COVID-19 Resources for Municipalities

Jan 31, 2022

 

SUMA has created a COVID-19 Update to help keep municipalities informed of provincial updates and new resources. If you or your municipality would like to receive weekly updates, email communications@suma.org.

 

The COVID-19 outbreak is a challenge to public health in our hometowns. Find information and resources below to help keep your residents safe. Click on a focus area below to go directly to that information or browse all the resources.

Provincial Update
In Your Municipality
As an Employer
Resource links

 

 

Provincial Update

Mandatory Masking Indoor Public Spaces

Saskatchewan's current public health order has been extended to February 28, 2022.

Under the current public health order, masking is mandatory in all indoor public spaces including schools, and proof of vaccination or negative test requirements are in place for public access to a list of establishments, businesses and event venues.

Indoor public spaces are any enclosed space other than a private home or dwelling. This may include but is not exclusive to workplaces, retail locations, recreational venues, eating and dining establishments and professional buildings. Indoor public spaces includes those areas of a business or venue that are restricted to staff only (areas where there is no access for the public).

 

Proof of Vaccination Rescinded February 14

As of February 14, a proof of vaccination or negative test will no longer be required enter businesses, workplaces and other public venues in Saskatchewan. Indoor public masking remains in effect.

SUMA's inhouse legal council is currently working on a Q&A relating to what this change means for municipalities. It will be posted here when it is available.  

See the current health orders here.

 

 In Your Municipality

Social gatherings

There are currently no restrictions in place for private, social gatherings. However, it is encouraged to know your contacts well and to limit mixing households.

Council meetings

Council meetings still need to happen, and still need to be public, but efforts should be made to allow distance between people of two metres where possible. If a municipality's council procedure bylaw allows for it, council could hold regular and special council meetings electronically. Vaccines are not a requirement at council meetings per the government's current oders, but a municipality may choose to enforce their own, individual vaccine mandate.

If a muncipality's council procedure bylaw does not address meeting electronically, but council would like to, council can pass a resolution at the beginning of the meeting indicating the reason for, and approval of, the use of electronic means for the meeting. If council chooses to meet through electronic means and prohibit the public from attending in person, alternative methods for the public to have access to meetings needs to be considered. Options include live streaming, conference calling, or video calling. 

When meeting electronically, it is important for each council member to be aware of confidentiality - as a requirement of the Code of Ethics bylaw and Oath of Office, it is the responsibility of each council member to ensure confidentiality of municipal business. Councils may hold in-camera meetings or portions of meetings, in accordance with legislation and its council procedure bylaw. 

Proof of vaccination is not required for council meetings per the current government mandate; regardless of where those meetings are held. However, individual municipalities may choose to implement and enforce their own vaccine requirements. For a policy template, visit the Member's Area of SUMA's website.

Financial statements, tax notices, and audit deadlines

A municipality, through a bylaw, can extend the time for up to 90 days for things such as financial statements, tax notices, and audit deadlines. 

Tax deferrals

As municipalities establish property tax payment deadlines, municipalities have the authority to change property tax payment dates and defer payments and penalties within the tax year. This also applies to education property tax - municipalities are only required to remit school taxes to the province once it is collected.

By-elections

Municipalities planning to hold by-elections need to determine what preventative measures, if any, need to be taken. Any changes to scheduled by-elections need to be clearly communicated to the public. This should include posting in the same places as the original notices and any additional places such as a website or putting up posters in public locations. 

Assessment appeals

A minister's order relating to assessment appeals came into effect on April 14. The government has created a question and answer document for municipalities.  

Development Appeals Board hearings

Developement appeals board matters can be handled through written submissions or delayed by mutual consent with the applicant. If an appeal will be delayed, the length of the delay should be reasonable and can always be revisited. 

Oversight of drinking water systems

Provided by the Ministry of Government Relations March 30

Safe water is essential to ensure good sanitation and hygienic conditions to best protect people against COVID-19.

Waterworks operators must maintain adequate filtration, treatment, and disinfection at the water treatment plant, as well as adequate disinfectant residual through the distribution system. The Water Security Agency (WSA) is communicating to ensure municipalities are aware of maintaining their regular oversight of their drinking water systems and are designating waterworks operators as essential staff during this situation.

During this time of physical distancing, waterworks operators must continue their normal schedules. If the operators are unavailable or not performing the necessary tasks to guarantee a safe drinking water supply, or for any reason proper operation is interrupted, the municipality, the permittee, employees, and contractors must notify the WSA via the 24-hour upset Reporting Line at 1-844-536-9494 of any disruption, so that alternate certified operators can ensure that water is safe.

