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COVID-19 federal and provincial relief measures for businesses

Deloitte is closely monitoring all the evolving financing and economic programs made available in response to COVID-19 by federal and provincial governments. We will provide updates, as they become available, through this webpage.

Updated August 3, 0800 EDT

Over the past few weeks, the Government of Canada and some provincial governments have introduced measures to support Canadians and stimulate the economy throughout the evolving health crisis. On this page, we aim to provide practical information for businesses about how to access different government programs and measures.

If you need help identifying the support programs that are applicable for your organization’s circumstance, understanding the potential impact of these measures or exploring other tactics that might help you recover, please reach out to our COVID Concierge service.

COVID Concierge

Federal Measures

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

The BCAP will provide $65 billion of support to businesses experiencing cash-flow challenges, through Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Click on the links below to get practical advice on how to access the different relief measures.

Export Development Canada (EDC) offers financing, insurance and risk management solutions to help all Canadian businesses (not only exporters) survive the impact of COVID-19.

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) supports Canadian businesses (mostly small and medium-sized) cope with the effects of COVID-19 through financing, capital and advisory services.

Online financing (<$100k)

BCAP guarantee program (operating credit and cash flow term loans)

Announced on March 13, 2020, and new details on March 27, 2020

Available now: Yes (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

Through the EDC Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) Guarantee, EDC will provide a guarantee (a form of backstop) for your loan with your financial institution, giving your financial institution the assurance to give you access to credit. By guaranteeing your loan, EDC is effectively making your application less risky for banks.

This guarantee is a streamlined version of EDC’s existing guarantee program. Note that eligible companies could obtain up to $12.5 million by applying to both the EDC BCAP Guarantee and the BDC co-lending programs.

The terms below (and additional terms) can be explained by your financial institution:

You deal only with your financial institution (not EDC).
Fixed guarantee fee of 1.8% on the loan amount.
Six-month fee payment deferral.
The terms of this guarantee allow you to finance cash expenses such as payroll.

Who is eligible

All Canadian businesses requesting additional liquidity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To qualify for a BCAP guarantee, you must:

Apply for an operating line of credit or one-year term loan equal to or less than $6.25 million CAD with your financial institution.
Qualify through your financial institution’s normal due diligence and underwriting process.

How to apply

Existing and new EDC clients:

Contact your financial institution to discuss your options. Going through your financial institution can save you time on paperwork and help you assess your options better and faster.
Complete a short online intake application form prior to credit submission, to provide EDC with high-level company information.
Your financial institution will then conduct its underwriting and due diligence processes, which include verifying the transaction meets the parameters of the BCAP Guarantee program.
If you qualify, your financial institution will provide you access to the credit amount for which you have been approved.

Interest-free small loans (CEBA)

Announced on March 27, 2020

Available Now: Yes (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

To ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, the Government of Canada is announcing the launch of the new Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC).

This $25 billion program will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs such as payroll, rent, insurance and utilities during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced, due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus. It is not intended to repay or prepay existing debt nor to pay distributions to owners.

The program is also available businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll.

It is not intended to repay or prepay existing debt nor to pay distributions to owners.

The loan will be held at 0% interest until December 31, 2022.
No principal payments due until December 31, 2022; until then, these principal repayments can be made voluntarily at any time without fees or penalties.
Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000).
The full balance must be repaid by no later than December 31, 2025.

Who is eligible

For a small business to be eligible to receive a CEBA loan, it must:

Be a Canadian operating business in operation as of March 1, 2020.
Total employment income paid in the 2019 calendar year between CAD $20,000 and CAD $1,500,000.
Have an active business chequing and/or operating account that was opened on or prior to March 1, 2020.
Not be behind on payments for an existing lending product on March 1, 2020.

Applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 need:

a business-operating account at a participating financial institution
a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
eligible non-deferrable expenses—such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance—between $40,000 and $1.5 million.

How to apply

Contact your financial institutions or visit their online banking page to apply
Note that not all financial institutions may have a digital application process
More details, including the launch date for applicants with payroll lower than $20,000, will be announced soon

Fee & Payment Deferrals

Announced March 13, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

If you are an existing client of EDC’s Export Guarantee Program or EDC’s Trade Expansion Loan Program, you are eligible for a six-month fee and payment deferral.

If you are not an existing EDC customer, but qualify under the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) Guarantee, you are also eligible for a six-month payment and fees deferral once you access the financing through BCAP.

Who is eligible

All EDC existing and new customers.

How to apply

Existing EDC Clients: If you are currently supported by an EDC guarantee, the deferral of fees and payments will be automatically applied. If you have been charged EDC guarantee fees after March 23, 2020, please connect with your financial institution account manager.

New Clients: Contact your financial institution to find out how the BCAP Guarantee can help you. Going through your financial institution can save you time on paperwork and help you assess your options better and faster. For new clients, EDC will update existing guarantee documentation to incorporate the deferral of fees and payments conditions.

