COVID-19 Toolkit: Canada Government News & Resources

(Page last updated: June 26, 2020)

On this page of the online toolkit, we provide Canada Government resources, links, and other critical information related to the government’s response to COVID-19 at the national, provincial, and local level. This content will be updated on a frequent basis, so be sure to refresh your web browser to see all the latest news and information.

Canada Government – COVID-19 Table of Contents

Canada Government News & Resources

Summary of Canada Provincial Actions Regarding COVID-19

Posted May 5, 2020

In recent days, provinces across Canada have begun rolling out plans to open their respective jurisdictions in phases. Some provinces are taking immediate steps, while others that have been harder hit by the pandemic are establishing less immediate timelines.

In an April 29, 2020 blog post, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada provides a summary of these actions.

Public Safety Canada Issues Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During COVID-19 Pandemic

On April 2, 2020, Public Safety Canada issued “Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

This guidance helps align the list of essential workers across the provinces and territories. CGA member activities are included under several categories.

The purpose of the document is to help provinces / territories, Indigenous communities, and municipalities protect their communities while maintaining the reliable operation of critical infrastructure services and functions to ensure the health, safety, and economic well-being of the population.

It is a non-exhaustive list of essential services and functions to facilitate the movement of critical infrastructure workers within and between jurisdictions. It also serves to help maintain the operation of critical services that ensure the health, safety, and economic well-being of Canadians.

To ensure the continued functioning of the two nations’ integrated economies, this document is aligned and consistent with the United States Department of Homeland Security Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, which was issued on March 19, 2020.

See Public Safety Canada News Release

CGA Suggests That Canada Designate Medical Gases As “Essential”

On March 22, 2020, CGA sent letters to Canada government officials at Health Canada and Public Health Canada, recommending that medical gases be designated “essential.” A similar message will be sent to officials at Transport Canada. Excerpts from that communication are provided here:

“As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve rapidly, and as the government is mobilizing Canadian businesses and manufacturers to help fight the spread of the virus and protect the health and safety of all Canadians, the compressed gas industry is here to assist…

Over one million patients are treated with medical gases, such as oxygen, every day… The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has made the need for medical gases even more acute today. CGA member companies, as well as the rest of the medical, food and industrial gas industry are implementing their business continuity plans and ramping up their operations to meet the growing need for medical gases to ensure the supply of life saving medical gases, such as oxygen, is not interrupted.

In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, recently released guidance on “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The DHS list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” is intended “to help state and local officials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security.” In its guidance, DHS defines “Manufacturers, technicians, logistics and warehouse operators, and distributors of … medical gases” as “essential.”

CGA strongly suggests Canada consider establishing similar guidance on “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” under the “Critical Infrastructure Framework” already established by Public Safety Canada and that such guidance include medical gas supply as “essential.” This guidance would help ensure the supply of life saving medical gases is not interrupted should Canada or its provinces and territories impose quarantine or shelter in place declarations.”

Transport Canada News & Resources

We provide here news, links, and resources related to Transport Canada’s response to COVID-19.

Transport Canada Issues Temporary Certificates Related to Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Updated)

Updated April 17, 2020

On March 27, 2020, Transport Canada issued two temporary certificates related to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR), to provide temporary regulatory relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certificate TU 0750 allows workers with expired recurrent training to continue working.

Certificate TU 0751 allowed the use of cylinders that are out of requalification date but are in all other ways acceptable for filling and use. On April 15, 2020, Transport Canada issued a revised Temporary Certificate, TU 0751.1, authorizing the handling, the offering for transport, the transport, or importation of dangerous goods in a manner that does not comply with the testing and inspection requirements of standardized means of containment prescribed by Part 5 of the TDG Regulations, provided the inspection and test marks are visible and legible when they appear on the container and were valid on February 28, 2019 in the case of cylinders, spheres, tubes, UN pressure receptacles, multiple-element gas containers, and other pressure receptacles, containing dangerous goods included in class 2.1 or class 2.2, and selected and used in accordance with CSA B340 and CSA B342.

We recommend that all Compressed Gas Association members read these temporary certificates carefully to understand how they impact your individual operations.

Other Canada Resources

We provide here additional news, links, and resources related to the response to COVID-19 in Canada.

Public Health Agency of Canada: Guidance on Risk-Informed Decision-Making Guidelines for Workplaces and Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 5, 2020

This tool is designed to assist workplaces/businesses in considering risks to employees, customers, and clients during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and provides examples of measures that may be implemented at the workplace/business to mitigate potential risks.