To our Association Members,
We are facing an unprecedented moment for the printing industry in Canada as organizations grapple with protecting staff and families from the spread of COVID-19, while working to mitigate the economic impact the outbreak is having on their business.
Regional and national health authorities are providing hourly updates to this rapidly evolving global health crisis. Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments are using every legislative and financial tool at their disposal to reduce the spread of the virus and minimize the resulting economic fallout. Our industry, like every sector, is feeling an immediate impact which is expected to last for months.
The Canadian Printing Industries Association Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of six regional print associations across Canada, convened a conference call on Friday March 21st, 2020, to discuss ways to support our members during this critical time.
First, we want to support members of our industry with useful and relevant information that can assist their individual responses to COVID-19 outbreak. We have assembled this information, with links to important online resources, over the following two pages.
Second, there is significant concern among our industry members of the short and long-term impacts the COVID-19 outbreak will have on the overall health of our industry. We recognize that the CPIA has an important role to play in engaging our Federal Government on our collective economic importance and interests. The CPIA also has a role to play in facilitating the efforts between our regional associations members as they engage their local and Provincial governments on their COVID-19 response measures.
We’d like your feedback with specific questions, requests or feedback which can be incorporated into our communications with Federal and Provincial governments. Please email us at admin@cpia-aci.ca. We will also work in partnership with regional associations to facilitate conference calls to enable members of our industry to voice their concerns, observations and share ideas on how our industry can manage through the challenging days, weeks and months ahead.
1. Measures to protect your staff and organization from the spread of COVID-19
Government of Canada COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool
Staff who are concerned they may have COVID-19, are recommended to use the online assessment tool (most are re-directed to Province-specific tools)
Government of Canada COVID-19 Symptom Self Assessment Tool
Government of Canada – Awareness Resources
Easy to understand info-graphic documents are available online by the Government of Canada.
We encourage industry members to make these up-to-date, best-practice resources widely available within your organizations (in printed form when helpful!) as part of the collective, national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
New materials are posted regularly so check back to the Awareness Resources page.
- Reduce the Spread of COVID-19. Wash Your Hands – A useful primer on hand-washing best practices
- Know the Difference: Self-Monitoring, Self-isolation and Isolation for COVID-19 – Clarifying the distinction between these commonly used terms, which can be easily confused
- COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces – Selecting appropriate cleaners and cleaning protocols for the workplace
- Social Distancing – A basic overview of social distancing best-practices
- Be Prepared (COVID-19) – Tips to prepare in case someone within a household becomes ill or if the illness becomes common within a community
- Returning Travelers – Self Isolation Guidelines – For returning travelers who need to self-isolate
2. Economic measures announced by the Government of Canada
The Government of Canada has announced measures aimed at helping individuals and businesses through the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Work-Sharing Program
Special measures are being implemented for this existing program as a result of COVID-19. The program allows for eligible employers to retain skilled employees during the temporary downturn in business due to COVID-19. The temporary measures will extend agreements by an additional 38 weeks (for a maximum of 76 weeks), waive the mandatory waiting period and ease the recovery plan requirement.
Access the Government of Canada’s Work Sharing Overview page and the Work Sharing Temporary Special Measures page
- Wage Subsidies for Small Business
In order to help small businesses prevent layoffs, the Government of Canada has proposed a wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of renumeration paid during that period, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
Access additional information about Wage Subsidies for Small Business
- Economic Stimulus Measures, including Working Capital Loans
Announced as the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) will coordinate with private sector lenders to coordinate credit solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Qualifying businesses will receive working capital loans with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6-months.
More economic stimulus measures are expected in the coming days.
BDC – Support for entrepreneurs impacted by the coronavirus COVID-19
We recommended that businesses, seek guidance from current and prospective financial institutions on all available resources designed to help them weather the economic challenges created by COVID-19.
It is also important to note that there have been provincial and municipal announcements in recent days, with more expected, announcing deferred tax payment obligations to reduce financial obligations placed on businesses.