You will find here all the communications of the association about Covid-19, from the most recent to the oldest

• therapeutic sector 
• massage therapy

19 october 2020

Hello dear members,

We know that many misunderstandings remain in relation to zoning and the new directives announced by public health. Map of COVID-19 Alert Levels by Region

We contacted public health with the objective of clarifying some of these questions.
Let's start by reminding them that nothing has changed for us, we are still authorized (by applying health measures and protocols) to practice as it was when our sector reopened on June 1st, 2020. List of Sectors Impacted in the Red Zone

Now let's clarify some points:

We have validated that we are always authorized to receive our clients no matter where we practice or to be received by our clients, in other words we can continue as usual even if interzone or interregional travel is requested.

However, for therapists practicing in a gym, the issue is a little more complex because the gym's activities must remain closed.
Technically, according to public health, there is nothing to prevent a therapist from meeting a client individually in a training establishment (gym), considering that he or she operates in a private office annexed to it and that the rest of the services are closed .

For people who work in a yoga center, it is the same principle: group yoga classes are not allowed, however therapeutic meetings in private are.

It is also the same principle for spas and massage therapy or other services: the spa must remain closed but therapeutic services in individual meetings can remain open.

So there you have it, we hope to have clarified some of the grey areas with you.

In the second part of this press release you will find the latest updates on financial aid and government programs.

Latest News on Government Assistance Programs
In support of economic recovery

CANADIAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY BENEFIT (CEB)
https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-finances/plan-intervention-economique.html

The CCPP provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks to workers who have stopped working or whose income has been reduced by at least 50 per cent due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
The Canadian Economic Recovery Benefit (CERB) provides financial assistance to employed and self-employed Canadians who are directly affected by VIDOC-19 and who are not eligible for EI benefits. The CERP is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are eligible for the CRP, you may receive $1,000 ($900 after tax deductions) for a period of 2 weeks.
If your situation lasts longer than 2 weeks, you will have to reapply. You can apply for up to a total of 13 qualifying periods (26 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (COVID-19)
https://www.quebec.ca/entreprises-et-travailleurs-autonomes/aide-urgence-pme-covid-19/

THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (PALM)
The SMALLER SHAREHOLDERS program is intended to support, for a limited period of time, eligible businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties due to VIDOC-19 and that require less than $50,000 in cash.
https://www.quebec.ca/entreprises-et-travailleurs-autonomes/aide-urgence-pme-covid-19/

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR COMMERCIAL RENT (AUCLC)
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/fr/finance-and-investing/covid19-cecra-small-business
- The deadline to register for extensions is October 30, 2020.
Canada's Emergency Commercial Rental Assistance (ECRA) for Small Business provides support to small businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of VIDOC 19.

EXPANDED EMERGENCY ACCOUNT FOR CANADIAN BUSINESS (CUEC)
https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-finances/plan-intervention-economique.html
The CUEC aims to support businesses by providing funding for expenses that cannot be avoided or postponed.
This $55 billion program offers interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and non-profit organizations.
The CUEC will now be available to sole proprietors, businesses that depend on entrepreneurs and family businesses that pay employees through dividends.
Repayment of the loan balance by December 31, 2022 will result in a 25% write-off of the loan (up to $10,000).

END OF UPP / TRANSFER TO EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-finances/plan-intervention-economique.html#Changements_au_regime_assurance_emploi

October 5, 2020

Hello dear members,

As most of you already know, Quebec City has announced new restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, as a second wave has begun to sweep the province.
The Legault government is raising the alert level throughout the territory. Several regions, including Greater Montreal, are going into a red zone, but schools remain open.
The state of maximum alert is triggered for the 82 municipalities of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC), the MRC of Rivière-du-Nord, in the Laurentians, Chaudière-Appalaches and the Capitale-Nationale, with the exception of Portneuf and Charlevoix.