BCAP Co-lending program (cash flow term loans)

Announced on March 27, 2020

Available now: Yes (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

Through the new Co-Lending program, BDC, together with financial institutions, will co-lend term loans to small and medium-sized businesses for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts up to $6.25 million, 80% of which would be provided by BDC and the remaining 20% by a financial institution.

Annual Revenue*	≤ $1M	$1M to $50M	$50M +
Max loan amount	$312,5K	$3,125M	$12,5M

*Based on the last fiscal year ending prior to March 1, 2020 or the last calendar year ending on December 31, 2019.

Who is eligible

All Canadian businesses.

How to apply

Details will be made available in the days to come. Until then, businesses should contact their primary financial institution for more information.

Updated BCAP working capital financing

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

BDC announced measures as part of the Business Credit Availability Program to provide relief for Canadian entrepreneurs. BDC will:

Provide working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible repayment terms such as principal postponements for qualifying businesses
Offer reduced rates on new eligible loans.

Who is eligible

All Canadian businesses financially viable prior to the impact of COVID-19.

How to apply

Existing BDC clients: Existing BDC clients should reach out to their account manager for additional information.

New clients: Businesses seeking support through BCAP should first contact their primary financial institutions for an assessment of their situation.

Fee and payment deferrals

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

If you are an existing client of BDC with a total loan commitment of $1 million or less, BDC will provide postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge.

If you are not an existing BDC customer, but qualify under the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), BDC will provide working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to six months.

Additional details, including industry-specific support, to be announced in the coming days.

Who is eligible

All BDC existing and new customers.

How to apply

Existing BDC Clients: Existing BDC clients should reach out to their account manager for additional information.

New Clients: Contact your financial institution to find out how BDC can help you. Going through your financial institution can save you time on paperwork and help you assess your options better and faster.

BDC Capital Bridge Financing Program

Announced on April 9, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

BDC announced it may match, with a convertible note, a current financing round being raised through qualified existing and/or new investors for eligible Canadian startups.

Who is eligible

Canadian startups
Must be backed by a qualified venture capital firm and have raised at least $500,000 in external capital before applying for the program
Must be specifically affected by COVID-19.

How to apply

Both new and existing clients: Contact your lead investor for additional information.

BDC Oil & Gas Sector Financing

Announced on April 17, 2020

Available now: No

Summary

BDC will provide viable Canadian-based oil and gas producers, oilfield service companies, and midstream providers with loans of between $15 million and $60 million for operational cash flow and business continuity purposes. Loans will be offered at commercial rates and are repayable within four years.

Who is eligible

Viable Canadian-based oil and gas producers, oilfield service companies, and midstream providers.

How to apply

The deployment strategy will be finalized shortly.

BCAP Mid-Market Guarantee

Announced on March 11, 2020

Available now: No (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

The expanded program brings liquidity to companies who tend to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million, to sustain operations during this emergency.

With this expanded support, EDC will continue to work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75 percent of new operating credit and cash-flow loans—ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million.

Who is eligible

These expanded guarantees are available to exporters, international investors and businesses that sell their products or services within Canada

How to apply

Details to be made available soon

BCAP Mid-Market Financing Program

Announced on March 11, 2020

Available now: No (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

BDC will make additional credit available to complement businesses’ existing debt facilities, working closely with their primary lenders. The Bank anticipates that qualifying companies will have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million. These commercial loans, which will take the form of a junior loan done jointly with the business’ primary lender, will range in size between $12.5 million and $60 million each.

Who is eligible

To be eligible, companies must have been financially stable and viable prior to the current economic turmoil.

How to apply

Details to be made available soon

Additional federal measures

Emergency Processing Fund (EPF)

The federal government launched the $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund (EPF) to support Canada’s food production and processing sector.

Tourism industry investments

The federal government is investing millions in the tourism industry, one of the sectors hit hardest by COVID-19

Funding to support small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses

The Government of Canada is committing to $440 million to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) that offer financing to these businesses

Fish Harvester Benefit

The federal government has introduced the Fish Harvester Benefit, a program worth up to $267.6 million, to help provide income support for this year’s fishing seasons.

Fish Harvester Grant

The federal government has introduced the Fish Harvester Grant, a program worth up to $201.8 million, to provide grants to help fish harvesters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) provides nearly $962 million in funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are unable to access sufficient support from the government’s existing support measures, including destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and access to capital for rural businesses and communities.

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)

Provides bridge financing to employers with annual revenues of more than $300 million whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going.

Temporary 10-percent Wage Subsidy

The 10 percent 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).

Futurpreneur

Futurpreneur, which received $20.1 million of support from the federal government, will cover loan payments for six months for each of its more than 3,200 Start-up Program clients whose Futurpreneur loan was disbursed prior to April 1, 2020. This loan payment coverage is effective from March 25 through to September 24, 2020.

Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF)

The Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) provides short-term support for ongoing operational costs to small and medium-sized territorial businesses impacted by economic disruptions due to COVID-19.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

Small businesses will have new help with their commercial rent for the months of April, May, and June.

Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.

Funding for Indigenous businesses

Up to $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) that offer financing to these businesses.

Federal regional development agencies to defer payments

Federal regional development agencies will apply a deferral of three months on all incentive-related repayments due to the government, as of April 1, 2020.

CRA extends income tax payments for Canadian businesses

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) confirmed that businesses may defer, until September 1, 2020, the payment of certain income tax amounts.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

The federal government is introducing a new wage subsidy to help employers keep Canadians in their jobs.

Work-Sharing Program

New temporary special measures were announced to the existing Work-Sharing Program to extend the agreements by an additional 38 weeks (for a total of 76 weeks), to waive the mandatory waiting period between agreements, and to ease requirements for the program.

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Program

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) COVID-19 support program

To ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors can remain focused on business-critical functions, FCC has put customer support programs in place.

CRA extends income tax payments for Canadian businesses

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available Now: Yes

Summary

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) confirmed that businesses may defer, until September 1, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on March 18, 2020, and before September 2020.

Details

All businesses may defer, until September 1, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18, 2020 and before September 1, 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due as well as instalments under Part I of the Income Tax Act, with no interest or penalties accumulating on these amounts during this period.

Deferral of sales tax remittance and customs duty payments until June:

Businesses, including self-employed individuals, can defer until June 30, 2020, payments of the GST/HST as well as customs duty owing on their imports.
Any GST/HST payment that becomes owing from March 27 until the end of May can be deferred until the end of June. For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, deferral will include amounts owing for March, April, and May.
These amounts were normally due to be submitted to the CRA and the Canada Border Services Agency as early as the end of March 2020.

Filing deadlines	Previous		New
	Payment	Filing	Payment	Filing
T1	30-Apr	30-Apr	1-Sep	1-Jun
T1 (self-employed)	30-Apr	15-Jun	1-Sep	15-Jun
T2 (returns due between March 18 and June 1)	2-3 months post year-end	6 months post year-end	1-Sep	1-Jun
T2 (returns due past June 1)	2-3 months post year-end	6 months post year-end	1-Sep	no change
Instalments (due between March 18 and September 1)	Various	N/A	1-Sep	N/A
HST returns due between March 18 and June 30	Various	Various	30-Jun	30-Jun
Payroll source deductions	Various	Various	No change	No change

** These are the most common deadlines; for answers to specific filing deadlines and requirements, please contact us.

How to apply

Business to follow normal filing procedures.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Announced on March 27, 2020

Available Now: Yes

Summary

The federal government is introducing a new wage subsidy to help employers keep Canadians in their jobs.

Details

The CEWS for employers is a six-month measure designed to prevent further job losses and encourage employers to re-hire previously laid off employees as a result of COVID-19. Administration will be by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The subsidy is available to employers that see a drop of at least 30 percent (15 percent for March 2020) of their revenue against a specified prior reference period (year over year or average of Jan/Feb 2020).

The subsidy amount for a given employee is based on eligible remuneration paid between March 15, 2020 and August 29, 2020 and would be the greater of:

75 percent of the amount of current weekly remuneration earned in that week, to a maximum benefit of $847 per week; and
100 percent of the amount of current remuneration earned in that week, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week, or 75 percent of the employee’s pre-crisis* paid weekly remuneration, whichever is less

Several rules exist around the determination of qualifying revenues, with considerations to be made for corporate groups, non-arm’s length parties, amalgamated entities, as well as partnerships and joint-ventures.

*Pre-crisis weekly paid remuneration calculated as greater of average weekly remuneration paid between: Jan 1–Mar 15, 2020 or Mar 1–May 31 2019

Who is eligible

Eligible employers include:

individuals, taxable corporations and partnerships consisting of eligible employees as well as non-profit organizations and registered charities. There are no limitations related to the size of the employer. Public institutions are not eligible.
Employers who can attest to at least a 30% drop in gross revenue (15% for March 2020) specific to the eligible periods. This would generally be determined by a change in monthly revenues for March, April or May when compared with the same month in 2019 or to the average revenues of January and February 2020. An eligible employer satisfying the revenue reduction criterion for its first month will be deemed to satisfy the criteria for the subsequent month.
As of May 15, additional groups can now apply for the CEWS provided they meet all other eligibility criteria:
- Partnerships where <50 of their members are non-eligible members
- Indigenous government-owned businesses
- Registered Canadian amateur athletic associations
- Registered journalism organizations
- Non-public educational and training institutions

