Landscape Saskatchewan News Fall 2020

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020

What Can You Learn from Rubbing Shoulders With Highly Motivated Peers?

Green Industry Show & Conference - VIRTUAL

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 2020 will be a year for the history books. This world we live in has changed and we have adapted. And. We will continue to adapt as the world around us continues to change.

Board of Directors Leslie Cornell Cornell Design & Landscaping Ltd. President Philip Rispens Rispens Landscaping Ltd. Vice President Robin Adair Arbour Crest Tree Service Ltd. Director Lane Bullied Gardens by Design Inc. Director Nathaniel Knutson See More Green Landscaping Director

How does this affect landscapers, arborists, garden centres, nurseries, and anyone I missed? Our green industry has been given such a unique opportunity to help people to reconnect with nature by nurturing plants and connecting to the earth.

Saskatchewan and Alberta associations want to help make a difference to all the people touched by the tragedy that took place in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. The plan was for a 2020 build, but as we know plans change, so 2021 is the new plan. Please take the time to volunteer so we can make this dream come true for a Healing Garden in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

The 2020 season has been an incredibly busy one and I do not see that changing anytime soon. Best of luck this fall everyone. #StaySafe, #StayStrong, #PlantSomething Leslie Cornell RSE Landscape Horticulturist; PHC President Landscape Saskatchewan; Landscape Canada Chair Cornell Design & Landscaping Ltd. Lesliecornell65@gmail.com

Aaron Krahn Lakeshore Tree Farms Ltd. CNLA Representative Anthonie Rispens, 306-699-7737 Rispens Landscaping Ltd. Landscape Canada Rep. If you are interested in joining Landscape Saskatchewan’s Board, please email Joel Beatson at joel.beatson@landscape-alberta.com.

Administrative Support Joel Beatson, CAE, CLM Executive Director Marnie Main Member Services Director Cheryl Teo Bookkeeper Contact Us Landscape Saskatchewan c/o Landscape Alberta 18051 107 AVE NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1K3 Tel: 780-489-1991 Toll Free: 1-800-378-3198 Fax: 780-444-2152 admin@landscape-alberta.com www.snla.ca

2020

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ENTRY PACKAGE & AWARDS SPONSOR PACKAGE NOW AVAILABLE!

Contact Kyla Hardon at 780-489-1991 Ext. 106. or kyla.hardon@landscape-alberta.com.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

November 18-20, 2020

Green Industry Show & Conference - VIRTUAL www.greenindustryshow.com

Follow us on Twitter @landscapeask LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 2

Industry and Association News GISC 2020 GOES VIRTUAL! GISC 2020 – Virtual will be held November 18-20th. The expanded schedule will allow people to balance virtual attendance with real life responsibilities. This new avenue is an exciting one and opens many new and interesting facets of the show and conference!

Virtual features to look forward to including: • Free show attendance, including several keynote speaker sessions.

• Includes both live and archived access to education sessions after the event.

• Incredible pricing to allow as many people to attend conference sessions as possible.

• Virtual scavenger hunts and other fun activities for amazing prizes and engagement.

For all other details visit www.greenindustryshow.com or follow us on social media. Trade show admission is complimentary and includes access to the Keynote speaker each day. The full access conference pass is an amazing value at $50 for access to almost 40 hours of educational content (replays available through January 2021). Register early to ensure your space for the education sessions!

Register today! www.greenindustryshow.com

Employment Standards Training

Winners of the 2020 CNLA National Awards of Landscape Excellence

The Employment Standards Division offers free online training webinars that provides basic information about the employment standards in Saskatchewan. These webinars address commonly asked questions that affect most employers and employees, including employers based outside of Saskatchewan with employees in the province.

The winners of the 17th Annual National Awards of Landscape Excellence (NALE) were announced virtually on Wednesday, August 12, 2020. The NALE recognizes Canadian companies that have actively participated in significantly raising the level of professionalism in the landscape industry. Each province nominates members from the provincial awards of excellence competitions that are then entered into the national awards, entries are then judged by a panel of industry experts, with company names and locations redacted from each submission.

The sessions will cover a variety of topics, including weekly schedules, hours of work, overtime, vacations, public holidays, leaves and more.

The 2020 Awards Presentation takes on a “virtual” format this year with winners being announced in an online video release. Winners were sent their awards ahead of time. Five landscape category awards were presented this year, along with the CaterpillarTM Green for Life Community Award.

