The current COVID-19 special measures and closures are creating challenges for individuals and families with Temporary Immigration Status in Canada. Many individuals are encountering difficulties when attempting to access the special programs and policies the Government of Canada has put in place to assist affected individuals. If you wish to remain in Canada and continue…

On March 23 the Ontario and Quebec governments ordered that “non-essential” businesses close down, shortly followed by a list of “essential” businesses that were exempt from the mandatory closure. Quebec took a more cautious approach and ordered that all non-essential construction sites close. Ontario adopted a less restrictive approach and included the construction industry on…

Both the federal and provincial governments have introduced various new measures to provide economic relief to Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following is a summary of the key support measures for business as of March 27, 2020.   Federal Government   1. Temporary Wage Subsidy A new temporary wage subsidy for eligible employers for a…

Government Benefits The federal government has existing programs to assist workplaces. Both the federal and provincial governments have also added a few additional programs and made amendments to current programs to streamline the application process to address the current crisis. Please see here for further details or to find applications for the benefits. This article…

Earlier today the provincial government released its list of essential services which includes lawyers and paralegals. As the government noted: “Essential services are those daily services essential to preserving life, health, public safety, and basic societal functioning. They are the services British Columbians rely on in their daily lives”. As an essential service, our firm…

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has disrupted Canadian life in ways that our citizens and residents have not experienced since World War II. Mobility has been restricted to unprecedented levels, but still, commerce continues, albeit conservatively. Land related transactions are one of the most common occurrences at a lawyer’s office where, almost always, the…

*** UPDATE: On March 26, 2020, the B.C. Minister of Citizens’ Services signed an order under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, permitting the disclosure of health information by health care bodies and public bodies in certain circumstances related to COVID-19. Health care bodies may make disclosures for the…

Given the current climate of uncertainty, with many of us concerned with the health and well-being of our loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, thoughts naturally go to what we can be doing to make sure our affairs are in order and that those we care about are protected. An estate plan is an essential…

On March 17, 2020, the Province of British Columbia declared COVID-19 a “public health emergency”. The realities of a global pandemic could not be foreseen just a couple of months ago. Now, it is impossible to read the news or scroll through a social media feed without being overwhelmed with information about the pandemic. Among…

Dear clients and friends of Watson Goepel LLP, As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we wish to assure you that we have taken a pro-active approach to ensure business continuity for our valued clients should matters escalate. Our priority is the health and well being of our clients, professionals, and communities, and therefore, we…