How to apply

Apply through My Business Account

	Claiming Period	Required reduction in revenue	Reference period for eligibility
Period 1	March 15 – April 11	15%	March 2020 over: March 2019 or Average of January and February 2020
Period 2	April 12 – May 9	30%	April 2020 over: April 2019 or Average of January and February 2020
Period 3	May 10 – June 6	30%	May 2020 over: May 2019 or Average of January and February 2020
Period 4	June 7 – July 4	30%	June 2020 over: June 2019 or Average of January and February 2020
Period 5	July 5 – August 1	30%	July 2020 over: July 2019 or Average of January and February 2020
Period 6	August 2 – August 29	30%	August 2020 over: August 2019 or Average of January and February 2020

Work-Sharing Program

Existing program. Some special measures were announced after March 11, 2020

Available Now: Yes (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

New temporary special measures were announced to the existing Work-Sharing Program as to extend the agreements by an additional 38 weeks (for a total of 76 weeks), to waive the mandatory waiting period between agreements and to ease requirements for the program. Moreover, the recovery plan requirement was removed as part of the special measures so as providing sales/production figures.

The Work-Sharing program helps avoid employee layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. The measure provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week. The program is consent-based.

Who is eligible

Applicant employers are eligible if they are experiencing a downturn in business activity related to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Among other criteria, employers must :

be a year-round business in Canada for at least one year
be a private business, a publicly held company or a not-for-profit organization*;
have at least two employees in the work-sharing unit

*As part of the special temporary measures, government business enterprises (public corporations) experiencing a shortage of work due to a reduction of business activity and/or a reduction in revenue levels due to COVID-19 are eligible.

Employees are eligible to be covered by work-sharing agreements if:

they are year-round, permanent, full-time or part-time employees who are needed to carry out the day-to-day functions of the business (“core employees”)
they are eligible to receive EI benefits
they agree to reduce their normal working hours by the same percentage (on a unit-per-unit basis) and to share the available work

*As part of the special temporary measures, employees considered essential to the recovery and viability of the business are now eligible to participate in the Work-Sharing Program.

How to apply

For new agreements, employers should file registration documents by email with Service Canada. The following documents must be submitted:

*Applicants should submit their application now at least 10 days before the requested start date of the agreement.

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Program

Existing program

Available Now: Yes (delays in implementation to be considered)

Summary

Employers can use a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan to increase their employees’ weekly earnings when they are unemployed due to a temporary stoppage of work, training, illness, injury or quarantine. SUB payments registered with Service Canada are not considered as earnings and are not deducted from EI benefits. Employers can top up employees’ EI benefits up to 95% of the employee’s normal weekly earnings. The SUB plan can cover all employees or certain group of employees.

Employers who wish to submit a SUB plan must meet the plan requirements fixed by Service Canada.

The duration of a SUB plan must be at least one year and can last up to five years.

SUB plans may also be registered with the CRA, in which case different or additional criteria may apply.

Who is eligible

All employers of insurable employment may set up a SUB plan for their employees or certain of their employees.

How to apply

If registering with Service Canada, employers must submit their SUB plan and the SUB Plan registration form by mail to Service Canada with a number of required supporting documents, such as:

a copy of the current collective agreement(s), if the plan covers employees who are members of a certified bargaining unit, i.e. unionized employees
a copy of the relevant section of the insurance policy used to administer the SUB plan(s). (If the policy does not contain a complete plan description, a document signed by the employer containing the missing information must be included)
a copy of the Trust Agreement if applicable
any company policies and/or personnel guidelines containing information about the plan, as well as any declarations or documents that the employees have to sign to receive the SUB payment

SUBs may also be registered with the CRA, in which case different or additional criteria may apply.

*Plans must be registered before their effective date.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) COVID-19 support program

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Details

To ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors can remain focused on business-critical functions rather than worrying about how to access funds to keep operating through this challenging period, effective immediately, FCC has put in place:

a deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans; or
a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months
access to an additional credit line up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements or universal movable hypothec (Québec only)

Who is eligible

Eligible enterprises:

Primary producers:
- Food and logistics:
  - Food processors and manufacturers
  - Oil refining and blending
  - Frozen foods, canning and milling
  - Wineries and distilleries
  - Wholesale and distribution
  - Commercial bakeries
  - Ethnic and speciality foods
  - Food and beverage equipment
  - Packaging
  - Abattoir and meat processors
- Agribusiness:
  - Crop input suppliers and retailers
  - Equipment manufacturers and dealers
  - Feed processors
  - Wholesale, storage and distribution
  - Grain handling and logistics

FCC will assess each application on a case-by-case basis. Businesses applying for FCC lending products are subject to normal lending due diligence, which considers business viability, credit history, and management integrity and experience.