Landscape Alberta & Landscape Saskatchewan have partnered with the City of Humboldt, the Humboldt Hospital Foundation, Communities in Bloom and Scotts Canada to build a “Healing Garden” at the Humboldt Regional Hospital. This garden will not only serve as a place of relaxation and tranquility for those receiving treatment and care at the hospital, but as a memorial for lives lost in the Humboldt Bronco’s tragedy.

The 2020 NALE Winners are: • Aménagement Côté Jardin Inc. of Montreal, Quebec for the Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Construction; • Fossil Landscape Construction Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia for the Caterpillar National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Construction; • Airo Landscapes Inc. of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador for the National Award of Excellence for Landscape Design; • Wilco Contractors Southwest Inc. of Calgary, Alberta for the HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence in Commercial Maintenance; • Yorkshire GardenServices Inc. of Concord, Ontario for the HortProtect National Award of Landscape Excellence for Residential Maintenance; • The Goodman Labyrinth, and Chestermere Community Park for the Caterpillar Green for Life Community Award.

Congratulations to all of the winners this year!

Each webinar includes an audiovisual presentation and a question and answer session. Each session will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour, including time at the end for questions. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/employment-standards/ employment-standards-training

Update: Humboldt Healing Garden

While the Project Committee was eager to have the project started this fall, we have run into many challenges because of COVID-19.

• This year being especially difficult in terms of late start and lost days due to rain, combined with staffing shortages, and incredible boom of work that has left everyone scrambling to finish work this year • Material shortages (lumber) and inability to source remaining donations because of above reasons With that being said, the project is being post-poned until Spring 2021. The plan in the meantime is to set construction dates and work on securing volunteers and equipment for the Spring. Visit our website for the most up-to-date project information.

We have set up an option to make monetary donations to the project. Follow the link to make a contribution: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx? name= E345855QE&id= 3

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 3

Industry and Association News Garden Centres Canada Webinar Rewatch Planning Around an Uncertain COVID-19 Future Dr. Charlie Hall information and feedback Log in to the “Members Only” section of the Landscape Alberta website to view.

COVID-19 UPDATES Emergency On-farm Support Fund (EOFSF)

You may be eligible for this benefit if you: • are not eligible for EI • reside in Canada • are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) • have stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are available and looking for work; or are working and have had a reduction in their employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19 • had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020 • have not quit your job voluntarily

Following the July 31st Government announcement of additional investments in measures to boost protections for TFW and address COVID-19 Outbreaks on Farms, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) is launching a new $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund (EOFSF).

This benefit would be effective from September 27 for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

variation in opening dates between provinces and territories. Additional information regarding the program will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

This benefit would be effective from September 27, for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

Government Announces Extension of Rent Relief for Small Businesses

Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets 2021 Employment Insurance Premium Rate and Maximum Insurable Earnings

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The Government of Canada would provide $500 per week for The program is intended to support immediate needs related to up to two weeks, for workers who cannot work because they are changes required on farms to ensure the health and safety of sick or must self-isolate for reasons domestic and temporary foreign related to COVID-19. workers due to COVID-19 and limit the spread of the disease on You may be eligible for this benefit agricultural operations. Discussions if you: “As of June 26, 2020, are taking place with provinces • reside in Canada and territories with the aim of • are at least 15 years old and have businesses eligible for using existing programs as much a valid Social Insurance Number as possible for the delivery of the CEBA now include owner(SIN) EOFSF, with cost-sharing details still • have earned at least $5,000 in operated small businesses being finalized.

2019 or in 2020 • have been unable to work for at that do not have a payroll, Recipients will be primary least 60% of their normally schedproducers. To be eligible for funding, sole proprietors receiving uled work within a given week applicants must confirm in writing because of being sick or required to that all applicable measures of the business income directly, self-isolate for reasons related to the Quarantine Act are being adhered COVID-19 pandemic as well as family-owned to, including but not limited to the • are not in receipt of paid leave mandatory 14-day isolation period corporations remunerating from an employer in respect of the for TFW. The fund is expected to be same week retroactive, by as much as several in the form of dividends • are not in receipt of the CERB, months. The EOFSF will have an the EI Emergency Response Benefit end date of March 31, 2021, which rather than payroll.”

(ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, means all disbursements must be made by the federal government by the Canada Recovery Caregiving that date.

Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or AAFC is working hard to finalize any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benthe details of the fund’s delivery and the application efits in respect of the same week. process will open as soon as possible, with some potential

Canadian business owners are resilient and working hard to adapt to these challenging and unprecedented times so they can serve their communities and provide good jobs. As we work together to recover from COVID-19, our government announced that the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) will be extended by one month to continue giving small business owners rent relief. Visit cmhc-schl.gc.ca to learn more!

