Pandemic Planning for Canadian Commercial Real Estate

FAQ's

Q: Who has prepared the Pandemic Planning Guide for Commercial Buildings?
A: The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) and a group of key industry partners joined together as a Task Force to prepare the comprehensive guide to help Canadian commercial real estate companies make pandemic planning an integral part of their disaster preparedness plans and policies.

Q: What is the purpose of the Pandemic Guide?
A: In publishing the Pandemic Planning Guide for Commercial Buildings, the Task Force has delivered a common and consistent set of strategies for building owners to mitigate the impact of a pandemic on Canada’s workers. The Pandemic Planning Guide is structured as a response plan designed to augment individual companies’ own disaster and continuity planning. It includes recommended procedures, public responses and standard communication templates, specific to the commercial real estate industry.

Q: What credentials does BOMA Canada have to validate the Pandemic Planning Guide?
A: BOMA Canada and its industry partners are not experts on Pandemic health issues and general Pandemic issues, but we do have experience in building disaster preparedness planning and have the resources to enable the widespread dissemination of information. The Guide was prepared in tandem with critical service providers across the country with support from Marsh Canada as experts in business continuity and Dr. Donald Low, Chief of Microbiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Q: What additional resources are available?
A: The BOMA Canada Pandemic Planning Site for Canadian Commercial Real Estate (www.bomacanada-pandemic.ca) is the primary source of information for the industry regarding planning for a pandemic. In collaboration with BOMA associations across the country, it will be updated regularly so you are encouraged to check it often. The Pandemic Planning Guide and Planning Toolkit are available as free downloads from this site. The site also provides numerous links to other reliable information sources.

Q: What is the difference between the “Guide” and the “Toolkit”?
A: The comprehensive Guide is based on a complete business continuity plan framework. Materials developed by the Task Force relating specifically to the commercial office building sector, are added in. These industry specific sections follow the corresponding generic plan from the preceding section. The accompanying Toolkit encapsulates the key elements of the Guide that are specific to commercial buildings, and also includes template planning checklists, tenant correspondence, a service provider survey, and recommended building collateral.

Q: What role will BOMA Canada continue to play regarding Pandemic Planning?
A: BOMA Canada will continue to play several key roles with regards to Pandemic Planning, including providing a flow of ongoing communication and information to the commercial real estate industry, both at a national level as well as through local BOMA associations. We will also continue to maintain and augment the Pandemic website at www.bomacanada-pandemic.ca to offer information sites and reference material.

BOMA Canada has established the national Emergency Preparedness Task Force, composed of representation from BOMA Associations across the country. The local BOMA Associations have established their own task forces, and these groups will serve as critical links to regional and municipal authorities in major centres, should a pandemic or other crisis occur.

Q: What if new information becomes available. Will it be included in the Guide ?
A: BOMA Canada’s national Emergency Preparedness Task Force will continue to monitor the Pandemic issue and its impact on the commercial real estate industry. They will undertake a quarterly review of the Guide, to ensure that the most current relevant information is included.

Q: Is the Guide available in hard copy ?
A: No. The Pandemic Planning Guide and Toolkit are available as free downloadable PDF documents from the Pandemic Planning site. With regular review and monitoring of the Pandemic issue by the National Committee, the electronic format of the Guide will allow quick updates to be added as required, so updated versions can be readily available and posted.

Q: Are any of the Pandemic Planning materials available in French ?
A: Yes. The Pandemic Planning Toolkit is currently being translated, and when complete, will be posted for download from the site.

Q: Why should my company be concerned about planning for a pandemic?
A: Planning for a pandemic is a crucial issue affecting everyone involved with commercial real estate (owners, managers, suppliers, tenants, etc.). Through our website and the Pandemic Guide, BOMA Canada is encouraging everyone to deal with pandemic planning in a proactive way rather than waiting until disaster strikes. For details on the threat of a pandemic, and additional resources and information, you are encouraged to visit the Government of Canada’s Pandemic Influenza website at http://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html.

Pandemic Planning for Canadian Commercial Real Estate

FAQ's

Links to other sites

Canadian Links

Industry Partner Links

International Links