Heat and Frost Insulators News and Events

Highlights:

Dr. Tam provided an update on the number of cases in Canada: 15822 cases and 293 deaths. She says the most concerning news right now are the new outbreaks in hospitals and hearing of young people being hospitalized and people as young as in their 20’s dying from the disease. She shares this information as a reminder that this is a critical illness that may strike anyone at any age. She also gave an update on testing that Canada has now completed over 339 000 tests. She points to cautious optimism from British Columbia as they recorded a lower number of cases than last week showing that collective action can slow the spread of the virus.

Highlights: 

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an address from Rideau Cottage, noting today applications opened for CERB and that 240,000 people had applied already.
• Trudeau also highlighted that the government plans to expand eligibility for CERB to include part-time workers who have gone through a loss of hours, students, gig economy workers, and others in the $2,000 per month flat rate benefit.
• The Prime Minister reiterated the government plans to reconvene Parliament to pass legislation necessary for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy implementation. He indicated the government is also working on a plan to hold virtual sitting of the House and Senate. 
• He lauded certain banks and credit unions for reducing interest rates on credit accounts by almost a half, asking for more similar action by other financial institutions. 
• Trudeau said the Canadian Chamber of Commerce launched the Canadian Business Resilience Network and explained it would be helpful for Canadian businesses doing all they can to get through these trying times.
• In response to questions, The Prime Minister said he would stay at his residence as  much as possible as his self-isolation period is coming to an end. He said social distancing measures are expected to last for “many weeks” or a “few months.”

Opening Remarks:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained CERB opened for applications today, saying 240,000 people have already successfully applied and that the government is suggesting people apply according to their birth month. He said there are some who don’t qualify who still deserve help and that the government would expand access to CERB soon for gig workers, freelancers, those who have had hours reduced to below 10 hours per week, and others.

How to Apply

Eligible employers would be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Business Account portal as well as a web-based application. Employers would have to keep records demonstrating their reduction in arm’s-length revenues and remuneration paid to employees. More details about the application process will be made available shortly.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

On March 25, the Prime Minister announced a new taxable benefit that provides $2,000/month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blog created on March 19 at 2 p.m. EST: This is an update regarding the March 18 Canadian federal government response regarding the Emergency Funds being supplied to Canadian citizens during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Les questions portant sur l’ouvrage et les élections fédérales étaient au centre de la Conférence législative Canadienne de L’industrie de la construction et une saine conversation politique ont rempli le calendrier lors de la conférence législative de 2019 des Syndicats des métiers de la construction du Canada (SMCC)

Issues critical to the Canadian Construction Industry and a healthy dose of political conversation filled the schedule during the Canada’s Building Trades Union (CBTU) 2019 Legislative Conference.

Summer is here, and in Canada, the political scene is truly heating up with only a couple months left before the next federal election on Oct. 21. Members of Parliament and candidates from all parties are pounding the pavement, knocking on doors and pitching themselves and their party’s policy agenda to Canadians.

Created and disbursed by the Canada's Building Trades Unions.

CBTU Commends Federal Government’s Commitment to Workers Health and Safety
- Banning Asbestos important step forward to protecting Canadians and reducing workplace death and disease -


January 3, 2019– Canada’s Building Trades Unions are pleased with the Federal Government’s steps to close out 2018 with a ban on the use of asbestos and products containing asbestos. Canada now joins 55 other countries that have banned the use of asbestos.

“The Federal Government’s announcement to ban asbestos reflects their commitment to the health and safety of the Canadian workforce, and shows they have delivered on another one of their commitments since coming to office,” said Robert Blakely, Canadian Operating Office, Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “The CBTU has been lobbying on this issue for years, because workplace exposure to asbestos is one of the leading causes of workplace-related death within our affiliated unions. We now need governments at municipal, provincial and territorial levels to work with the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive strategy to account for and remove – safely – this substance from our existing buildings to lessen the impact on future generations of workers going forward.”

Mesothelioma, the cancer related to asbestos exposure, can take 20 to 40 years to develop and begin causing symptoms. The mortality rate is devastating, about 60 per cent of those affected die within a year of diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate is less than seven per cent.

Blakely went on to say, “While this announcement will reduce the chances for asbestos exposure in the next generation, we still have a lot of work to do around the legacy of asbestos which includes a public registry of buildings with asbestos, regulations around asbestos exposure, safe removal and disposal of asbestos from current buildings and compensation for victims.”