Our sectors of activity remain open, more precisely :

Businesses, stores and boutiques will be able to remain open, as well as businesses offering personal and aesthetic care and community organizations. This includes training rooms, hair salons, shopping malls, clothing boutiques, etc..;
Health services in private practice will be allowed to continue, provided that only one person is required to provide care;
In residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs), seniors' residences (RPAs) and intermediate resources (IRs), visits for humanitarian purposes and those of family caregivers will be permitted, one person at a time, for a maximum of two people per day;
Individuals will no longer be allowed to receive guests in their homes or cottages. However, exceptions will be made for family caregivers; for persons providing home support or services; and for workers performing scheduled work. This means, for example, that a home care nurse or a plumber needing to do a repair will be able to continue to do their work. In addition, people living alone may be visited by another person, but the visit must always be the same person.

Practice in the client's home and practice in the client's home remain permitted as long as the health protocols and measures are properly applied.

In closing, we would like to congratulate each and every one of you for your involvement in the implementation and respect of health standards since the beginning of the pandemic. No outbreaks have been recorded in our sectors, which underscores the safety of all our operations.

We will remain on the lookout for developments in order to inform you of any changes.

Your association team

July 15, 2020

Good day to all of you dear members,

Mandatory wearing of the mask

As of Saturday, the wearing of face coverings will be mandatory for people aged 12 and over in all indoor public places, such as businesses, everywhere in Quebec, Prime Minister François Legault announced at a press briefing on Monday.

For the time being, the responsibility for enforcing the regulation will rest with business owners, who will have to inform customers of it at the very least.

An establishment that does not cooperate will first be served a warning. It could then be fined between $400 and $6,000 for repeat offences.

As of August 1, recalcitrant individuals could also be fined.

What areas are targeted by the measure?
Wearing a mask/face shield will now be mandatory in indoor public places.

What is a "indoor public place"? "It is any place where, as a member of the public, you will pass people and there is a risk of being less than two metres away," explained the National Director of Public Health, Dr. Horacio Arruda.

Examples of places where the mask/face shield must be worn include the following
A retail business;   
A service business (e.g., pharmacies);   
A private professional office;   
A place where municipal or government services are offered;   
A personal care business (e.g., hairdressers, esthetic care);   
A shopping mall;   
A place of worship;   
A movie theatre, concert hall, etc.   
A gymnasium ;   
A place used to host events, such as conventions and conferences;   
All common areas of a facility, including those in office buildings (e.g., lobbies, elevators and hallways);   
Educational colleges and universities, with the exception of classrooms;   
Public transportation.

FAQ

Q. If my consultation appointments are spaced out and no client crosses within two metres, is my workplace considered an indoor public place?
R. According to the definition, no, it is not considered an indoor public place.

Q. Is my home considered an indoor public place if I conduct my consultations there?
R. It depends on how you manage your appointments. It will be considered an indoor public place if there is a risk of not respecting the physical distance of two meters between clients.

Q. When care is provided in the client's home, does the client have to wear a mask?
R. No, the client must not wear a mask because the client's home is not considered an indoor public place. However, do not forget that the therapist must, according to the protocol, wear a mask at all times.

Q. When must the mask be worn by the client?
R. Upon arrival, when moving around the place and when leaving. The mask may be removed by the client during the treatment only.

Summer vacation

The vacation season is fast approaching and we wish to inform you that your association will be taking a break from July 27 to August 23, 2020.
Please plan to order your booklets, if necessary.

Recall of certain hand sanitizers that may pose health risks

Health Canada is advising Canadians that certain hand sanitizers are being recalled from the market because they contain industrial-grade ethanol that has not been authorized for use in hand sanitizers in Canada.

Consult the list

June 23, 2020

Good morning to all of you dear members,

We would like to take advantage of this beautiful Fête nationale to thank you for the devotion you have shown since the beginning of the crisis and for the dedication you demonstrate every day in offering your services to Quebecers.
Services that we know here to be essence-ciels.
This period has shaken us all.
For our part, it has also strengthened us.
Reinforced in our desire to be useful to you, so that together, we can set an example of the values we hold dear.
We wish you all a good Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day and a summer filled with sunshine, health and joy!

