By EverythingGP Staff

COVID-19

Province announces sweeping measures to protect renters, close provincial parks, close non-essential businesses

Mar 27, 2020 | 3:47 PM

Premier Jason Kenney has announced new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of all non-essential businesses in the province and lowering the maximum gathering allowance to 15.

This includes all weddings, funerals and other formal and informal events.

“This was a difficult decision to make, but we must do everything we can to protect the safety of Albertans and limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Kenney

Kenney has also announced that all vehicle access to provincial parks and recreational areas has been closed.

Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon says anyone who has plans to visit provincial parks or recreational areas should cancel them, but that the restrictions do not apply to forestry or oil and gas operations.

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Nixon says access for First Nations and identified Metis Harvesters is still allowed, but social distancing measures are still in place for open spaces such as trails and parks.

All non-essential businesses where close contact between individuals such as hair salons, tattoo parlours, and wellness clinics must be closed.

Non-essential retail businesses such as clothing, computer and gaming, gift and specialty and toy and hobby stores must also be closed. This includes those stores located in shopping malls.

Dental, physiotherapy, massage, podiatry, chiropractic clinics and optometrist clinics must close.

Restaurants must also close their dine-in areas, but deliveries and take-out are still allowed.

“Grocery stores, pharmacies, delivery services and other essential businesses will continue to provide Albertans with the goods and services they need, and we’ll look to Alberta’s business leaders to find innovate ways to continue remote operations and protect jobs,” said Kenney. “These businesses must do everything they can to safeguard the well-being of the hardworking employees on the front lines.”

Workplaces that have not been ordered to close are allowed to have more than 15 workers on a worksite as long as those business maintain public health measures.

“These are aggressive measures and we don’t take them lightly. We need to do everything we can to flatten the curve and keep people healthy,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw. “I strongly encourage all Albertans to stay close to home as we are all in this together. Our collective action will protect our family, friends and neighbours.”

Fines will be administered to any business or organization that is not adhering to the public health order, and the province says courts have the power to administer fines of up to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for a subsequent offence for more serious violations.

Minister of Service Alberta, Nate Glubish announced that effective immediately, tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent or utilities before May 1. He says rents will not increase, and effective April 1, late fees cannot be applied to late rent payments for the next three months.

With Friday’s announcement, the following protections are now in place:

• Effective immediately, tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent and/or utilities before May 1.
• Effective immediately, rents will not increase while Alberta’s state of public health emergency remains in effect.
• Effective April 1, late fees cannot be applied to late rent payments for the next three months.
• Effective April 1, landlords and tenants need to work together to develop payment plans while the state of public health emergency is in effect.

Glubish says landlords and tenants are asked to to work together to develop payment plans while the state of public health emergency is in effect.