Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 Tests Kits Transfer

Interim Order (IO) No. 2 replaces IO No. 1. The first interim order was signed on May 23, 2020, as a response to the ongoing need for urgent COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention options.

IO No. 2 continues to support the optional pathway introduced by IO No. 1 to facilitate clinical trials for potential COVID-19 drugs and medical devices. It also continues to uphold strong patient safety requirements and validity of trial data. IO No. 2 does not apply to radiopharmaceutical drugs, natural health products and Class I medical devices.

The amendments to the Fees Order will

• clarify the description of “new active substance” (NAS) such that a medicinal ingredient in a COVID-19 drug is not considered to be previously approved in a drug for sale in Canada by reason of the Minister authorizing it under the ISAD Interim Order;
• remit fees for the review of the first submission [new drug submission (NDS), supplement to a new drug submission (SNDS), or abbreviated new drug submission (ANDS)] for a COVID-19 drug which an application had previously been filed under the ISAD Interim Order; and
• indicate that in the case of a “rolling submission” for a COVID-19 drug, fees will not be remitted if the performance standard has not been met.

These Regulations introduce amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) to incorporate some of the elective flexibilities related to market authorization, drug establishment licensing, and pre-positioning of COVID-19 drugs that were made available under the Interim Order. The amendments allow for the continued sale of COVID-19 drugs authorized under the Interim Order. The amendments also allow manufacturers of COVID-19 drugs to use these flexibilities even if no application was made under the ISAD Interim Order.

March 18, 2021 (regulations)
September 16, 2021 (ss. 3 to 5, sub. 6(1), ss. 9 to 12, 15 to 17, 20 to 25, sub. 27(2), s. 29, s. 30)

The Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (IO No. 2) was made by the Minister of Health on March 1, 2021. IO No. 2 repeals and replaces the Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (IO No. 1) made by the Minister on March 30, 2020, and approved by the Governor in Council (GIC) on April 8, 2020. It extends and modifies certain measures for drugs, medical devices and foods for special dietary purposes introduced in IO No. 1. These measures continue to be necessary to help prevent and alleviate the effects of shortages that are caused or exacerbated, directly or indirectly, by COVID-19.

IO No. 2 repeals the Interim Order Respecting the Importation and Sale of Medical Devices for Use in Relation to COVID-19, which came into force on March 18, 2020.

This new interim order maintains many of the flexibilities of the previous interim order, including the consideration of urgent public health needs. These flexibilities are needed to assess evidence that demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. IO No. 2 also continues to allow the importation and sale of COVID-19 medical devices that were authorized under the previous interim order.

Further, IO No. 2 introduces new requirements for medical devices authorized under this new interim order or the previous interim order

• for importers and distributors of all medical devices to hold a medical device establishment licence (MDEL); and
• for all manufacturers, importers and distributors to comply with bilingual labelling requirements.

The objective of this amending regulation is to pursue additional efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among Canadians by including meaningful and more persuasive fines in order to improve compliance with the Quarantine Act and the emergency orders made under that Act. The purpose is to ensure better deterrence of non-compliance and to send a clearer and stronger message on the severity associated to non-compliance.

Furthermore, the amendments are made in order to expand the list of offences, which could be prosecuted by means of a contraventions ticket by designating as a contravention the offence at section 34(2) of the Quarantine Act. This would ensure meaningful fines are also applicable to operators of commercial conveyances in cases of non-compliance with their obligations under the Quarantine Act, in order to ensure that non-compliance with the Quarantine Act does not become a cost of doing business.

This Interim Order provides authorities related to the transition from the Employment Insurance (EI) Emergency Response Benefit (ERB) to EI. It allows the Minister of Finance to credit the EI Operating Account for costs incurred from the EI ERB and it enables a modified operational approach to the assessment of availability to work for claimants who are in training. The Interim Order also allows claimants, who qualify for regular benefits with the 300-hour credit, to switch to special benefits. In addition, it sets at $909, the minimum weekly insurable earnings that claimants will be deemed to have earned, resulting in a minimum EI benefit rate of $500 per week.