Here are the latest updates on Covid-19

Extension of CERB
Eight additional weeks available - extension of CERB from 16 to 24 weeks for workers :
- who stopped working because of COVID-19; or
- who are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits; or
- who exhausted their regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020.
https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/pcusc-application.html?&utm_campaign=gc-fin-fin-covid-19economicemergplan-2021-0004-9968772466&utm_medium=search&utm_source=google-ads-100157176065&utm_content=text-fr-433152654926&utm_term=pcu

Here is what is open or closed, permitted or prohibited - June 15, 2020
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/06/15/en-direct-le-quebec-se-deconfine-voici-ce-qui-est-ouvert-ou-ferme-permis-ou-interdit?utm_source=All&utm_campaign=Consentement+Law+C-28&utm_medium=email

Québec gives the green light to reopen shopping centres in the Greater Montréal area and the Joliette RCM as of June 19, 2020
CNESST has developed a guide for the retail and shopping centre sector.

Hours and days of operation of commercial establishments - Open or closed on Quebec Fête nationale and Canada Day?
Service businesses (such as hair salons), offices, theatres and manufacturing companies are not covered by the Act and Regulations. They can therefore open during their usual business hours. Despite this exception, service businesses that are not licensed to operate because of COVID-19 must remain closed.
http://www.fil-information.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?Page=1&idArticle=2806167465&utm_source=All&utm_campaign=Consentement+Law+C-28&utm_medium=email

REMINDER on changes to health standards - Massage therapy and therapeutic care - June 8, 2020
In the wake of new recommendations published on the INSPQ website, CNESST will update the Guide de normes sanitaires en milieu de travail for the personal care and aesthetics sector and in the workplace for the therapeutic care sector.
As a result, the wearing of a tracksuit (blouse, lab coat) is no longer mandatory. If it is worn, it must be removed and washed at the end of the working day, as with other clothing worn.
We invite you to keep an eye on the CNESST website for updates that concern your sector of activity.
Wearing a face cover is suggested when possible but not mandatory for clients.
Here is the revised guide for therapeutic care
The english version for massage therapy will be released next week. 

Training schools
We have had confirmation that the training schools can reopen as of June 15. Here is the exchange we had with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation.

June 11, 2020

Good morning, everyone,

Some changes have been made to public health guides.
Here are the points we would like to draw your attention to:
- It is no longer mandatory to wear a blouse or lab coat.
- It is no longer mandatory to change clothes/overalls between clients.
- It is no longer mandatory for the client to wear a mask.

Here are the text points as described in the public health guides:

·         Wearing a tracksuit (blouse, lab coat) is no longer mandatory. If it is worn, it must be removed and washed at the end of the working day, as with other clothing worn.

·         Suggest that the client wear a face cover when possible.

Here is the link to the new therapeutic guide. (In French only for the moment)
For massage therapists, we are in the process of revising the guide to include these points. You will receive it shortly.

TRAINING IN WORK RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Good news, the training is now available for replay! (Offered in French only)
You can now benefit from the conference offered by Me Karine Fournier by following these steps:

1. Create an account on the platform; https://soinspersonnels.uxpertise.ca/#/catalog/topCategory/394/subCategory/395
2. The new subscriber will receive confirmation of account opening and webinar registration.
3. In the email it will be written : You can view this activity by clicking on the following link: Accéder à mon activité

OBJECTIVES :
- To answer questions about recalls, temporary or permanent layoffs, measures to be taken if a case of Covid-19 is confirmed in your business.
- scenarios of employees refusing to work for fear of contamination.

CONTENT :
- Recalls to work, temporary vs. permanent layoffs
- How to find your way around
- Legal Obligations
- Force majeure
- Protocol to follow if a Covid-19 case is suspected or confirmed in your company
- "Checklist" of steps to take
- Should we close?
- Should employees, customers be notified?
- Is it possible to take the temperature of employees
- 10 scenarios that can occur while you operate
- Decision tree of 10 scenarios
- Employees who refuse to work
- Incentives

Within all these subjects, Me Fournier will make the distinction between the status of employee and self-employed worker.

