{"id":608593,"date":"2020-04-02T09:41:20","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T13:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/?p=608593"},"modified":"2025-01-01T06:54:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T11:54:30","slug":"do-you-provide-an-essential-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecompliancecenter.com\/ca\/help-center\/articles\/do-you-provide-an-essential-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Provide an Essential Service?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

We all know that \u201csocial distancing\u201d is an important part of beating the novel coronavirus and ensuring public safety. To that end, many businesses across Canada (and other countries such as the U.S.) have been ordered closed in order to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d of the spread of infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, though certain industries must remain open for society to function safely. Medical facilities and pharmacies, as well as food providers like grocery stores, are obvious examples. But they can\u2019t function either, without a whole infrastructure behind them. In order to keep Canadians fed, provided with necessities and with access to medical care during the pandemic, a much larger web of businesses must also remain open.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, how do you know if your company or employer is an \u201cessential service,\u201d or if you\u2019re legally bound to keep your doors closed? First, remember that this can be a complex situation. Closures could be ordered at a municipal, regional, provincial or national level, although national closures would probably be too inflexible to be practical for a disease that has flare-ups and hot spots. So, start by consulting your provincial government and your municipality, while still listening for any specific regulations coming from the federal government.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without federal guidance, though, this piecemeal approach could devolve into chaos. Imagine if, say a truck driver could take his shipment of needed goods through some provinces, but not all. So, the Canadian federal government has created guidelines for a national policy on what services should be viewed as essential. These guidelines can be found at <\/span>https:\/\/www.publicsafety.gc.ca\/cnt\/ntnl-scrt\/crtcl-nfrstrctr\/esf-sfe-en.aspx<\/span><\/a> and are Part of Canada\u2019s National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the strategic plan, there are ten essential sectors for the wellbeing of Canadians. These are:<\/span><\/p>\n