The Interim Order extends the cessation of effect dates for EI ERB provisions in Interim Orders No. 1 to 7 and Interim Order No. 9. It also suspends the waiting period and the requirement for a medical certificate for EI sickness benefit claimants for one year. It also provides the Canada Employment Insurance Commission with the flexibility to waive the requirement for compassionate care or family caregiver benefit claimants to provide a medical certificate, if necessary.

Finally, this Interim Order provides for measures to facilitate access to EI fishing benefits. These measures include allowing fishers to establish a fishing claim based on the higher of their fishing earnings from their current qualifying period or the earnings used to establish their fishing claim for the same season from two previous years; lowering the insurable earnings threshold (to $2,500) for fishers to qualify for special benefits; and allowing fishers the ability to request to switch to fishing benefits even if they qualify for regular benefits as a result of the hours credit.

This Interim Order increases the maximum number of weeks for which the Employment Insurance Emergency Response Benefit (EI ERB) may be paid to a claimant from 24 to 28. This interim order also provides authorities to allow access to employment insurance (EI) benefits for claimants establishing new regular and sickness claims starting on September 27, 2020.

Additional measures are also included to allow for the delivery and administration of the EI ERB, such as measures to allow for direct deposit of benefits and to facilitate access to benefits for incapacitated persons.

This Interim Order contains measures that provide authorities to facilitate access to employment insurance (EI) benefits for claimants seeking to establish claims on or after September 27, 2020. These measures include a one-time hours credit of 480 hours for those establishing a claim for special benefits, and of 300 hours for those establishing a claim for EI regular benefits. An extension of the qualifying period by 28 weeks will be provided for those who have claimed the EI Emergency Response Benefit or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. All claimants establishing a claim on or after September 27, 2020, will have their waiting period waived. The waiver of the waiting period will apply until October 25, 2020.

This Interim Order also sets a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% for all EI regions that would apply until September 11, 2021. An alternative benefit rate calculation mechanism will also be established, while all claimants will be deemed to have a minimum of $727 in weekly insurable earnings.

Additional measures included in this Interim Order suspend the allocation of certain monies that prevent the payment of EI benefits. Disentitlements and disqualifications associated with invalid reasons for separation will also be disregarded if they occurred at least 12 weeks prior to the Sunday of the week in which a claimant’s interruption of earnings occurs.

Section 2, subsection 4(1) and section 5 come into force, or are deemed to have come into force, on August 30, 2020.

Section 3 and subsection 4(2) come into force on September 6, 2020.

Section 1 comes into force on September 27, 2020.

These regulatory amendments establish that a foreign national authorized to enter Canada temporarily can be found inadmissible, issued a removal order and be banned from re-entering Canada for 1 year if they fail to adhere to an order made under the Quarantine Act or Emergencies Act.

They also create new responsibilities related to public health that employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and International Mobility Program must adhere to under the existing employer compliance regime.

The objective of this interim order is to manage the extraordinary volume of claims in these exceptional circumstances by temporarily simplifying the Employment Insurance program.

Notably, this interim order provides for a new Emergency Response Benefit that is closely aligned with income support payments under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act. For EI claims established between March 15, 2020 and October 3, 2020, the interim order describes that claims for EI regular benefits and EI sickness benefits are considered as applications for the Emergency Response Benefit. These changes will allow for many claims to be processed quickly by simplifying the eligibility criteria and facilitating automation.

This interim order is not making changes to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiving or fishing benefits.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. provide the Chief Public Health Officer with flexibility to adjust pre-arrival testing measures based on scientific evidence;
3. enables the Minister of Health, on the recommendation of the Chief Public Health Officer, to designate classes of persons who have a contraindication that prevents their being vaccinated against COVID-19 due to a medical reason;
4. remove the requirement for fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and persons registered under the Indian Act to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight or upon arrival at a land border, when travelling outside of Canada for less than 72 hours;
5. remove or amend certain pre-arrival testing, post-arrival testing and quarantine exemptions, in alignment with the removal or amendment of these categories of permitted entrant from the orders restricting entry to Canada.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
3. maintain the requirements from the previous Order; and
4. extend the effect of the Order until November 21, 2021.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order; and
4. extend the restrictions on entry into Canada until November 21, 2021.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the United States for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. continue to maintain the requirements of the previous Order; and
4. extend the restrictions on entry into Canada until November 21, 2021.

