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ARTICLE · 06 APRIL 2020

Are You Essential?: COVID-19 Business Closure Orders In Canada

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As the coronavirus crisis deepens in Canada, the regulatory and business landscape continues to rapidly change.

CanadaCoronavirus (COVID-19)
Stephanie Stimpson
Stephanie Stimpson
Andrew Bernstein
Andrew Bernstein
David Outerbridge
David Outerbridge
Michael Amm
Michael Amm
Marie-ÈVe Gingras
Marie-ÈVe Gingras
Thomas Stevenson
Thomas Stevenson
Tosh Weyman
Tosh Weyman
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La version française de cette communication est publiée ici.

As the coronavirus crisis deepens in Canada, the regulatory and business landscape continues to rapidly change. The provinces of Ontario and Québec have now ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces in those provinces. Companies have only a day's notice to determine whether they qualify as an essential service and assess the implications of that determination. Similar restrictions have been implemented in certain U.S. states. Boards and management teams must adapt and make strategic decisions in unprecedented circumstances.

What you need to know

  • Business closure orders issued in Ontario and Québec. The governments of Ontario and Québec have issued similar orders mandating the closure of all "non-essential" (Ontario) or "non-priority" (Québec) workplaces for two weeks in Ontario and three weeks in Québec (with possible extensions).

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