Important COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information for DBBIA Businesses

Advocacy Letters for the Downtown Brampton Business Community

Your COVID-19 Employment Questions Answered:

With the spread of COVID-19 and the partial, temporary and full closures of many businesses, we know that small business owners have questions about how to deal with their employees. Join Stephen Wolpert and Marc Kitay, partners at award-winning employment law boutique Whitten & Lublin for a session to answer questions like:

-Am I allowed to lay my staff off during this emergency?
-What are the consequences of doing so?
-What if I can’t afford to rehire them when the emergency ends?
-Are my employees eligible for employment insurance or wage subsidies?
-If I am the owner but I am on payroll, am I eligible?
-What steps can I take to protect myself from claims by my employees?

Click Here to watch the full video

Downtown Brampton BIA COVID-19 e-News

August

Member e-News August 5, 2020: Merchant and Farmers’ Market survey, Art installation, Budget workshops, and Construction on George St. S

July

June

May

April

March

City of Brampton

Business Resources

The POST Promise training & education platform is a voluntary declaration from a business to its customers and employees. Show your business is taking steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19: postpromise.com
Restaurants Canada – COVID-19 Best Practices for Reopening
Frequently asked questions about essential businesses
How to build a “buy online, pick up curbside” store – Shopify
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses
Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe
BDC Funding Support for entrepreneurs impacted by the coronavirus COVID-19
Pandemic Preparedness Guide for Business
Business continuity plan and templates for entrepreneurs
Planning Checklist for Retailers – COVID-19
How to find out if your business qualifies for the COVID-19 wage subsidy

Additional Resources

OBIAA Business Resources

OBIAA Letters

Business Survey(s)

City of Brampton – Economic Support Task Force – Business Impact Survey for COVID-19

HOW TO APPLY FOR EI DURING COVID-19

Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. If you wait
more than 4 weeks after your last day of work to apply, you may
lose benefits.

Scenario 1 – You are under isolation or quarantine: Apply to EI NOW as SICK BENEFITS.

Scenario 2 – You are laid off from work due to shortage of work due to Covid– 19 – Apply for EI NOW under Regular EI benefits – Shortage of Work

Scenario 3 – You are laid off from work due to your place of business closing due to Covid -19 – Apply for EI NOW under Regular EI Benefits – Involuntary Leave

Scenario 4 – You are NOT ELIGIBLE for EI benefits but want to apply for the new Package announced for those not eligible for EI – you must wait until this passes the House of Commons – which should be by April and applications and money will flow by May. You will be given application instructions once the applications are approved for production.

Click Here for the Employment Insurance benefits and leave website

Safety Checklist for Businesses

For businesses whose operations are closed during this time, Ottawa Police have created a safety checklist to ensure your shop or restaurant remains secure. Police recommend the following guidelines:

Keep the lights on
Remove ALL cash and receipts
Do not leave any valuables clearly visible or accessible
All safes and tills should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
Keep all cash drawers open to show that nothing is in the drawers
All ATM’s should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
All alcohol products removed from bar and put in secured storage areas (no alcohol left visible from outside)
Consider posting “NO CASH or Valuables on Premises” signage
Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings (ie. Cleaners, deliveries, etc)
Disconnect all kitchen gas lines from their gas source

Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the times this is done to not establish a pattern)