If you’d like more information on these options or on how FCC can help improve your financial position, please contact your local office or the Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301 for further details.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

Announced on April 16, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

This program will lower rent by 75 percent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

Details

It will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 percent of three monthly rent payments payable by eligible small business tenants who have experienced financial hardship in April, May, and June.

The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce these tenants’ rent by at least 75 percent for the three corresponding months under a rent-forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 percent, of the rent.

The federal government is prepared to spend $2.97 billion on the CECRA program, but as of writing has received landlord applications for only $65 million in subsidies for 16,000 small businesses. At least 40,000 businesses should qualify.

Who is eligible

Small business tenant requirements:
- Pays monthly rent not exceeding $50,000 in gross rent payments
- A non-essential small business that has temporarily closed, or that is experiencing a 70-percent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues (determined by comparing revenues in April, May, or June to the same month in 2019 or, alternatively, compared to average revenues for January and February 2020)
Not-for-profit organizations and charitable entities would also be considered
Commercial property owners:
- Commercial properties with a residential component and residential mixed-use properties with a 30-percent commercial component would be eligible for support with respect to their commercial tenants.
- The property owner must be the registered owner and landlord of the residential or commercial real estate property.
- If a property owner does not have a mortgage secured by a commercial rental property, the property owner should contact CMHC to discuss program options, which may include applying funds against other forms of debt facilities or fixed-cost payment obligations (e.g. utilities).
- Owners must have declared rental income on their tax return (personal or corporate) for tax years 2018 and/or 2019.
Additional exclusions apply:
- Entities owned by individuals holding political office
- Entities that promote violence, incite hatred, or discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability
- An entity in the lenders special accounts or restructuring Group prior to March 1, 2020
CMHC clarified that property owners need not be the titleholder of the property in order to be eligible for the program.
Additionally, the eligibility requirements for tenants have been expanded to include subtenants—they will qualify so long as the “lease structures meet program criteria.”

How to apply

The portal for application is open.

As part of your application, you must provide rent reduction agreement(s) and landlord and tenant attestations.

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)

Announced on May 11, 2020

Available now: Yes

Details

The objective of this support is to help protect Canadian jobs, help Canadian businesses weather the current economic downturn, and avoid the bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms. This support cannot be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor can it be used to provide financing to companies that have the capacity to manage through the crisis.

The additional liquidity provided through LEEFF will allow Canada’s largest businesses and their suppliers to remain active during this difficult time, and position them for a rapid economic recovery.

Who is eligible

The key guiding principles for support provided through the LEEFF include:

Protection of taxpayers and workers: Companies seeking support must demonstrate how they intend to preserve employment and maintain investment activities. Recipients will need to commit to respect collective bargaining agreements and protect workers’ pensions. The LEEFF program will require strict limits on dividends, share buy-backs, and executive pay. An assessment may be made of company’s employment, tax, and economic activity in Canada, as well as its international organizational structure and financing arrangements. The program will not be available to companies that have been convicted of tax evasion. In addition, recipient companies will be required to publish annual climate-related disclosure reports consistent with the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, including how their future operations will support environmental sustainability and national climate goals.
Fairness: To ensure support across the Canadian economy, the financing is intended to be applicable to all eligible sectors in a consistent manner.
Timeliness: To ensure timely support, the LEEFF program will apply a standard set of economic terms and conditions.

How to apply

The program will be delivered by the Canada Development Investment Corporation.

Further details to follow.

Temporary 10-percent Wage Subsidy

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Details

The subsidy is equal to 10 percent of the remuneration paid from March 18 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer.

Note: Associated Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) will not be required to share the maximum subsidy of $25,000 per employer.

If you are an eligible employer but choose not to reduce your payroll remittances during the year, you can still calculate the 10 percent temporary wage subsidy on remuneration paid from March 18 to June 19, 2020. At the end of the year, the CRA will pay the amount to employers or transfer it to next year’s remittance.

Who is eligible

Eligible employers are:

individuals (excluding trusts)
partnerships
non-profit organizations
registered charities
Canadian-controlled private corporations (including cooperative corporations)
have an existing business number and payroll program account with the CRA as of March 18, 2020
pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to an eligible employee

An eligible employee is an individual who is employed in Canada.

Partnerships are only eligible for the subsidy if their members consist exclusively of individuals (excluding trusts), registered charities, other partnerships eligible for the subsidy, or eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs).

CCPCs are only eligible for the subsidy if they have a business limit for their last taxation year that ended before March 18, 2020, greater than nil (determined without reference to the passive income business limit reduction).

How to apply

Employers do not need to apply for the subsidy.

They will continue deducting income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums from salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration paid to their employees, as usual.

