Guide

Published09 November 2020

COVID-19: Municipal measures - The City of Edmonton

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Kate Yurkovich

Associate

Heather Fisher

Associate

Tom Cumming

Partner

Geneviève Cloutier

Partner

Leader, Restructuring & Insolvency Group (Canada)

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Municipal measures - The City of Edmonton

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Temporary Outdoor Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Retail Expansions
DESCRIPTION	Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed so that businesses can create more space for their customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services guidelines. This will be in effect until the end of 2020.
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY	Businesses must sign a declaration form and follow the Temporary Outdoor Patio & Temporary Sidewalk Café Guidelines or the Temporary Outdoor Retail Guidelines.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's page Temporary Outdoor Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Retail Space for more details.

Property Tax Delay
DESCRIPTION	The City of Edmonton is delaying penalties to property tax payments for citizens experiencing major financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis. Tax notices will be mailed in May and no late fees will be charged to tax payments made by August 31.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Property Tax Delay

DESCRIPTION

The City of Edmonton is delaying penalties to property tax payments for citizens experiencing major financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Tax notices will be mailed in May and no late fees will be charged to tax payments made by August 31.

LINKS

See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Vehicle for Hire Services
DESCRIPTION	On May 24th, 2020, the City of Edmonton released new guidance on vehicle for hire services. Guidance applies to taxis, limos, rideshares, and commuting. On October 5, 2020, City Council approved a 100% reduction in 2020 dispatch and vehicle licence fees for limousines and a 50% reduction in these fees for all other vehicles for hire.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	Drivers are asked to pre-screen their passengers and encourage passengers to stay up to date with developments related to COVID-19. Guidance document provides COVID-19 risk mitigation suggestions for drivers and passengers. The fee reductions will be applied when licensees renew their dispatch and vehicle licences or apply for a new licence. For licensees who have already paid their 2020 fees, a credit will be applied to their 2021 fees. The fee reductions are one way the City is helping to relieve concerns about financial strain raised by the industry due to COVID-19.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here. See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Vehicle for Hire Services

DESCRIPTION

On May 24th, 2020, the City of Edmonton released new guidance on vehicle for hire services. Guidance applies to taxis, limos, rideshares, and commuting.

On October 5, 2020, City Council approved a 100% reduction in 2020 dispatch and vehicle licence fees for limousines and a 50% reduction in these fees for all other vehicles for hire.

ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY

Drivers are asked to pre-screen their passengers and encourage passengers to stay up to date with developments related to COVID-19. Guidance document provides COVID-19 risk mitigation suggestions for drivers and passengers.

The fee reductions will be applied when licensees renew their dispatch and vehicle licences or apply for a new licence. For licensees who have already paid their 2020 fees, a credit will be applied to their 2021 fees. The fee reductions are one way the City is helping to relieve concerns about financial strain raised by the industry due to COVID-19.

LINKS

See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Curbside and EPark zone parking fees suspended
DESCRIPTION	Effective June 8, EPark fees will be reinstated at EPark curbside zones and City-owned parkades. The first 30 minutes of every parking session in curbside EPark zones will be free. This is being done to support businesses and customers who continue to use curbside pickup as their primary method of business.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant
DESCRIPTION	On May 27, 2020 the City of Edmonton announced the Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant that will provide grants of up to $25,000 for businesses struggling to reopen or pivot their business as a result of COVID-19. Businesses who receive the grant will be required to match the grant amount. Grants of up to $75,000 will also be available to local business associations that deliver projects or programs that directly support the grant program criteria. Associations will not be required to match the grant amount.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	Phase 1 of the Grant program will begin June 10, 2020 and is intended to support the most immediate needs the business community is facing for the remainder of 2020. Phase 2 will run in 2021 and will diversify and help future-proof local business. The next intake period begins on July 6, 2020 at 9:00am.
LINKS	See the Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant application page here.

Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant

DESCRIPTION

On May 27, 2020 the City of Edmonton announced the Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant that will provide grants of up to $25,000 for businesses struggling to reopen or pivot their business as a result of COVID-19. Businesses who receive the grant will be required to match the grant amount.

Grants of up to $75,000 will also be available to local business associations that deliver projects or programs that directly support the grant program criteria. Associations will not be required to match the grant amount.

ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY

Phase 1 of the Grant program will begin June 10, 2020 and is intended to support the most immediate needs the business community is facing for the remainder of 2020.

Phase 2 will run in 2021 and will diversify and help future-proof local business.

The next intake period begins on July 6, 2020 at 9:00am.

LINKS

See the Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant application page here.

Business Licence Fee Reduction
DESCRIPTION	On May 27, 2020 the City of Edmonton announced that it will offer a 50 percent business licence fee reduction upon request for businesses that renew or apply for a new business license between June 1 and December 31, 2020.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	Businesses must contact the city to take advantage of the reduced fee option.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.See the City of Edmonton's COVID-19 response page here.

Support for People Who Use Public TransitBusiness Licence Fee Reduction
DESCRIPTION	ETS is offering Late Night Supplement Service to essential health care workers. Eligible workers can take one-way trips between 10pm and 1am. This program is to supplement the adjustments to LRT and Late Night Owl bus services. On June 15, 2020, ETS will resume fare collection on buses, LRT, and DATS.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	Essential health care workers can call 311 for eligibility and to register for the Late Night Supplement Service.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's website for information on the Late Night Supplement Service here. See the City of Edmonton's website for information on ETS fares here.

City Introduces Temporary Mask and Face Coverings Bylaw
DESCRIPTION	On August 12, 2020 the City will stop face covering exemption card distribution through recreation centres. Effective August 1, 2020, wearing a mask or face covering will be mandatory in all indoor public places and public vehicles. Certain exemptions apply to the bylaw.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	City expressed that they "trust that those with legitimate exemptions have been able to obtain a card up to this point". They are reassessing the program and distribution mechanisms for those with a legitimate exemption. Cards distributed August 8-12, 2020 remain valid. Businesses will not be responsible for enforcing the bylaw and may choose whether to deny service to those who choose not to comply with the bylaw. The proposed fined is $100.
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's website for more information of exemption cards here.

City Introduces Temporary Mask and Face Coverings Bylaw

DESCRIPTION

On August 12, 2020 the City will stop face covering exemption card distribution through recreation centres.

Effective August 1, 2020, wearing a mask or face covering will be mandatory in all indoor public places and public vehicles. Certain exemptions apply to the bylaw.

ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY

City expressed that they "trust that those with legitimate exemptions have been able to obtain a card up to this point". They are reassessing the program and distribution mechanisms for those with a legitimate exemption. Cards distributed August 8-12, 2020 remain valid.

Businesses will not be responsible for enforcing the bylaw and may choose whether to deny service to those who choose not to comply with the bylaw.

The proposed fined is $100.

LINKS

See the City of Edmonton's website for more information of exemption cards here.

Alberta Health Services New Measures
DESCRIPTION	On November 6, 2020, the province asked all Edmontonians to stop holding social gatherings within their homes, voluntarily. On October 8, 2020 with the number of COVID-19 cases in Edmonton having increased sharply, Alberta Health Services has recommended new, voluntary measures for Edmontonians.
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY	There is still a mandatory 15-person limit on all social gatherings in Edmonton. The mandatory limit is temporary and will be reassessed at the end of November. The new measures include: Limiting social and family gatherings to no more than 15 people Wearing non-medical masks in all indoor work settings, except when alone in workspaces such as offices or cubicles where you can be safely distanced from others or an appropriate barrier is in place Limiting the number of cohorts to no more than three (a core/household cohort, a school/work cohort, and one additional sport, social or other cohort)
LINKS	See the City of Edmonton's website for more information.

Alberta Health Services New Measures

DESCRIPTION

On November 6, 2020, the province asked all Edmontonians to stop holding social gatherings within their homes, voluntarily.

On October 8, 2020 with the number of COVID-19 cases in Edmonton having increased sharply, Alberta Health Services has recommended new, voluntary measures for Edmontonians.

ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY

There is still a mandatory 15-person limit on all social gatherings in Edmonton. The mandatory limit is temporary and will be reassessed at the end of November.

The new measures include:

Limiting social and family gatherings to no more than 15 people
Wearing non-medical masks in all indoor work settings, except when alone in workspaces such as offices or cubicles where you can be safely distanced from others or an appropriate barrier is in place

Limiting the number of cohorts to no more than three (a core/household cohort, a school/work cohort, and one additional sport, social or other cohort)

LINKS

See the City of Edmonton's website for more information.

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