maximum of 50 people for seated indoor organized gatherings (banquet halls, movie theatres, live theatre) with safety protocols
- Consultation process to prepare for larger indoor and outdoor gatherings with safety protocols
- No B.C. travel restrictions – check local travel advisories
- Indoor sports (games) and high-intensity fitness with safety protocols
- Spectators for outdoor sports (50 maximum)
- Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place
Step 3: Early July (July 1 – earliest date)
- 70% of adult population with Dose 1
- Cases low, COVID-19 hospitalizations declining
- Provincial state of emergency and public health emergency lifted
- Returning to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings
- Increased capacity for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings, with safety plans
- Nightclubs and casinos reopen with capacity limits and safety plans
- New public health and workplace guidance around personal protective equipment, physical distancing and business protocols
Step 4: Early September (Sept. 7 – earliest date)
- More than 70% of adult population with Dose 1
- Cases low and stable (contained clusters), COVID-19 hospitalizations low
- Returning to normal social contact
- Increased capacity at larger organized gatherings
- No limits on indoor and outdoor spectators at sports
- Businesses operating with new safety plans
Progressing through the steps will be measured by the number of adults vaccinated, COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations and deaths, taking into account clusters and outbreaks. While there are approximate dates, the plan will be guided by data, not dates, and will not proceed to the next step until it is safe to do so based on guidance from public health and the latest available data.
May 6, 2021
Expedited Workplace Closures - What Employers Can Expect
On April 11, 2021, an order of the provincial health officer (PHO) delegated specific powers to WorkSafeBC prevention officers. The order provides WorkSafeBC prevention officers the ability to serve a 10-day closure order on an employer with COVID-19 transmission when directed so by a medical health officer. WorkSafeBC’s role is well defined and narrow in scope, with no role in deciding which workplaces will be served with a closure order. Questions regarding the closure order itself are referred to the Health Authority Medical Health Officer.
When WorkSafeBC prevention officers deliver a closure order to affected workplaces, they will also help the employer understand their need to review their COVID-19 safety plan and make any necessary changes during the closure period. WorkSafeBC will be available to provide guidance around reviewing and updating COVID-19 safety plans.
Then, once the workplace has re-opened, WorkSafeBC will conduct an inspection to review the employer’s COVID-19 safety plan and ensure the employer is effectively implementing measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Findings from COVID-19 Inspections
Throughout the pandemic, WorkSafeBC has been engaging employers to ensure that protocols identified in their COVID-19 safety plan have been effectively reviewed, updated, and implemented, and that exposure to COVID-19 is being effectively managed in the workplace. This includes issuing an inspection report with orders in cases where improvements to COVID-19 safety plans and protocols are required.
WorkSafeBC recently analyzed 1,600 COVID-19 orders to identify the controls most frequently identified as needing improvement. They include:
Physical Distancing
- Ensure physical distance of 2 metres is maintained between workers and others whenever possible, especially in shared spaces; consider changing the layout of workspaces to enable physical distancing in all work and break areas.
- Provide physical barriers such as Plexiglas if physical distancing between workers and customers cannot be maintained.
Signage
- Post signage that reminds workers of the controls in place, including occupancy limits, handwashing practices, health-check requirements, and entrance restrictions.
- Use physical queue controls, such as crowd-control cones or floor markers to regulate traffic and physical distancing.
Policies and Protocols
- Develop and post a COVID-19 safety plan that identifies and addresses the risks in all areas of the workplace.
- Ensure there are posted policies for employer and visitor daily health screening.
Training
- Ensure health and safety information and training is provided in the required languages so it can be understood by everyone at the workplace.
Supervision and Monitoring
- Communicate safety programs and policies clearly to workers through information-sharing, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure the controls in place are being followed.
Facilities
- Provide adequate hand-washing facilities on site for all workers.
- Place alcohol-based hand sanitizer at key areas of your workplace (near pay stations, in break rooms, etc.).
Personal Protective Equipment
- Make sure appropriate masks are available and being used properly for the work being carried out.
