At Curling Québec, we continue to work for you, our members, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are on the lookout for any information that can be of use to you (as of July 13th, 2020).
Here you will find the latest news and links to guide you through your curling club’s reopening, as well as financial aid and subsidy funding available for clubs, employers and workers.
July 17, 2020 Update
As you know, the Provincial Government and the Direction de la santé publique announced earlier this week that masks will become mandatory in all public, indoor spaces as of July 18, 2020, including sports centres such as curling clubs.
Please see below details we received that apply directly to our environment:
Below you will find a collection of the most frequently asked questions during two virtual town hall meetings following the publication of Return-to-Play guidelines. The answers are guidelines and general recommendations. Each curling club is responsible for the health and safety of its community and of its members while ensuring that public health guidelines specific to their region/municipality are carefully followed.
The questions and answers detailed below should serve as informational guidelines. Should you have queries or concerns that are not addressed, we encourage you to contact us directly for a more personal follow-up.
You may also download the entire collection as a pdf document by clicking here.
How can we ensure physical distancing during sweeping?
The primary recommendation is to designate one sweeper for each throw; this team member will be the only person allowed to sweep the active rock and any other stone affected by the play. Members of the opposing team are not permitted to sweep any rock crossing the hog line, whether it is their own or the adversary’s.
Should junior programs be suspended in light of the pandemic?
As long as schools remain open, Curling Québec believes that junior programs can go ahead as planned. Curling clubs should, however, plan to dedicate more time to prepare for the season, and, in particular, to educate participants and their parents about physical distancing directives on the ice and in the building.
Will physical distancing rules apply to official championships?
Yes. All Curling Québec events will strictly apply all directives mandated by the Public Health authorities, the Québec government and the Return-to-Play document published by Curling Canada.
I play at a curling club with three ice sheets. Will it be necessary to close one sheet and use only two of them (sheets 1 and 3) simultaneously to abide by physical distancing requirements?
No. Based on recent studies and as demonstrated in the diagram below (from Curling Canada’s Return-to-Play guide), it is possible to follow physical distancing requirements while using all available ice sheets.
Together with Curling Canada and its member federations, Curling Québec is currently working towards identifying a supplier who can provide ice markings for curling clubs. We will notify our members as soon as these tools become available.
Our curling club was planning to launch group programs such as Curling 101 and Igloo in the fall of 2020. Should we hold off?
Curling 101 and Igloo are group programs, which can require additional logistics considerations to ensure physical distancing compliance.
Nonetheless, Curling Québec believes the programs may go ahead with adaptations to the instruction approach. For example, you may use multiple hacks to separate participants into smaller groups while ensuring excellent instruction and adhering to physical distancing. To do so, you will likely have to plan for a higher number of instructors on the ice.
Will we be able to open our changing rooms?
Yes, as long as physical distancing is applicable (2 metres/6 ft.) and, following the government’s announcement on July 13th, as long as all persons in the building wear a mask at all times, including in dressing rooms.
How many people can gather inside a curling club at the same time?
The Public Health Ministry recently announced that as of August 3rd, indoor gatherings of up to 250 people will be allowed. For curling clubs, this means that the directive may apply to the shed and the lounge/bar area, separately (as long as building capacity limits are respected). You will, therefore, be able to host a maximum of 250 persons in the club AND 250 persons on the ice at the same time IF you can ensure all directives and mandates about physical distancing and public health and safety.
How will bars and bartenders need to adapt? Are there specific directives for them?
Regulation for the service industry is paramount to confront the pandemic and to ensure curling clubs offer a safe environment for everyone. To support our members, Curling Québec contacted the Association de Restauration du Québec (ARQ) and the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) to provide you with tools and guides specific to the service sector. You can access these resources by scrolling down this webpage to the section Resources for Bar Management and Operations.
What sort of hygiene protocols will clubs be required to set up?
The Curling Canada Return-to-Play guidelines are an exhaustive source of information on this topic.
Curling Québec encourages you to require hand disinfection upon arrival to the curling club and ask your members to bring their complete set of equipment each time they visit the club. We also strongly encourage you to remove club brooms from public access areas.
No matter how your curling club decides to implement disinfection and hygiene protocols, these must be communicated to all members and all volunteers and employees who use equipment at the club.
What are the public health requirements concerning masks in curling clubs? What about during games?
As you know, the Provincial Government and the Direction de la santé publique announced earlier this month that masks will become mandatory in all public, indoor spaces as of July 18, 2020, including sports centres such as curling clubs.
Please see below details we received that apply directly to our environment:
Are the Return-to-Play guidelines binding for curling clubs?
No, they are not. The reference document, developed by Curling Canada and its member provincial federations, does not require any obligation from curling clubs. The guidelines serve as a compilation of recommendations and best-practices for the return to curling. It is each curling club’s responsibility to lean on the scenarios that best address its needs. More importantly, each club must ensure the public health and safety directives of its region and municipality are adhered to thoroughly.
Is it necessary for clubs to get a waiver signed by all their members and any other person who enters the premises?
Curling Québec has uploaded various waiver, declaration and consent forms developed by Curling Canada and the Réseau des Loisirs et du Sport du Québec (RLSQ). These forms are compliant to Québec regulation and have been validated by legal teams. Curling clubs are under no obligation to use these documents, should they choose not to.
