Other organizations: Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—April 24, 2020
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Canada Post Corporation status impact of COVID-19
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Key messages
- Canada Post is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking steps to help keep its employees and the communities it serves safe, while following the guidance of the Public Health Agency of Canada
- We are working closely with Canada Post, and Canada Post is working closely with its unions, in order to ensure employees and the public are protected
- As the situation with the coronavirus evolves, the health and safety of employees and the Canadians they serve takes the highest priority while Canada Post takes steps to continue delivering the service Canadians rely on
If pressed:
Canada Post is taking action to protect employees and customers, including
- enhanced cleaning in all of its facilities and extra personal protective equipment for employees
- reduced hours of service to clean, restock and provide some relief to employees
- priority service to those at a higher risk, such as seniors, during the first hour of each day
- installing signage and floor decals to encourage social distancing, limiting the number of customers in smaller offices, and installing clear barriers at the counter to increase safety
- suspending its normal 15-day hold period and asking that customers who are ill or self-isolating delay their visit and pick up their parcel only when it’s safe to do so
Amazon Canada, Canada Post and Purolator
- We have entered into an agreement with Amazon Canada, in coordination with Canada Post and Purolator, to help manage the distribution of personal protective equipment and supplies purchased by the federal government
- This agreement will enhance the logistics and distribution capabilities of the federal government to help ensure that supplies make it into the hands of healthcare workers across the country as quickly as possible
Health and safety
- Our government believes that every Canadian has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. We fully expect Amazon Canada to follow the guidelines put forward by Canada’s public health organizations and protect their workers during this crisis
- Canada Post is also following federal-provincial and municipal public health recommendations. For example, employees across the country who are over 70 are being asked to stay home and facilities are undergoing rigorous cleaning processes
National Capital Commission: Response to COVID-19
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is doing its part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The situation evolves daily and they are working to comply with public health directives from all levels of government, particularly the recommendation that people should avoid all non-essential travel.
The NCC is encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors close to home—on foot or by bike—rather than driving to a destination further from home.
People can still walk through some of the NCC recreational amenities, but only if:
- They can access them locally
- They respect public health recommendations, including physical distancing of 2 metres
- Dogs must now be on a leash at all times, this measure applies to areas normally identified as off-leash dog areas and parks
- gatherings and loitering are not permitted at any time on NCC recreational amenities
Closures
Gatineau Park
- Gatineau Park is completely closed until further notice
- Parking on roadways within Gatineau Park and on neighbouring roadways is prohibited. Local authorities will be enforcing this restriction
Greenbelt
- All parking lots are closed
- Benches, outhouses and picnic areas are closed
- Bruce Pit off-leash dog park is closed
- Parking on roadways within the Greenbelt is prohibited. Local authorities will be enforcing this restriction
- Recreational amenities with limited access:
- trails and multi-use pathways
- Conroy Pit off-leash dog park (dogs must now be kept on a leash)
National Capital Commission urban parks and lands in Ottawa
- All parking lots closed
- Benches, gazebos, picnic areas and outdoor community gardens closed
- Recreational amenities with limited access:
- trails and multi-use pathways
- off-leash dog areas (dogs must now be kept on a leash)
National Capital Commission urban parks and lands in Gatineau
- All parking lots are closed
- Benches, gazebos, picnic areas and play structures are closed
- Recreational amenities with limited access
- trails and multi-use pathways
Parkways
As part of a pilot project, the Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be closed to motor vehicle traffic between Laurier Avenue and Fifth Avenue, daily from 8 am to 8 pm, from Saturday, April 18, 2020, to Sunday, April 26, 2020.
The objective is to offer residents who live in denser urban areas the ability to get outdoors and enjoy their neighbourhoods while practicing safe physical distancing.
Only local residents living in adjacent neighbourhoods should access the Driveway during this pilot project.
At this time, the NCC is not considering roadway closures to vehicle traffic for either the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway or the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway due to advice from public health agencies, logistical challenges, staffing requirements and the need to ensure continued access for transit and emergency services.
Based on ongoing public health advice, and in consultation with partner municipalities, the NCC will reassess options for road closures, including Sunday bike days.
Challenges enforcing new rules
The NCC is working closely with local authorities to enforce closures and ensure social distancing rules are respected.
Festivals and events
The Canadian Tulip Festival is moving online, including performances and programming. The tulips will still bloom in NCC parks, however, the NCC is asking people to respect the calls for physical distancing and thus, the NCC will not be providing the services it usually provides in its parks during the tulip bloom, such as portable toilets, food concessions, extra waste pick-up, road closures during the weekends, first aid and site management.
The Jazz Festival and the festival Franco-Ontarien have been cancelled. The Ottawa Race weekend has also been cancelled. The NCC continues to monitor the situation.
Bridge crossings
- Any police checkpoints are a provincial decision and not something the NCC plays a role in
- The NCC is currently continuing with construction work on the Lebreton bridge on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and the Hog’s Back Bridge
- The NCC is following federal, provincial, and public health guideline. Other construction activity, except that which is required for critical health and safety reasons, is being put on hold
Harrington Lake renovations
- The NCC is an independent Crown Corporation and is responsible for year-round maintenance and operations for the 6 official residences in Canada’s Capital Region
- The NCC recognizes the significance of these official residences and are committed to working with their partners to ensure that issues related to security, heritage preservation, sustainability, and accessibility are addressed
- The NCC’s work at Harrington Lake is part of a broader program to preserve, maintain and restore all official residences under NCC management
- We will continue to support the NCC in their important work
Canada Lands Company Limited: Response to COVID-19
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Closures
- CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
- Montreal Science Centre
- Old Port of Montreal programming
- Downsview Park programming, Toronto, Ontario
Rent relief
Canada Lands Company Limited (CLCL) is offering rent relief to commercial and residential tenants. The relief is retroactive from March 1, 2020 for most and is provided to the earlier of government declarations that businesses may resume and May 31, 2020. Extensions will be considered as May 31, 2020 approaches.
Protecting the health of workers
Employees are expected to work from home until further notice, except for essential employees. No layoffs are planned at this time.
The corporation amended a number of its human resources policies in response to COVID-19, removing waiting period before employees can access paid sick leave and removing the doctor’s note requirement. Leaves for family obligation that would normally not have been paid are now considered paid leaves. Planned vacation can be cancelled and the carry over maximums have been reviewed.
Financial impact
The corporation is financially impacted by closures of attractions sites, cost of rent relief provided to tenants, cost of paid “relieved of duty” for employees and additional health and safety measures incurred in responding to COVID-19.
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