The permittee, employees, and contractors also must ensure the proper operation and monitoring of wastewater systems and proper treatment in accordance with the permit and must notify WSA if operations are interrupted or upset for any reason.

WSA is also advising that its Environmental Project Officers (EPOs) must be allowed on site as needed to conduct inspections and monitor the proper functioning of both water and wastewater systems. EPOs are present to assist in ensuring a safe water supply for the public.

See the COVID-19 and water issues question and answer for more information.

Personal protective equipment 

Fire departments responding to motor vehicle collisions should have personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against viral transmission. If your community needs PPE for its first responders, please email the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. Your information will be collated and PPE will be prioritized based on provincial needs and priorities. 

Emergency Evacuations During COVID-19

In the event of an evacuation, the Ministry of Social Services is responsible for securing evacuation accommodations for communities and coordinates its efforts with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) during events. When an event occurs requiring evacuations; hotels are always the first option considered. If no near by centre is available, the province looks at the closest viable option. In cases where a large population is evacuated a congregate facility may be considered; however given the restrictions in these during pandemic conditions, it will likely not be an option. 

Plans to safely house evacuated persons under pandemic conditions are being prepared. Every community should have an emergency plan that identifies a muster point or registration location in the event the community is impacted by any threat. 

Concerned communities are encouraged to work directly with their regional Emergency Services Officer to ensure their plans are adequate.

With dry conditions in some parts of the province and restrictions related to the pandemic, the SPSA is asking municipalities to share a fact sheet with residents.

Municipalities are also being asked to:

  • Review their community's emergency plans to ensure that information and contacts are up-to-date.
  • Monitor the fire risk in their area and consider implementing burning bans, if needed.

 

As an Employer

Employment information is provided by Miller Thomson LLP. Have questions? Contact Troy Baril or Amy Groothius. Miller Thomson has created a page of COVID-19 employment resources at millerthomson.com. 

On March 17, the provincial government introduced and passed legislation that will provide job protected leave in light of the novel coronavirus. The primary points of the amendments to The Saskatchewan Employment Act are:

  • The Public Health Emergency Leave provision applies where Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer (“Officer”) orders that people must take measures to reduce the spread of disease, including through isolating themselves. On March 17, 2020, the Chief Medical Health Officer issued an order limiting public gatherings, restricting access to long-term care homes, personal care homes, group homes and hospitals, and indefinitely suspending classes in all primary and secondary educational initiatives, so we consider this condition precedent to be met and if it is not, that a further order will be forthcoming. 
  • Employees are entitled to the Public Health Emergency Leave if any of: (a) their employer, (b) a medical practitioner, (c) the Government or (d) the Officer directs them to isolate themselves to reduce the spread of disease. They are also entitled to the Leave if they must care for a child family member who is affected by a direction or order of the Government or the Officer (such as school closures).
  • Note that employees may be entitled to this unpaid leave from their first day of work, and do not need to provide a written note in support from a medical practitioner – there is no exception for probationary employees in their first 13 weeks of work.
  • That is, if an employer directs their employees to isolate themselves to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease, then the employees are placed on unpaid Public Health Emergency Leave.  Effectively, this places an employee on protected, unpaid leave that does not result in a temporary layoff or termination, and which does not trigger payment of severance.  As with all employment leaves, employees are entitled to remain on their benefit plan, if the terms of the plan permit, and so long as the employee continues to pay the required benefit plan contributions.
  • Employees are entitled to their regular wages and benefits during the leave so long as they are authorized to work at home, follow the Officer’s order, and follow any additional regulations passed by Government. Conversely, if an employee on leave is not authorized to work from home, or does not follow the Officer’s order, they are not entitled to their regular wages.     
  • Employers must reinstate employees returning from a Public Health Emergency Leave, which would occur when the Officer rescinds the public health order.  That is, there is no recall provisions and there is no limit (at this time) on how long this leave can last.
  • The amendments are retroactive to March 6, 2020.

 

Resources

SUMA

Government of Saskatchewan

 

Government of Canada

 

Elections

 

As an Employer

 

Municipal Services

 

Economic Development

 

Funding

 

Mental Health

 

Other

 

 

Group Benefits Subscribers: Short Term Disability Claims and Canada Life

If you are affected by the novel Coronavirus, Canada Life will assess your claim based on your plan coverage, as normal. Out-of-country medical emergency, travel assistance, and disability coverage is probably the most concerning. Claims related to the novel Coronavirus or claims that occurred during travel to a country with travel advisory warnings will be treated like any other claim under your plan.

For more detailed information from Canada Life, or if you have questions about your plan coverage, contact Group Benefits at 306-525-4390.