Update Regarding COVID-19:
|
| The Alberta government continues to support Albertans during this unprecedented global public health emergency.
Premier Kenney has announced a temporary program for working adult Albertans who must self-isolate because they meet the Government of Alberta’s published criteria for self-isolation. This program also includes people who are the sole caregiver for a dependent who must self-isolate because they meet the public health criteria, and who will not have another source of pay or compensation while they are self-isolated. That money will be available starting next week to help them make ends meet until federal supports start on April 1. An online application will be made available on alberta.ca. Albertans can defer their electricity and natural gas utility payments for residential, farm and small commercial customers for 90 days. Post-secondary students will have a six-month, interest-free break from student loan payments. ATB Financial and Alberta credit unions are offering deferrals on loans and mortgages to customers affected by COVID-19. Government will not collect corporate income taxes until August 31, 2020. The news release at alberta.ca/covid has more detail. AMPIA will continue to send updates as we get them. Stay Safe! |
Update Regarding COVID-19:
|
As this is a rapidly evolving situation, AMPIA is urging individuals to stay abreast of the latest developments and advisories from the Government of Canada found HERE, the World Health Organization found HERE, as well as those from local government (HERE) and Health Authorities. For further up-to-date and trusted information on COVID-19 please follow:
Office Update: For the health and safety of our staff, the AMPIA team will be working remotely and the office will be closed until further notice. You can still reach us by either phone or email: (780) 944-0707 info@ampia.org We are working to gather information from our public health officials and government to share with members, industry partners and stakeholders. We will continue to provide updates on AMPIA’s coming events and industry services regarding possible postponements and/or cancellations on our website. We are also planning to gather information from our members and work with the COVID-19 Production Industry Taskforce to prepare and deliver a COVID-19 impact statement to our Provincial and Federal governments at an appropriate date. Learn more about the Taskforce HERE. Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: On March 18th the Canadian government announced a series of economic measures that form Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Full details of the government’s announcement can be found HERE. The federal government previously announced that the one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits would be waived for all qualifying individuals in imposed quarantine due to COVID-19. This temporary measure is effective March 15th. The requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI sickness benefits has also been waived. Also, two new income support programs were announced that will be available to individuals who are not eligible for EI benefits, such as independent contractors and self-employed individuals: the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit. Emergency Care Benefit:
Emergency Support Benefit: The government also announced the Emergency Support Benefit, which will provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment. There are a number of details still outstanding about this program, but the government has indicated more information will follow. Applications for both benefits will open in April, at a date to be determined. When that happens, Canadians will be able to apply for them through CRA MyAccount or My Service Canada Account or by calling a toll-free number that has not yet been made public. More information can be found on the Government of Canada website HERE. Wage support: The government has proposed providing small employers (e.g. employers eligible for the small business deduction) with a wage subsidy for a period of three months to assist employers in keeping staff on payroll and avoiding layoffs. Businesses will be able to benefit from this immediately by reducing their remittances for income tax withheld from employees’ remuneration. Tax deferral: The CRA will allow all taxpayers (individuals and businesses) to defer the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing between March 18, 2020 and September 2020 until after August 31, 2020. This applies to both balances due and installments. Interest and penalties will not accrue on these amounts during the deferral period. Canada Account: The government will change the Canada Account, administered by Export Development Canada, to grant the Minister of Finance the ability to determine its limit to deal with exceptional circumstances. The government reports that this will allow it to provide Canadian companies with additional support via loans, guarantees or insurance policies. Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP): Effective immediately, BCAP will provide more than $10 billion of support to, primarily, small- and medium-sized businesses through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC). The government has stated that this is intended to help viable Canadian businesses remain resilient through these uncertain times. BDC and EDC are cooperating with private-sector lenders to coordinate credit solutions for individual businesses. Guidance for your business and workplace: As producers prepare for the potential impact of COVID-19 and examine ways to best protect both the health and safety of workplace parties and their businesses, please refer to THIS guidance document that contains a series of considerations that producers may choose to apply when putting their plans in place. We’re also recommending you download THIS fact sheet and post around your workplaces, which outlines the symptoms of COVID-19, how it is spread, how to limit infection, what to do if an individual is infected, and scenarios in which workers should contact the workplace prior to coming to work. Industry Resources: Statements from our industry partners, as they become available. Current guidance on COVID-19: The following provides the most current guidance on COVID-19, its symptoms, and ways by which to limit its spread. Symptoms: Symptoms of COVID-19 have included fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and tiredness. Other symptoms sometimes include aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. It may take up to 14 days after exposure to a person infected with COVID-19 for symptoms to appear. Symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. You may not know you have symptoms of COVID-19 because they are similar to a cold or flu. How COVID-19 is spread: People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can pass from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth that are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person and infect other people who touch those objects or surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also become infected by breathing in droplets from an individual with COVID-19 when that person coughs, sneezes or exhales droplets. How to limit the spread of COVID-19:
AMPIA will continue to provide timely updates on this issue as well as its activities and events as appropriate. Be well and take care of yourself and your loved ones. AMPIA |
ABOUT AMPIA
The Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) is a vibrant non-profit professional association representing the interests of Alberta film, television and interactive digital content creators. We are producers and craftspeople who develop, produce and market our stories across screens and platforms throughout the world.
What We Do
Alberta Film & Television Awards
The Rosie Awards & Gala brings Alberta’s brightest stars and industry professionals together to honour and celebrate the year’s best in production.
Workshops & Networking
We design professional development events and networking opportunities, bringing in the world’s leading experts in Producing, Screenwriting, and Digital Distribution
Advocacy &
Government Relations
AMPIA represents its members in negotiations with various levels of government as well as regulatory agencies, including the CRTC
Member Benefits
Members are entitled to such benefits as discounts on insurance, professional development and much more.
Industry News
