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The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing significant disruptions across all industries in Canada and many are finding themselves planning for an uncertain future. We appreciate the complexity of issues stemming from the outbreak and the speed with which the situation is developing.
This section of our website serves as a central location for all updates, documentation, publications, and information concerning COVID-19.
Our lawyers are closely monitoring new developments and our firm intends to keep clients updated on specific client matters and general information as the situation continues to evolve.
If you have any questions for our COVID-19 team, please feel free to email covid19@mross.com
Register to receive COVID-19 communications and other publications.
McLennan Ross LLP Technology Solutions - April 2, 2020
We would like to inform you of our technology capabilities during a pandemic. Please refer to the above article for full details.
Court Closures and Adjournments Update - March 23, 2020
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench - Alberta Court of Queen's Bench has extended closure until May 1, 2020. The Court will make no new bookings on any non-emergency or non-urgent matter.
Court Closures and Adjournments Update - March 19, 2020
Land Titles Offices in Calgary and Edmonton have closed in-person counter services. The remainder of their business operations continues to operate as usual. More information can be found by clicking here.
Court of Queen's Bench Civil is not filing any Applications at this time and Provincial Court Civil is only doing emergency filing at the counter. Provincial Court clerks will still accept filings of claims by mail regardless of the matters' urgency.
Filing Masters Chambers Applications Update - Until further notice, all upcoming Applications will be filed as TBD rather than a certain date. If parties have an emergency hearing, they should be directed to Hermosa. All Adjournments for any future dates will still be adjourned sine die at this point.
Court Closures and Adjournments - March 18, 2020
As previously mentioned in our Special Announcement on March 16, the Calgary and Alberta Court system is now closed. To provide you with easily accessible information on Courts, Boards and Tribunals we have compiled a list below. In some instances, we will see previously scheduled matters and hearings rescheduled or attempts made to have these matters dealt with via phone videoconference. Please visit the links below to determine whether you are impacted by these closures or communicate with your lawyer to work on a new plan.
Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench
Alberta Human Rights Commission
Alberta Labour Relations Board
COVID-19 Update: A Message from McLennan Ross - March 16, 2020
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing significant disruptions across all industries in Canada and many are finding themselves planning for an uncertain future. We appreciate the complexity of issues stemming from the outbreak and the speed with which the situation is developing.
We at McLennan Ross have two main objectives as the situation evolves: ensuring the safety and well-being of our lawyers, staff, clients, and visitors to our office, and continuing to provide guidance to our clients through this uncertain terrain. We are closely monitoring new developments and adhering to the recommendations of public health authorities. At this time, all three of our offices remain open.
We have put in place the following measures to promote a safe and healthy workplace, and continue to serve our clients without disruption:
- We have encouraged all lawyers, staff and visitors to practice proper hand hygiene, particularly frequent hand washing. Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout our offices.
- We have asked all lawyers and staff to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and to stay home when ill.
- We are limiting in person meetings and replacing with telephone or video-conference, whenever possible.
- We are ensuring the firm is as digitally-enabled as possible in the event lawyers and staff are required to work from home.
- We have imposed travel restrictions and are now limiting non-essential work travel outside of Alberta.
- We are monitoring personal travel and are encouraging lawyers and staff to follow local and government guidelines as they evolve.
- All firm members are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days if returning from outside of Canada.
We would like to bring to your attention that, as of March 15th, 2020, a State of Emergency has been declared in Calgary and the Alberta Court system is now closed.
All non-essential matters (Justice and Masters Chambers, half day Special Chambers, Case Conferences and trials) are adjourned sine die at least until March 30, 2020. If you have a matter that has an application scheduled to be heard over the next two weeks, it is automatically adjourned and Counsel will have to work out the next date for the Application by consent or rebook that Application after March 30, 2020.
All JDRs, Pre-trial Conferences and Case Management bookings are cancelled and Counsel will have to reschedule once the Court is taking those bookings.
Our firm intends to keep our clients updated on both specific client matters and generally as the situation continues to evolve.
You can find our most recent updates by clicking the links below. We will continue to update our website with important information, developments and their implications.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our response and how this will impact our service, please reach out to your regular lawyer at our firm. A directory of our lawyers’ contact information can be found here.
We wish you, your colleagues and family the best during this difficult period of time.