However, Curling Québec strongly recommends the use of these waiver and declaration forms to keep duly signed assumption of risk forms, as well as a daily registry of all persons that enter your club’s premises (members, rental groups, guest teams, etc.). In the eventuality of a COVID-19 flare-up in your community, these documents will provide a trace for health authorities to follow up.
We also strongly encourage you to submit these forms for review to your liability insurance provider to ensure that you are protected and compliant with the insurer’s requirements.
The forms are available on this page, under the section “Return-to-Play Information”.
Regarding rentals, can we have only the group’s contact person sign the waiver and consent forms?
We recommend that all participants of a rental sign the same documents. This will allow you to present a track record to health authorities, should the need arise.
Has Curling Québec elaborated a member affiliation reimbursement policy in light of a possibly shorter season during the pandemic?
Curling Québec’s Board will discuss the matter the next time it convenes; we expect to have an answer for you mid-August.
Where can we access Curling Québec’s virtual town halls addressing return-to-play? Does Curling Québec plan on having more of these meetings?
The virtual town halls are available on our Facebook page, as well as on our YouTube channel. We would be more than happy to organize additional virtual sessions, private or otherwise, to answer your questions and concerns, should the need arise. Please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know your needs.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CurlingQuebec/videos/
YouTube: http://bit.ly/YouTubeCQ
Who should I contact at Curling Québec to ask my questions concerning the pandemic?
Monica Dedich
Director of Communications and Fundraising
514 252 3088 ext. 3645
Marc-André Robitaille
Executive Director
514 252 3088 ext. 3586
Below you can download the Return-to-Play Guidelines, as published on July 6th, 2020. You will also find the recording of Curling Québec’s virtual Townhall, held on July 8th, addressing member questions and concerns pertaining to the re-opening of curling clubs (primarily in French).
CNESST has developed a toolkit for the Restaurant and Bar sector: https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/covid-19-info-en/Pages/toolkit-restaurant.aspx
The toolkit contains a guide, as well as a checklist to help employers and employees in this sector during the pandemic. https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/covid-19-info-en/Documents/DC100-2171A-1B-liste-restaurants-bars.pdf
CNESST has also developed toolkits for other sectors: https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/covid-19-info-en/Pages/toolkit.aspx
Below are the aid programs available to-date to businesses and individuals. Please click on the headings of the categories that apply to you.
The proposed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would cover 75 percent of salaries for qualifying businesses, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020. Employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy would be eligible with the exception of public sector entities. This subsidy is based on the business revenue. Non-profit organisations can choose whether or not to include the public funds received in their revenue calculations.
In order to provide certainty to employers, once an employer is found eligible for a specific period, the employer automatically qualifies for the next period.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
The Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
The maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program is extended from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html
The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits. For additional information on how to apply, please follow the link below; you can also contact your preferred banking institution for details.
The Federal Governmenet established a Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to provide $40 billion of additional support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC).
All businesses can defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html
All businesses are allowed to defer until June 30, 2020 payments of the GST/HST.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html
This new emergency funding measure provides ad hoc and exceptional support for businesses from industries (exceptions exist) affected by the repercussions of COVID-19. A loan guarantee is the preferred form of financing. Financing can also take the form of a loan from Investissement Québec. Minimum funding amount starts at $50,000.
The Quebec government’s Emergency Assistance Program for SMEs will support eligible companies experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and who require working capital of less than $50,000.
https://www.quebec.ca/entreprises-et-travailleurs-autonomes/aide-urgence-pme-covid-19/. (French only)
A six-month moratorium period on capital and interest to private and social economy organizations that currently have loans. This measure, in partnership with the FTQ, adds to the financial support provided by the provincial and federal governments.
https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/fr/bibliotheques/programmes/aide-financiere/fonds-local-dinvestissement-fli/ (French only)
Instalments and income tax balances that would have been due in the period between March 17, 2020, and August 31, 2020, are now payable by September 1, 2020.
The Québec government has postponed to June 30, 2020 the deadline for filing QST returns and the attendant payments.
http://www.finances.gouv.qc.ca/documents/Bulletins/en/BULEN_2020-5-a-b.pdf
It has become increasingly challenging for non-profit administrators and employees to identify the appropriate government aid programs amid the incessant flow of announcements, updates and subsidy programs made available over the past months.
To help you navigate this complicated landscape, we encourage you to listen to the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (a professional services firm) presentation.
You can watch the webinar on YouTube, as well as download the presentation in its entirety (.pdf format) by clicking the links below. Please note the presentation is only available in French.
Curling Québec looked into the possibility of financial support programs and initiatives from Hydro-Québec. We received the following reply, reported below in full for your convenience:
We are sensitive to the fact that over the coming weeks, some customers could experience financial difficulties associated with the COVID 19 crisis.
We are putting the following measures in place to help those affected:
If you face challenges in paying your bills, please contact us right away to discuss your option with one of our representatives at the following number: 1-877-956-5696
Read more about our plans and advice for you at this time.
A presentation providing an overview of available support programs for sports non-profits and charities.
The government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month.
https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/pcusc-application.html
The government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month.
https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/prestations/ae/pcusc-application.html
The government allows all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html
The government allows self-employed individuals to defer GST/HST payments until June 30, 2020.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html
This program offers financial assistance to meet the needs of workers who, because they are in isolation to counter the propagation of the COVID-19 virus, cannot earn all of their work income and are not eligible for another financial assistance program.
For individuals and individuals in business, the deadline for paying income tax, installment payments, contributions or the annual registration fee for the enterprise register related to the 2019 income tax return has been extended to September 1, 2020.