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) The Government of Canada would provide $400 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and who still require income support.

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) today set the 2021 Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate at $1.58 per $100 of insurable earnings for employees and $2.21 for employers who pay 1.4 times the employee rate, which is unchanged from the 2020 premium rate.

Each year on or before September 14, the CEIC is responsible for setting the annual premium rate based on the seven-year breakeven rate forecasted by the EI Senior Actuary. The Senior Actuary’s report on the 2021 EI premium rate and the CEIC’s summary of that report are available online to ensure continued transparency and accountability in the rate-setting process.

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 4

Industry and Association News The Senior Actuary forecasted the seven-year break-even premium rate to be $1.93 per $100 of insurable earnings, an increase of 35 cents. The forecasted increase is mainly attributable to a rise in unemployment resulting from the pandemic, that is the Government of Canada’s response through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (29 cents) and temporary measures to support transition back to the EI program (6 cents).

However, as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada used its authority under the Employment Insurance Act to temporarily limit the change in the premium rate to zero in order to freeze the EI premium rate for 2021 and 2022 at the 2020 level. In addition, the Government of Canada has confirmed to the Commission that it will be crediting the EI Operating Account for the costs related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

The CEIC also announced that the Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) for 2021 will increase to $56,300 from $54,200 in 2020.

The MIE is indexed on an annual basis and represents the ceiling up to which EI premiums are collected and the maximum amount considered in applications for EI benefits. The maximum annual EI contribution for a worker will increase by $33.18 to $889.54 (up $46.46 for employers to $1,245.36 per employee).

Furthermore, the Premium Reduction Program (PRP) will provide roughly $1.055 billion in premium reductions in 2021 to registered employers and their employees, shared 7/12 and 5/12 respectively, in recognition of savings generated to the EI program by employer registered short-term wage-loss plans.

Finally, for self-employed Canadians who have opted-in to the EI program, the annual earnings required in 2020 will increase to $7,555 for claims filed in 2021. The level of earnings required for self-employed Canadians to be eligible for EI special benefits is indexed annually to the MIE. Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Sole proprietors and family-owned corporations now qualify for CEBA - Extended through to end of October The Government of Canada launched CEBA to ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, and better position them to quickly return to providing services to their communities and creating employment.

This $55 billion program provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.

Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

subsidy they can expect to receive. Knowing the amount will help companies make informed decisions about retaining or rehiring workers. *** Important to also note, if you have been approved for CEWS in any period, the government will automatically make you eligible for the next period. (Always check with your accountant) Information can be found at the Government’s FAQs page under 3.8 https:// www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergencywage-subsidy/cews-frequently-asked-questions.html 3-8. Can an eligible employer that hires a third party to facilitate the administration of its payroll, qualify for the wage subsidy?

Updated: August 11, 2020 Yes. However, each eligible employer must make their wage subsidy application for a claim period in the prescribed form and manner. This means that each eligible employer requires their own business number and payroll program account to apply for and receive the wage subsidy.

Eligible employers who did not have their own payroll program account with the CRA on or before March 15, 2020, but on March 15, 2020 employed one or more individuals and allowed a third party with a business number to make payroll remittances on their behalf, through the third party’s account, will need to register for their own payroll program account. Eligible employers may also need to register for their own business number if they did not previously have one.

Once the payroll program account (and business number if applicable) is opened, the CRA will require information from the third party to verify that remittances were previously made on behalf of the eligible employer. This would include a listing of each employer the third party made remittances on behalf of, and the remittances that can be attributed to each of those employers from January 1, 2020. The listing should also include the new business number and payroll program account for each eligible employer.

The third party can provide this information to the CRA by sending an email to CEWSINFOG@cra-arc.gc.ca. Please note that this mailbox is only used to receive the applicable information from third parties. General enquiries will not be responded to.

After the information is received and verified, the CRA will transfer the applicable remittances from the third party to the eligible employer’s new account, and advise when the eligible employer can proceed with their wage subsidy application. Employers will be expected to continue using their new business number and payroll program account for all future payroll remittances.

The new CEWS Calculator can be found at https://www.canada.ca/ en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/ cews-calculate-subsidy-amount.html

As of June 26, 2020, businesses eligible for CEBA now include owner-operated small businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as familyowned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll. This means that more small businesses can access it.