April 1, 2020
- COVID-19: Legal Issues for Construction and Resource Projects, ACR and COAA, Chris Lane, Q.C., Corbin Devlin and Dan Bokenfohr
March 20, 2020
- COVID-19 Labour Laws, CTV News Calgary, Tom Ross
- Recess Break: Layoffs for Schoolboards Amind COVID-19, McLennan Ross Webinar
March 19, 2020
- COVID-19 Workplace Pandemic Planning: What Employers Should Do and Know Right Now, Edmonton Business Association
March 18, 2020
- Employment Law 101, CBC Listen Radio Active with Adrienne Pan, Dan Bokenfohr
- 'Many construction sites are outdoor in the fresh air': Construction work not all bad amid COVID-19 outbreak, 660 News by Josh Ritchie, Tom Ross
- Recess Break: COVID-19 Pandemic Planning for School Boards, McLennan Ross Webinar
March 17, 2020
- COVID-19: Workplace Readiness and Pandemic Planning, McLennan Ross Webinar
April 3, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Friday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
April 2, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Thursday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
April 1, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Wednesday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 31, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Tuesday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 30, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Monday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 27, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Friday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 26, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Thursday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 25, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Wednesday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 24, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Tuesday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 23, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Monday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 20, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Friday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 19, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Thursday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 18, 2020
- McLennan Ross Update for Wednesday, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
To assist small businesses with a number of questions or issues related to COVID-19, we have created Small Business Guides for Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Please view one of our guides below for more information.
The Small Business Guide to Coping with COVID-19 - Alberta Edition
The Small Business Guide to Coping with COVID-19 - Northwest Territories Edition
The Small Business Guide to Coping with COVID-19 - Nunavut Edition
April 3, 2020
- Builders’ Liens and COVID-19, McLennan Ross Construction and Labour & Employment Teams
March 23, 2020
- Ten Construction Industry Questions and Answers, McLennan Ross Construction and Labour & Employment Teams
April 2, 2020
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 30, 2020
- COVID-19: Alberta Residential Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
- COVID-19: Alberta's Restrictions on Businesses and Mass Gatherings, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 27, 2020
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 26, 2020
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 25, 2020
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Alberta's Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
- The Small Business Guide to Coping with COVID-19, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 23, 2020
- UPDATED: COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 20, 2020
- COVID-19 Considerations for Reporting Issuers, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 19, 2020
- COVID-19 Alberta's Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
- COVID-19 and Why Business Interruption Insurance May (or May Not) be the Answer, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax, and Insurance Teams
March 18, 2020
- COVID-19 Federal Economic Relief Measures, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
March 16, 2020
- Corporate Commercial Securities, Contracts, and COVID-19, McLennan Ross Corporate & Tax Team
April 3, 2020
- Environmental Reporting Suspended in Alberta Due to COVID-19, McLennan Ross Energy, Environmental & Regulatory Team
April 2, 2020
- Bill 12: The Effects on Pipelines and Orphan Wells amid COVID-19, McLennan Ross Energy, Environmental & Regulatory Team
March 24, 2020
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COVID-19 Alberta Government Issues Direction for 90-day Deferred Payment of Utility Accounts, McLennan Ross Energy, Environmental & Regulatory Team
COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions by Employers, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
April 2, 2020
- Workers' Compensation in Alberta and COVID-19, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Details, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 31, 2020
- Update on Essential Services, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 30, 2020
- COVID-19 Federal Support Update, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 26, 2020
- Employee Telecommuting During the COVID-19 Pandemic, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 25, 2020
- Answers to Questions Asked During COVID-19 Workplace Readiness and Pandemic Planning Webinar, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Transferring Work and Duties of Union Workers, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Updates from the Federal and Provincial Governments, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 24, 2020
- COVID-19 and Interprovincial Travel, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 23, 2020
- COVID-19 Employment Insurance - Making it Work, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 20, 2020
- What to do When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Right to Refuse Unsafe Work in the COVID-19 Pandemic, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 19, 2020
- Proper Coding when Issuing an ROE, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Provincial Support Update, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 18, 2020
- COVID-19 - Family Status Accommodation and Employer Obligations, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- COVID-19 Federal Support Update, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
- Alberta Government Issues Regulation on Employment Leave for COVID-19, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 16, 2020
- COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions by Employers, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 10, 2020
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for Alberta School Authorities, Teresa Haykowsky
March 9, 2020
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Workplace Pandemic Planning: What Employers Should Do and Know Right Now, Erin Ludwig and Rebecca Silverberg
March 25, 2020
- Update on Operational Changes Impacting Alberta Courts, McLennan Ross Litigation Team
- Update on Operational Changes Impacting BC Courts, McLennan Ross Litigation Team
March 30, 2020
- COVID-19 Developments in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 23, 2020
- COVID-19 Developments in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 20, 2020
- COVID-19 Developments in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 19, 2020
- Frequently Asked Questions by Employers in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 18, 2020
- Northern Territories COVID-19 Developments, McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Team
March 25, 2020
- Signing of Documents During COVID-19, McLennan Ross Wills & Estates Team
March 20, 2020
- Give to Get: Tax Benefits of Giving, McLennan Ross Wills & Estates Team
March 18, 2020
- Planning for the Unknown, McLennan Ross Wills & Estates Team
March 16, 2020
- The Importance of Preparation During Uncertain Times, McLennan Ross Wills & Estates Team