June 3rd, 2020

NEW AND IMPORTANT

GOVERNMENT TEXT COMMUNICATION

After consultation with the Public Health Directorate, the position is as follows:

Private health care services, hairdressing, esthetics, etc. can be offered from the worker's residence (e.g. hairdresser or massage therapist who offers services from his home, the client goes to the worker's home) with the same recommendations as for a practice or commercial premises.

Private health care services, hairdressing, esthetics, etc. could be offered at the client's residence (e.g. hairdresser or massage therapist who comes to the client's home). These services are not prohibited. We will produce recommendations for this type of situation in the next few days.


LETTER TO BE SIGNED BY YOUR CLIENTS
We have produced two sample letters, one for before the consultation and one for after. You are not obliged to use these letters, but we recommend that you do because they are protective tools.
The letters can be written using a keyboard for a contactless procedure.

BEFORE THE CONSULTATION
AFTER THE CONSULTATION

REOPENING FOR BEAUTY CARE ON JUNE 15
Hair salons and other beauty care services will be able to reopen on June 15 in the greater Montreal area and the MRC de Joliette. 
In addition to hair salons, barber shops, beauty centres, manicure and pedicure, hair removal, tattoo and piercing, skin care and personal care services at home are affected by this reopening.

May 25, 2020

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions:

1) Can we massage in a spa? There are no contraindications on this subject, considering that the sanitary measures are applied there. Nuance: these are the services of the spa - jacuzzi, sauna, etc. - which are provided by the spa. - which are not allowed to reopen.

2) Corporate therapy care, i.e. for therapists travelling in companies? No contraindication, considering that the company applies the health measures in the workplace and that the therapist applies those of his protocol.

3) Practicing at home without independent entry? This does not pose any problem as long as the therapist applies his sanitary protocol.

4) At the client's home ?  This context makes it difficult to control the environment and therefore the application of the protocol. That said, this question remains to be seen and presents greater risks of transmission. Until further notice, we recommend that you receive clients at their own office. However, if a client is unable to travel and asks to be seen urgently, we leave it up to our member to decide whether or not to intervene. If this is the case, we ask you to limit your activities to one client per day.

5) In an office building? No contraindications, however the common areas must allow for social distancing. We suggest that you establish a circuit to organize travel.

6) Can chiropodists and foot care hygienists resume their activities on June 1st? The answer is yes for regions outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) with the exception of the Joliette sector. For practitioners in the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) and the Joliette sector, activities can resume only after the reopening of the esthetics sector.

7) Due to numerous technical problems, I missed most of the conference on Rights & Obligations in Labour Law given by lawyer Karine Fournier?   The event will be rescheduled, we will send you the date as soon as it is fixed. 

8) Does training in hygiene and sanitation count as continuing education? Yes, for 2 hours of training. You can send your certificates to info.naturo@videotron.ca

9) Will the alternative schools be able to reopen? Nothing currently prevents this, as long as the appropriate protocol is applied.

10) What is the difference between masks? Are artisanal and reusable masks allowed? For all questions concerning sanitary equipment, we ask you to register for the training in hygiene, sanitation and asepsis offered by Soins Personnel Québec. (Offered in French only)
To register, follow these 5 steps:

1- https://soinspersonnels.uxpertise.ca/#/catalog/topCategory/394
2- Open an account (not login)
3- Wait for the confirmation email
4- Confirm
5- Return to the platform and register for the desired training (Register me in turquoise on the right)

11) When touching the body, is it mandatory to have a tracksuit, blouse or lab coat or is one piece of clothing sufficient (t-shirt, sweater etc.)? A single piece of clothing is sufficient, however, you must plan to change your shirt and pants between each client. The blouse and lab coat cover more surface area, which means you don't have to change your pants.

May 21, 2020

Good news!

Following the government's announcement of May 20, 2020, we confirm the reopening of our sectors as of June 1, 2020.

Health standards protocols
Here is the guideline for therapeutic care sector.