The purpose of this Order is to permit authorized foreign national travellers and crew entry into Canada regardless of whether they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they exhibit signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have COVID-19 when arriving by a Government of Canada-arranged evacuation.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
3. provide an exception from the quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated persons, and require mandatory traveller declarations on vaccination status and proof of vaccination as of July 5, 2021;
4. clarify a number of existing requirements and exceptions;
5. maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. allow any person approved as a permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to enter Canada;
4. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

The purpose of this Order is to:

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
3. authorize the Chief Public Health Officer to take immediate public health measures by imposing conditions or requirements on persons who are otherwise excepted from requirements set out in the Order;
4. clarify a number of existing requirements and exceptions;
5. maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. amend the extended family member exception to provide that the required statutory declaration should be provided by the parent of a minor rather than by the minor (if applicable);
4. amend the extended family member exception to provide that a statutory declaration is not required where the relationship has been verified through the permanent residence application and approval process;
5. make non-substantive administrative changes for clarity and to better align the English and French versions;
6. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. amend the extended family member exception to provide that the required statutory declaration should be provided by the parent of a minor rather than by the minor (if applicable);
4. add a national interest exemption to align with the one that exists in the non-US entry Order;
5. make non-substantive administrative changes for clarity and to better align the English and French versions;
6. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
3. maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

1. support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country;
2. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
3. continue to maintain the requirements from the previous Order.

The purpose of this Order is to

1. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
2. prohibit foreign nationals from entering Canada from the U.S. if they fail to meet the pre-arrival testing obligations.

The purpose of this Order is to

1. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
2. require all travellers, with limited exceptions, entering from the U.S. by land to also provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 molecular test done in the U.S. not more than 72 hours prior to presenting at the port of entry, or present proof of a positive COVID-19 result of a test performed 14 to 90 days prior to the initial scheduled arrival time;
3. require all travellers to undergo a COVID-19 molecular test at the time of entry and once again during the 14-day entry period while in quarantine;
4. require all travellers to provide their contact information and a suitable quarantine plan electronically prior to seeking entry to Canada;
5. require travellers entering by air to enter a government-authorized accommodation near the first port of entry while awaiting the first post-entry test, and require them to submit evidence that they have pre-booked and pre-paid for accommodation for a three-day period prior to boarding their flight to Canada, which will be verified on arrival;
6. include more stringent requirements for a suitable quarantine plan to strengthen the mandatory 14-day quarantine, and further clarify that travellers in quarantine or isolation are required to answer questions and provide information to peace officers on request;
7. add exceptions for persons providing essential services, persons seeking essential medical treatment outside of Canada, persons entering Canada to assist in a major disaster, and unaccompanied dependent children;
8. expand on the obligations of quarantine-exempt travellers with respect to mask wearing and maintaining a list of contacts during their initial 14-day period in Canada.

The purpose of this Order is to continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the United States, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19.

The purpose of this Order is to

1. continue to prohibit entry into Canada of foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. for an optional or discretionary purpose, with some limited exceptions, and if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, if they have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or if they know they have COVID-19;
2. prohibit foreign nationals from entering Canada from the U.S. if they fail to meet the pre-arrival testing obligations.

The purpose of this Order is to

1. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
2. require all travellers, with limited exceptions, entering from the U.S. by land to also provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 molecular test done in the U.S. not more than 72 hours prior to presenting at the port of entry, or present proof of a positive COVID-19 result of a test performed 14 to 90 days prior to the initial scheduled arrival time;
3. require all travellers to undergo a COVID-19 molecular test at the time of entry and once again during the 14-day entry period while in quarantine;
4. require all travellers to provide their contact information and a suitable quarantine plan electronically prior to seeking entry to Canada;
5. require travellers entering by air to enter a government-authorized accommodation near the first port of entry while awaiting the first post-entry test, and require them to submit evidence that they have pre-booked and pre-paid for accommodation for a three-day period prior to boarding their flight to Canada, which will be verified on arrival;
6. include more stringent requirements for a suitable quarantine plan to strengthen the mandatory 14-day quarantine, and further clarify that travellers in quarantine or isolation are required to answer questions and provide information to peace officers on request;
7. add exceptions for persons providing essential services, persons seeking essential medical treatment outside of Canada, persons entering Canada to assist in a major disaster, and unaccompanied dependent children;
8. expand on the obligations of quarantine-exempt travellers with respect to mask wearing and maintaining a list of contacts during their initial 14-day period in Canada.