The subsidy is calculated when employers remit these amounts to the CRA and must be done manually.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

Announced on May 13, 2020

Available now: Yes

Details

The RRRF is a special one-time relief fund to address gaps left by other measures in Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. The fund will help to:

mitigate the financial pressures experienced by businesses and organizations to enable them to continue their operations, including paying their employees
support projects by businesses, organizations, and communities to prepare now for a successful recovery

This initiative includes two components:

$675 million to support regional economies, businesses, organizations, and communities in regions all across Canada
$287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically be for small businesses and rural communities across the country

This initiative will be implemented by the six regional development agencies, which are familiar with their region’s economic realities and are often the first point of contact for people at the local level.

Who is eligible

To access the regional economy funding, applicants must:

Be a Canadian or provincially incorporated business or co-operative, or an Indigenous-owned business
Be facing funding pressures with fixed operating costs as a result of COVID-19
Have been a viable business before the COVID-19 pandemic and plan to continue to operate the business or resume operations
Have already applied to other Government of Canada emergency credit relief measures for which they are eligible, as outlined in the program guidelines

Additional eligibility requirements vary by regional development agency (RDA).

To access the Community Futures funding, applicants must also meet the following criteria:

Have been an established business prior to March 1, 2020
Affected adversely by the COVID-19 pandemic
Be viable, and not have experienced other financial difficulties prior to March 1, 2020
Have attempted to access other federal relief supports and were deemed ineligible, rejected, or require funding for expenses that have not been supported.

Priority will be given to applicants who were ineligible or rejected from other federal relief supports.

How to apply

Applications are now being accepted through two streams.

Regional economy: This stream supports SMEs that do not qualify for, or have been declined for, current Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures.

FedDev Southern Ontario: Visit the FedDev Ontario website for more information or to apply through this stream.
FedNor: Visit the RRRF information page.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA): Visit the RRRF information page.
Canada Economic Development for Quebec regions: Visit the RRRF information page.
Western Diversification (WD): Visit this page for more information.
CanNor: RRRF funding is being distributed three different ways in CanNor areas. Find more information here.

Community futures: This stream supports businesses in rural and smaller communities through additional funding for the existing Community Futures Program (CFP).

To provide targeted assistance to the small towns and communities they serve, CFDCs, which will deliver this stream of funding, will focus on assisting “main street” businesses such as retail shops, restaurants, and corner stores, and businesses of strategic importance to their communities, with loans up to $40,000.

Apply directly through your local CFDC for funding in this stream.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Summary

ACOA is now accepting applications for the RRRF online. They will continue to accept and assess applications until March 31, 2021, or until funding runs out, whichever comes first.

Who is eligible

Businesses and organizations can apply that have:

Applied for other federal relief measures and have not been able to secure funds; or
Accessed COVID-19 relief measures and continue to experience hardship.
Work in sectors that are critical to the resilience and survival of Atlantic Canada’s economy, such as advanced manufacturing, ocean industries, clean growth technology, and tourism, may be given priority.

How to apply

You must first apply for other federal support measures such as the Canada Emergency Business Account benefit, the Wage Subsidy benefit and the Commercial Rent assistance for small businesses, among others.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Summary

In Quebec, the RRRF is being delivered by Canada Economic Development (CED). It offers:

Financial support for vulnerable businesses and NPOs ineligible for measures already in place and facing cashflow problems.
The Government of Canada, through CED for Quebec Regions, is planning to grant up to $50 million to the PME MTL network.
Support for businesses and organizations by giving them key access to capital in rural communities served by Sociétés d'aide au développement des collectivités (SADCs) and Centres d'aide aux entreprises (CAEs).

Who is eligible

Profile 1

Businesses with revenues of $250,000 and more in the following industries:

Manufacturing
Value-added services (featuring distinctive know-how or innovative services, e.g., digital content production, technology, artificial intelligence, contribution to technology transition or the green economy)
Tourism businesses requiring over $40,000 in funding
High-potential start-ups in the manufacturing and value-added services sectors
Not-for-profit economic organizations active in the above industries or supporting businesses in these industries

Profile 2

Businesses with revenues of less than $250,000 in the manufacturing and value-added service sectors
Startups (other than in the manufacturing and value-added services sectors)
Tourism industry businesses requiring funding of less than $40,000
Retail businesses, local services, professional and health services (e.g., restaurants, convenience stores, hair salons, funeral homes, cleaners, car dealerships, big box stores, accountants, lawyers, dentists, real estate)
Social economy enterprises (all sectors)
Agriculture and fisheries (harvesting and catching)
Artisanal production and specialty local food products
Businesses with less than $250,000 in sales (all other sectors)
Self-employed workers and sole proprietorships (all sectors)

How to apply

Call 1-800-561-0633 to express interest. An implementation partner will contact you with next steps.