NOVEMBER 18-20, 2020

Applicants without at least $20,000 in payroll in 2019 will have to demonstrate having eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1,500,000 in 2020.

INDUSTRY-LEADING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR TREE CARE PROFESSIONALS

All applications are administered through your financial institution.

Please visit your institution’s website for more information or the FAQs.

20/20

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Update

Focus on Success

The federal government has launched an updated calculator to help employers estimate what help they may receive from the next phase of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

The calculator was made available in August. Employers enter information about their business situation to get an estimate of the

VISION:

SESSIONS INCLUDE: • • • • • •

Field Nursery Soil Health - New Research & Resources with Dr. Darby McGrath Ecosystem Services of Urban Landscapes with Dr. Casey Reynolds Urban Streets - Soils & Species with Dr. Darby McGrath What’s New in Landscape Pests with Dr. Ken Fry Soil Profile Rebuilding: Rehabilitating Compacted Soils with Dr. Susan Day Soil & the Things Living in It with Sean James

Some sessions earn ISA CEUs. See complete conference guide online.

FREE TRADE SHOW ADMISSION OR $50 EDUCATION PASS

1-800-378-3198 REGISTER ONLINE: www.greenindustryshow.com

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 5

What Can You Learn from Rubbing Shoulders With Highly Motivated Peers?

BY JEFFREY SCOTT

Last week, one of my long-term peer groups met with me via Zoom and shared some extremely useful tips.

Some of them had doubts that a Zoom meeting could be productive and inspiring, but by the end of it, everyone was jazzed.

My friend Jason Craven, CEO of the $30M business Southern Botanical, was a guest speaker at this meeting, and he was inspiring.

Let me share with you some takeaways from our peer group meeting:

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 6

What Can You Learn from Rubbing Shoulders With Highly Motivated Peers?

“Every leadership position should be building up not only a right-hand woman (or man) but also a left-hand as well.

It’s the only way to scale your business smoothly and steadily while avoiding hiccups when you lose someone.”

1. Stay connected with your team.

6. Great employees make deposits into your culture.

Jason Craven gets to spend a 1/3 of his time in the field with his people because he has delegated everything else in his business. His Leadership team has just four people overseeing everything. That allows him to keep his week organized and fun, while still giving weekly 1:1 time to his team leaders! Does your leadership team free you up?

7. Commit to weekly one-on-ones.

2. Use applicant tracking software.

This will allow you to build up a huge pipeline of future prospects. I predict this software will become as commonplace as QuickBooks. Are you onboard?

Start your team meetings with everyone sharing accomplishments and end with what excites each person. (This is how I run the peer group in my community. Bookends of energy, pride, action, and accomplishment. You’ve gotta love it!)

4. HR should be empowering your managers.

Southern Botanical has a competitive advantage because all the HR duties are delegated to various HR experts so that managers are not bogged down. In this day and age, you can easily recruit part-time HR, so there should be NO stopping you no matter your size!

(In the podcast you will learn how many you need.) Have you put this in place?

5. Build up a left and right hand.

Every leadership position should be building up not only a right-hand woman (or man) but also a lefthand as well. It’s the only way to scale your business smoothly and steadily while avoiding hiccups when you lose someone.

These will drive your business forward, whether you are $1M, $5M, and $30+M. The key is to delegate and keep your number of direct reports manageable.

8. Maintaining quality in maintenance is a team effort.

3. Bookend your meetings with positive intentions.

Poor performers are making withdrawals. You know that sucking sound when you feel it and hear it. But, are you using this information to give your “withdrawal” leaders feedback?

Quality is a function of Pride and Accountability. There are clever ways to create pride by photo-sharing among crews and turning it into a fun contest. But you still need account managers to do quality control and give feedback. Tie their accountability to performing QC and this will allow you to hold your field staff accountable for quality. Have you let that slack this year?

9. Acquisitions start with rapport.

A few members in my peer group have successfully grown with acquisitions, and the consensus was the conversation starts by getting to understand the drive and desires of the selling owner. Building understanding and rapport are initially more important than pricing or terms.

Your Challenge:

Find a community that will help you grow.

As a business owner, you need to make time to rub shoulders with other smart entrepreneurs and receive expert guidance from those who have done what you aspire to do.

When you get your assumptions checked, your energy tank refilled, and your vision clarified, you will experience far greater joy building your business and you will have more free time with your family.

Now that’s a blessing!

LANDSCAPE SASKATCHEWAN NEWS FALL 2020 • 7

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