February 14, 2021(Order)
February 21, 2021(subparagraphs 1.3(a)(i), ss. 15 to 30)

The purpose of this Order is to

1. maintain the previous requirements that all persons who have reasonable grounds to suspect they have COVID-19, have signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or know they have COVID-19 upon entry into Canada are required to quarantine or isolate for 14 days, including asymptomatic persons, with limited exceptions;
2. specify that persons exempt under the Aeronautics Act from the pre-flight testing are now required to test upon their return to Canada, with limited exemptions for certain classes of persons listed in the Order, or in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Quarantine Officer at entry;
3. provide the option to present proof of a positive COVID-19 result of a test performed 14 to 90 days prior to the initial scheduled departure time, instead of a negative COVID-19 test; and
4. clarify that Canadian cross-border students studying in the U.S. are prohibited from providing direct care for persons over 65 years of age within the first 14 days after their entry into Canada, and that all passengers travelling in a vehicle at a land border crossing who were denied entry into the U.S. will be required to quarantine if any of the travelers exited the vehicle abroad.

This interim order outlines safety measures for COVID-19 in aerodromes in Canada including temperature screening, face masks and health checks.

This Ministerial Order requires intercity passenger rail carriers outlined in this order to implement mandatory health checks for COVID-19 and to refuse boarding of symptomatic passengers.

The Interim Order Respecting Drug Shortages introduces new measures to help safeguard the Canadian drug supply by ensuring that bulk importation frameworks, such as the one recently established by the United States, do not cause or exacerbate a drug shortage in Canada. The Interim Order also enables the Minister to require a seller to provide information that could help Health Canada take steps to assess or alleviate an existing or potential drug shortage.

The interim order was issued to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and applies to passenger vessels and ferry vessels. Cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons will be prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.

All passenger vessels are prohibited to enter arctic waters from any other waters, with some exceptions. Passenger vessels that provide essential services and ferry vessels must either: (a) at all times, carry not more than 50 percent of the maximum number of passengers that it is certified to carry; or (b) implement measures to reduce transmission risks of COVID-19.

This Interim Order temporarily restricts the operation of pleasure craft in certain arctic waters to promote the safe navigation of vessels by ensuring that limited marine assets and personnel are available for critical marine resupply operations in the Arctic during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also protects the public interest by protecting health care infrastructure in the Arctic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the Minister of Finance made an order extending certain legislated time limits for certain Special Import Measures Act proceedings, while balancing the objectives of Special Import Measures Act in providing protection against unfairly traded imports in a timely manner.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Regulations to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the President of the Treasury Board made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Public Service Superannuation Act to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the President of the Treasury Board made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the President of the Treasury Board made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Lieutenant Governors Superannuation Act to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 7(5) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the President of the Treasury Board made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Diplomatic Service (Special) Superannuation Act to enable pension plan members to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

Pursuant to subsection 7(1) of the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19), the President of the Treasury Board made an order extending certain time limits in relation to the Pension Benefits Division Act to enable members of public sector pension plans to avail themselves of certain opportunities that may otherwise expire during the period of the pandemic.

This Order extends the effective date of the previous Order restricting entry into Canada from the United States.

This Order supports Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country.

The objective of this regulation is to allow workers who cease work due to COVID-19 to continue to receive nominal amounts of income, up to $1000 over a four-week period, without affecting their eligibility for income support payments under the Act.

This regulation is being put in place by the Minister of Employment and Social Development, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, fixing the income support payment amount as $500 per week.

This regulation will allow the income support payment to be made to individuals who cease working due to reasons related to COVID-19 and meet other eligibility requirements.

The objective is to protect the health and safety of Canadians through exceptional importation of drugs, medical devices, and foods for special dietary purposes that are in shortage as a direct or indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic and by providing improved access to biocide drugs.

This order was made to allow expedited access to COVID-19-related medical devices for use by healthcare providers, including diagnostic test kits.