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

Summary

In order to ensure maximum benefit and impact for Northern businesses and communities, CanNor will distribute its RRRF funding in three ways:

Increasing the level of funding available for immediate relief through CanNor’s Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF)
Targeted relief and stabilization measures for key sectors (in recognition of the particularly severe impacts of COVID-19 on certain key sectors of the northern economy such as tourism, the mining supply chain, fisheries and others)
Offering a greater range of financing options to Northern SMEs through support to the Community Futures Network (more information on this particular funding stream will be available soon).

Who is eligible

CanNor is expanding eligibility for the program to all Northern businesses with 100 employees or less. SMEs requiring immediate financial support are encouraged to apply by visiting the Northern Business Relief Fund page today.
For further information on this funding stream, or to determine whether your business or organization qualifies, please contact a CanNor office.

How to apply

Contact a regional office

Nunavut Regional Office Tel: 867-975-3757 E-mail: cannor.ecdevnu-devecnu.cannor@canada.ca
Northwest Territories Regional Office Tel: 867-444-0659 E-mail: cannor.ecdevnwt-devecnwt.cannor@canada.ca
Yukon Regional Office Tel: 867-335-0863 E-mail: cannor.ytinfo.cannor@canada.ca

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Summary

The RRRF seeks to support southern Ontario SMEs to address gaps in or supplement other federal relief measures, as well as complement those provided by other levels of government.
In particular, the RRRF seeks to provide support to southern Ontario SMEs that do not qualify for, or have been rejected from, current government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures.
If there is significant demand for the funding available, priority may be given to SMEs that are significant employers in communities and critical industries, such as: manufacturing, technology, and those supporting the government’s commitment to inclusive growth

Two funding options are available to all eligible applicants applying to the RRRF through FedDev Ontario:

Funding option 1

Up to a $40,000 conditionally repayable contribution (interest-free loan)

Funding option 2

Up to a $500,000 unconditionally repayable contribution (interest-free loan)

Who is eligible

Eligibility is reserved for Canadian or provincially incorporated business, co-operative or an Indigenous-owned business located in southern Ontario with one to 499 full-time equivalent employees that are:

Facing funding pressures with fixed operating costs, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Planning to continue to operate the business or resume operations; and
Was a viable business before the COVID-19 pandemic.

SME funding support for fixed operating costs, where business revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic include:

Capital lease payments for existing equipment and machinery;
Salaries and benefits will only be considered for support if the business is not eligible or declined support from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the NRC-IRAP- Innovation Assistance Program for pre-revenue businesses;
Property taxes;
Utilities;
Bank charges and interest payments;
Professional fees;
Monthly insurance payments;
Rent;
Other fixed operating costs applicable to the applicant.

How to apply

SMEs will have had to have already applied to other government of Canada emergency credit relief measures, for which they are eligible, including:

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA);
Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Co-Lending, and Export Development Corporation (EDC) Loan Guarantee programs;
BDC COVID-19 Working Capital loans; as well as,
Other targeted and sector-specific COVID-19 programs (e.g., funding for Indigenous Entrepreneurs, Farm Credit Canada).
Applications for funding are accepted on an ongoing basis with no submission deadlines, until the fund is fully committed.
FedDev Ontario has a single-phase RRRF application process using a single RRRF application for funding.
Refer to the application guide for instructions on how to complete the RRRF application for funding.
Applicants are encouraged to review the application guide in conjunction with these guidelines.
One application for funding per applicant is permitted. Multiple and concurrent applications from the same applicant will not be considered.

Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)

Summary

A total of $49.5 million has been allocated in support of Northern Ontario businesses and organizations, and will be allocated through two funding streams.
Regional economy stream in Northern Ontario
FedNor is delivering $24 million of this RRRF investment through its Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program.
Maximum funding will not normally exceed $250,000.
Funding will be based on need as presented by a six-month cost forecast; the requested amounts will be vetted for reasonableness against the applicant’s historical expenses as presented in financial statements.
Community Futures stream in Northern Ontario
FedNor is partnering with Northern Ontario’s 24 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) to deliver $25.5 million in RRRF support directly to small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural areas. This includes sole proprietorships or partnerships not covered under the Regional Economy stream. Each CFDC is managing its own application and selection process in accordance with the parameters set out in the RRRF, and will determine ultimate funding recipients in accordance with its own policies and procedures.

Who is eligible

Businesses such as incorporated companies, corporations or co-operatives, or Indigenous organizations such as Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement owned businesses, that:

Are located or operating in Northern Ontario;
Do not qualify or have been rejected from current government of Canada COVID-19 relief or demonstrate the need for incremental support;
Employ between one and 499 individuals on a full-time basis in Canada; and
Are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not-for profit organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce, Industry or Sector Associations, and Tourism organizations:

Based in Northern Ontario and/or offer support to businesses located in Northern Ontario; and
Carry out commercial activities, and that are positioned to support SMEs regarding COVID-19.