Here is the guideline for massage therapy sector.

Hygiene & Sanitation Training (Available in French only)
We would like to remind you that Soins personnels Québec has created a training course on Hygiene & Sanitation given by a microbiologist that will be available very soon, with a certificate of participation, to inform you adequately. This training will be offered free of charge until the end of June. After this date, a 6.00$ fee will be applicable.
We will inform you as soon as it is available.

These services will resume everywhere in Quebec as of June 1st :

·         Psychotherapy

·         Ergotherapy Naturopathy

·         Social Work

·         Marital therapies

·         Osteopathy

·         Homeopathy

·         Nutrition Services

·         Physiotherapy

·         Chiropractic

·         Sexology

·         Other forms of alternative medicine

·         Massage therapy (including physiotherapy and orthotherapy) Acupuncture Career counselling

·         Podiatry

Here are the services that will resume as of June 1 everywhere in Québec, with the exception of the territories of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal and the MRC de Joliette* :

·         Beauty centres 

·         Manicures and pedicures 

·         Skin Care 

·         Personal care at home 

*The date of resumption of these activities in the CMM and the MRC of Joliette remains to be determined.

Here's what's not yet part of the reopening:

·         Fitness centers 

·         Spas (If massage therapy services are available in the spa, they may resume)

May 05, 2020

Dear members,

In the context of de-confinement and reopening, it is difficult to know which category of workers we belong to as therapists. The answer is that we fall into the category of personal care. This category includes hairdressing, aesthetics, massage therapy and complementary alternative medicine.

There is a government sector committee mandated to oversee the sector.
This committee is Soins personnels Québec.

Soins personnels Québec has created a tactical committee in collaboration with CNESST, Public Health and associations (including ours).
This committee is responsible for raising problems, sharing good practices and finding preventive solutions to ensure compliance with public health guidelines and recommend actions to be implemented in personal care services.

What is the current status of the process?
The tactical committee has worked on two priority aspects:
1. Convincing CNESST to collaborate with our sector
2. Propose a return-to-work guide and plan

On 19 May, CNESST contacted the tactical committee to agree to collaborate on the file.

The guide has been submitted and is now under review and we have been informed that it should be ready this week.

What does this mean?
The direct involvement of CNESST means that you will be able to prepare for an eventual return to work using this guide.

Is there a date for the reopening?
No date has been set yet and receiving the guide does not mean the sector will reopen. We will have to wait for the official announcement from the government before moving in that direction. 

What can we do to prepare now?
Workplace Sanitary Standards Guide – COVID-19 already exists on the CNESST website. The other guide to come will add details, but the basis is already here.

Training offer
Personal Care Quebec has created a training on Hygiene & Sanitation given by a microbiologist that will be available around mid-May with a certificate of participation to inform you adequately. This training will be offered free of charge until the end of June. After this date, a fee of $6.00 will be applicable.
We will inform you as soon as it is available.

April 21, 2020

Readjustment of recommendations

A few weeks ago we contacted the government to see if we could, within our own abilities, provide our respective services in the event of an emergency.

The response we received was that yes, we had to do that.

However, the response we received was not publicly announced and was not taken up by the government as a whole in terms of official recommendations.

As a result, we must once again readjust our recommendations to our members.

Here is our new definition of an emergency response

As of today, no therapist should offer his services in person unless he is recruited by a body of the official health care system, e.g.: hospital, CHSLD, CLSC, podiatric clinic, private medical practice, etc...

This, always with a view to respecting social distancing measures and protecting the population as a whole as well as our members.

We thank you for your collaboration and remain at your disposal for any request.

The team of the association

March 26, 2020

The new Canada Emergency Benefit

The benefit is $2,000 per month for the next four months for workers who are without pay as a result of COVID-19.

The Prime Minister announces the creation of a “simplified” financial assistance program: the Canada Emergency Benefit, which is the result of the merger of the Emergency Care Allowance and the Emergency Support Allowance, both of which were created last week.

