COVID-19 Update for CANS Members – June 23, 2021

Nova Scotia Border Opens to Atlantic Canada Today, June 23, Followed by Rest of Canada

Nova Scotia’s borders opened today, June 23, to residents of the three other Atlantic provinces. The province will open to travellers from outside Atlantic Canada on June 30.

People travelling from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador can enter Nova Scotia for any reason and will no longer have to self-isolate or complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form.

People travelling from New Brunswick can enter for any reason and will have isolation requirements based on their vaccination status and testing. That includes Nova Scotians returning from New Brunswick. These travellers will continue to complete the Nova Scotia Safe Check-in form. The rules in place for New Brunswick will extend to travellers from outside Atlantic Canada on June 30.

If you are entering Nova Scotia from New Brunswick isolation requirements are:

• If you have TWO DOSES of vaccine– you must self-isolate until you receive a negative PCR test result in Nova Scotia.
• If you have ONE DOSE of vaccine– you must self-isolate for seven days and cannot leave isolation until you receive two negative PCR test results in Nova Scotia.
• If you have NO DOSES of vaccine– you must self-isolate for 14-days.
• If you have an unvaccinated child under 12– they must quarantine as long as their least vaccinated parent.

Read more.

Nova Scotia’s Reopening Plan

We are currently in Phase Two of the Government of Nova Scotia’s Reopening Plan, as of  Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Read more.

Continue Regular COVID-19 Testing 

Everyone should get tested regularly for COVID-19, even if you have no or only mild symptoms. Book an appointment for a standard test at a primary assessment centre. Rapid testing is available without an appointment at pop-up sites. Visit the Nova Scotia Health Authority website for more information about testing.

Vaccine Information

To protect yourself from COVID-19, it is important to get vaccinated. Click here to book your appointment and learn more about Nova Scotia’s immunization plan and vaccine rollout.

Second Dose Rescheduling: Second dose appointments are being rescheduled for an earlier date. You’ll receive an email when it’s your turn to reschedule your second dose appointment. If you didn’t provide an email when you booked your appointment, call 1-833-797-7772 to reschedule or provide your email address.

Webinar Recording: Vaccinations, Worksite Safety and the Legal Considerations

Last week, Construction Safety Nova Scotia and panellists Brad Proctor and David Fraser, provided their legal expertise in the issue of mandating vaccinations in the construction sector.

Topics explored:

• Can vaccinations be made mandatory? Under what conditions?
• What if someone refuses?
• What do we need to disclose, if anything?
• How do we protect our staff and employees properly?
• What can we communicate?

Click here to watch a recording of the webinar.

Funding & Business Support

Canada Recovery Hiring Program and Extension of Business Support Programs – The proposed Canada Recovery Hiring Program would help hard-hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen. The program would provide a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of eligible salary or wages. It would be available to eligible employers who have experienced qualifying revenue declines so they can hire more workers, increase workers’ hours, or increase wages. Read more.

Government of Canada’s Safe Restart Program – The Safe Restart Agreement (SRA) is a federal investment of more than $19 billion to help provinces and territories safely restart their economies and make our country more resilient to possible future surges in cases of COVID-19. Read more.

Small Business Impact Grant Deadline – The Small Business Impact Grant 3 application deadline is Friday, June 25. This grant provides eligible businesses with a 1-time grant of up to $5,000 based on their sales revenue, plus an additional 1-time grant of $5,000. Learn more and apply here.

Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program Extended – The Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program application deadline has been extended to Friday, July 9. This program provides eligible businesses with a 1-time rebate of $1,000 or 50% of property taxes paid for the last 6 months of the 2020 – 2021 tax year. Learn more and apply here.

CANS COVID-19 Information Centre

Looking for the latest information about COVID-19? Check out CANS COVID-19 Information Centre.

Please keep us informed to help us advocate on your behalf. Email your questions to questions@cans.ns.ca.