For more information about all aspects of a COVID-19 safety plan, please refer to the following resources:
Reporting COVID-19 Exposure Claims
Employers and workers should continue to report a workplace injury or disease during this time, including those involving a work-related exposure to COVID-19. Contracting COVID-19 in the workplace may be considered a work-related occupational disease, and affected staff members have the right to make a claim and could be eligible for health care and wage-loss benefits.
For information on when and how to report a COVID-19 illness to WorkSafeBC, please visit the Claims COVID-19 pages on worksafebc.com for information for both workers and employers.
April 19, 2021
Paid Leave for Workers to get COVID-19 Vaccine
April 8, 2021
Applications Open for Hiring Tax Credit
Applications are now open online for the Increased Employment Incentive (IEI), which was announced as a part of StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan.
This credit sets aside up to $190 million for businesses that were able to hire new workers, hire back people who were let go or increase workers’ hours during the last three months of 2020.
“We consulted the business community last year about measures that would help them get back on their feet and build their confidence,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. “The Increased Employment Incentive supports businesses that invested in people during an uncertain time in the last few months of 2020 – investments that helped get people back to work quickly.”
With 2020 payrolls finalized, businesses will know if they are eligible for a credit that could equal up to 15 percent of any increase in total eligible payroll paid in the last quarter of 2020. The tax credit could be as much as $2,230 per employee.
“In B.C. we have provided the highest per capita support for businesses and people of any province in Canada,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “This initiative is one of several programs we’ve rolled out to help businesses get through the pandemic and thrive over the long term while putting people back to work.”
The credit is available to all employers in B.C., except for public institutions and political parties. For employers required to pay the employer health tax (EHT), the credit will be first applied to any EHT outstanding and will be available as a refund to the extent the credit exceeds the amount of EHT or other debt owed to government.
Businesses that are registered and liable for EHT are encouraged to file their 2020 EHT return before applying for the IEI to ensure no delay in receiving the tax credit.
The IEI is one of several provincial supports to help businesses recover and respond to the unprecedented economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other supports include a provincial sales tax rebate on select machinery and equipment investments to help businesses adapt and grow, the Small- and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant, and grants to help businesses launch or upgrade online stores.
PST Rebate for Capital Investments
Businesses can grow back bigger and stronger following the pandemic, with up to half-billion dollars in expected rebates available for purchases or leases of select machinery and equipment including tools, furniture, computers, software and zero-emission vehicles.
“This measure is a direct response to what we heard when we consulted with the business community. By providing a rebate on tools and equipment that help businesses grow, we ar encouraging investments and helping to reduce the cost of growth for businesses in every sector,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. “This provincial sales tax (PST) rebate will make it easier for businesses to make the investments that will allow them to grow or adapt and seize the opportunities of a post-COVID-19 economy.”
The rebate, announced in September 2020 as part of StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan, allows incorporated businesses to recover 100 percent of the PST on most machinery and equipment purchased between Sept. 17, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021.
“Having a 100 percent PST rebate is a good incentive to make the kind of capital investments that will not just support our members, but help the economy respond, recover and prosper,” said Andrew Wynn-Williams, vice-president, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. “These rebates will support both the short-term need for relief and the long-term goal of economic growth.”
Online applications are open. The first window is open until Sept. 20, 2021, followed by a second window after the eligible rebate period (Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022). Rebate eligibility is based on the Canada Revenue Agency’s Capital Cost Allowance classes.
The rebate is one of the government-provided investments helping businesses recover and respond to the unprecedented economic impact of the pandemic. Other supports include the Small-to-Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant, an incentive for businesses that hired more employees, grants to launch or upgrade online stores and other tax relief provided in 2020.
Learn More
- Increased Employment Incentive:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/employer-health-tax/employer-health-taxoverview/increased-employment-incentive - StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/supporting-bcbusinesses
- PST rebate on select machinery and equipment:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/pst/rebate-machinery-equipment - Canada Revenue Agency’s Capital Cost Allowance classes:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/pst/rebate-machineryequipment/technical-backgrounder