The Canadian government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 per month for up to four months:

- workers who have to stop working because of COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support;

- workers who are sick, quarantined or caring for someone who is ill with VIDOC 19;

- working parents who have to stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or need extra care because of school and daycare closures;

- workers who still have their jobs, but are not being paid because there is not enough work at the moment and their employer has asked them not to come to work;

- salaried employees and self-employed workers, including contract workers, who would not otherwise qualify for employment insurance.

The Canada Emergency Benefit will be available through a secure web portal beginning in early April. An automated telephone line and a toll-free number will also be available for claimants to apply.

Applicants would begin receiving their ECP payments within 10 days of submitting their application. The benefit would be paid every four weeks and would be available from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020.

March 26, 2020

Clarification of our recommendations

There are exceptional cases requiring your intervention. We are aware of this.

We have contacted the government to this effect and they have confirmed to us that if you are dealing with someone in immediate need and you have the qualifications to intervene, you can do so. We are all facing an unprecedented situation right now. So the government's view, as well as the association's view, is to use common sense, to use our judgment.

No one will hold it against you for reacting to an urgent situation.

Understand what we are saying and whether or not your intervention is essential. It is our responsibility as citizens in these times of crisis when official health services are overwhelmed and not meeting demand.

As therapists, we trust your judgment and your decisions.

We ask you to pay special attention to your clientele of elderly people who are among the most vulnerable at this time. Make the right decision for them, either to abstain from appointments to protect them from the risk of contagion, or to maintain your care for an emergency situation. 

As a second step, we reiterate that you should consult the self-care guide, which will help you to be guided in terms of hygiene measures and possible actions to relieve your clients.

https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/sante/documents/Problemes_de_sante/19-210-30A_Guide-auto-soins_anglais.pdf?1584985885

March 24, 2020

Dear members,

Following numerous questions about the time frame of the recommendations, we announce that as long as the social distancing is effective, we will continue to move in this direction. Therefore, we may continue to recommend that you cease your activities until May.

On the other hand, you will be entitled to financial assistance that will be available as of April.
Full details are not available at this time, but here is what you can read on the CRA website:


The new Emergency Support Benefit
For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the Government is introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.

We recommend that you open your CRA file now so that you can apply when the benefit becomes available.

The access code is your key to accessing secure online services. Before you can register for MDSC (My Service Canada Account) with a login partner, you must have an Access code.


There are two ways to request an Access code:

1. Online: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account/request-pac.html
Here's what you'll need:

- your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
- your parents' last name at birth;
- your postal code if you are a Canadian resident, or your country of residence if you are a foreign resident.

Enable your JavaScript.

2. By phone: Apply by calling Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (you can also call this number to check the status of your personal access code request or to deactivate your personal access code).
Here's what you'll need:

- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
- Answers to various security questions to verify your identity.

Receive an Access Code
Service Canada will give you an access code that you must use to register with MDSC.

Online :
You will receive your access code in the mail within 5 to 10 business days.

By phone :
The Service Canada telephone service representative will let you know when you will receive your access code.



Finally, we present you the new self-care Guide, proposed by the gouvernement du Québec. 
This guide is designed to enable Quebecers to make the best possible decisions to protect their health and the health of their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, it indicates to them how best to protect themselves against COVID-19, take care of themselves and provide basic care to their family circle, and know where and when to consult if the need arises for care services.
Consult the Guide : https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/sante/documents/Problemes_de_sante/19-210-30A_Guide-auto-soins_anglais.pdf?1584985885

March 23, 2020

How much money and when?

Here are the two measures that affect you as a self-employed person who has lost most of your income. 

The first concerns all self-employed workers who have faced a loss of income and are not eligible for Employment Insurance. 

1. The new Emergency Support Benefit

For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the Government is introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.

The second has specific criteria. Please read carefully if your situation corresponds to it.

2. The new Emergency Care Benefit

Introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:

·         Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.

·         Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.

·         Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.

Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians will select one of three channels to apply for the Benefit:

1.       11by accessing it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal;

2.       22by accessing it from their secure My Service Canada Account; or

3.       33by calling a toll free number equipped with an automated application process.

March 17, 2020

We would like to take a moment and urge all integrative healthcare professionals to take the lead in helping to dispel the myths and misinformation circulating about Covid-19 and natural medicine.

Specifically, it should be clearly communicated to others—clients, colleagues, manufacturers—that there are no vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrients or other natural medicines that have been shown in human clinical trials to prevent or treat Covid-19.

While some natural medicines in the form of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutrients can help enhance immunity, such measures should not replace social distancing, quarantining when necessary, or any other recommendations made by the Public Health Agency of Canada related to the novel coronavirus and Covid-19 infection.

Please remember that even if a patient’s immune system is strong, that patient may still carry and transmit the virus. While this pandemic is unfolding quickly, the prevalence of carriers in communities is currently not known.

Like you, our concern is for the safety of our communities. 

We stand with you in this fight and we will do everything we can to be a trusted resource.

March 17, 2020

Dear members,

Based on the clear demands of the Public Health Agency of Canada as well as the Government of Quebec, the ANPQ/ANQ/RMQ network takes position as a representative organization of the alternative health community.
Consequently, the network's Board of Directors recommends to all its members to postpone their activities until March 30th.

The spread of the Coronavirus must be quickly stopped so that everyone can resume their activities, a resumption that we hope will be possible in the short term. To do this, collective action must be taken quickly at the very beginning of the contagion.

"The health situation of the population prevails over the individual economic situation."

We count on your understanding and wish to reassure you.
Take care of yourself!
Let's be vigilant for our health and safety, for the health and safety of our loved ones and for the health and safety of others!

The activities of the association
Aware of the difficulties and the questions of each one, your association will continue to follow the news and remains attentive to your needs. The service to members will be maintained, but the physical offices will be closed until March 30th.

Financial compensation
We invite you to consult government information to find out if you are eligible for compensation due to the cessation of your activities.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Government of Quebec recommend that you :
STAY HOME AND AVOID CONTACT WITH OTHERS
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions below :
1- If you have a fever and/or cough
2- OR You have returned from travel within the last 14 days or at a later date or have been in contact with a person with an acute respiratory illness who has travelled (within the last 14 days)
3- OR You have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
4- OR You have been exposed in a laboratory to biological material known to contain VID-19
5- OR You have been exposed in a targeted public place
Please contact Info Santé first at 1-877-644-4545 or 811.

March 14, 2020

The services of the association

In the event of a mandatory quarantine imposed by the government, we have an operating plan that allows us to deliver our services electronically.

Your Practice
We remind you that you have the right to refuse a consultation if you have doubts about your client's state of health.

Skype and telephone consultations - global authorisation
In light of recent events and in order to reduce the risk of infection as much as possible, all members of the ANPQ-ANQ-RMQ network, when the type of care allows it, are authorized to carry out their consultations via an electronic platform or by telephone.

Government of Canada - directives
At this time, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 and no natural health products licensed to treat or protect against COVID-19.
The majority of people with mild symptoms will recover on their own.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/maladies/2019-nouveau-coronavirus/symptomes.html#t

Government of Quebec - directives
Mr. Legault reminded Quebecers of the importance of carefully following the instructions and hygiene measures recommended by Quebec Public Health to counter the virus, namely to wash their hands regularly with soap and to cough and sneeze into their elbows. An Internet site has been created, www.québec.ca/coronavirus, to gather all the information. The telephone line 1 877 644-4545 is also in place. Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated his request to protect seniors from VIDOC-19 and not to go to nursing homes if they have any flu-like symptoms.
Source: http://www.filinformation.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?motsCles=coronavirus&listeThe=&listeReg=&listeDiff=&type=&dateDebut=2019-09-14&dateFin=2020-03-14&afficherResultats=oui&idArticle=2803129140

To Employers
If you are an employer and you are wondering how to manage the situation, we refer you to the Alepin Gauthier firm, which has labour lawyers available and ready to inform you about your rights and obligations and to develop an action plan. 450-681-3080