Eligible costs (retroactive to March 15, 2020) include, but are not limited to the following:

Commercial rent /mortgage
Rent or lease of equipment and machinery;
Salaries and benefits;
Property taxes;
Utilities;
Cleaning supplies;
Additional safety measures;
Bank interest/charges and loan repayments;
Office supplies;
Vehicle operating expenses;
Professional fees;
Insurances, and
Other fixed overhead costs and one-time stabilization expenditures.

How to apply

Only one application per SME or organization is permitted under the initiative.
Applicants are eligible to receive up to 100 percent of eligible bridge support costs.
All assistance to SMEs is in the form of repayable or conditionally-repayable contributions.
All assistance to not-for-profit organizations is in the form of non-repayable contributions.
Total government assistance will be limited to 100 percent of eligible costs. (i.e. if you are asking FedNor to support your liquidity costs at 100%, you cannot receive funding for the same costs from another government organization)
A continuous intake of applications will be accepted from the launch of the program on May 13, 2020. Once the funds are allocated, applications will no longer be accepted.
The application for financial assistance package, including required forms, is available at: http://fednor.gc.ca/eic/site/fednor-fednor.nsf/eng/h_fn04594.html.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

Summary

The Fund aims to help western Canadian businesses cope with the financial hardship resulting from COVID-19.
Under the RRRF, eligible businesses can receive a conditionally repayable contribution up to $40,000.
The contribution amount will be the lesser of the applicant's estimated total operating balance between April 1, 2020, and September 30, 2020 or $40,000.

The following repayment terms will apply:

Repayment of 75 percent, or up to $30,000, of the contribution amount, on or before December 31, 2022, will result in the forgiveness of 25 percent, or up to $10,000 of the total contribution
No scheduled monthly repayments are required until after December 31, 2022
If 75 percent of the contribution amount is not repaid by December 31, 2022, the balance owing will be converted to an additional three-year term repayable contribution (with a fixed monthly repayment schedule), beginning January 2023, with no forgivable portion
The full balance of the contribution amount must be repaid no later than December 31, 2025

Who is eligible

Businesses must meet the following mandatory criteria:

Have fewer than 500 full-time employees
Are located in Western Canada (defined as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba)
Are not located in an area serviced by a Community Futures (CF) office
Are not eligible for the RRRF – Community Futures Stream
Have applied and were declined for funding from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) or were not eligible for CEBA funding
Were operational as of March 1, 2020
Have suffered financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Intend to continue operations in Western Canada

Examples of business that are eligible to apply to the RRRF:

Pre-revenue firms (e.g., a company that has not had any sales to date)
Businesses that do not have salaried employees (e.g., a company with a workforce of contract employees)
Businesses with no payroll that do pay their owners a salary (e.g., a company that pays its owners through dividends)

Examples of businesses that are not eligible to apply to the RRRF:

Sole proprietorships
Not-for-profit organizations

How to apply

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will be assessed as they are received. The RRRF will close once it successfully distributes funds to eligible businesses across Western Canada.
Refer to the online application guide for instructions
Applications cannot be started and saved, so must be completed in one session. Incomplete applications will not be assessed and will be considered ineligible for funding.
Businesses are limited to the submission of one application for RRRF.

Funding to support small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses

Announced on April 18, 2020

Summary

$117 million to help small and community-owned Indigenous businesses
$16 million for Indigenous businesses in the tourism sector, which supports thousands of jobs across the country

The funding will allow for interest-free loans, as well as non-repayable contributions, to help Indigenous businesses unable to access the government’s existing COVID-19 support measures.

Additional funding will help Aboriginal Financial Institutions cover operational expenses, and help the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association increase its operational capacity.

Who is eligible

The program is intended to address a business’s most immediate liquidity needs. An Indigenous-owned business that has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis will have to pass an assessment tailored to the realities of an Indigenous business.

The maximum loan amount is $30,000 per business. Additional support can be coordinated with other measures and programs, including current NACCA programs.

How to apply

The business can apply to an AFI in the region for a maximum non-repayable contribution of $10,000. The AFI will assess the impact of the pandemic on the businesses on a case-by-case basis. It will also assess any other support the business has received.

Emergency Processing Fund (EPF)

Announced on June 12, 2020

Available now: Yes (Application deadline July 31 or until funds are exhausted)

Summary

The funds will help businesses increase Canada’s food supply capacity, and ensure safety of workers during the pandemic. The EPF will provide up to $5 million per recipient in non-repayable funding for emergency COVID-19 response activities and/or repayable funding for strategic investments.

The program will prioritize projects based on two objectives:

Emergency COVID-19 response to assist companies to implement changes required by COVID-19 to ensure the health and safety of workers. This funding will assist with:
- plant retrofits or adjustments to existing operations to accommodate changes to processes and production; and
- increasing capacity for herd management.
Strategic investments to assist companies to improve, automate, and modernize facilities needed to increase Canada’s food supply capacity.

Who is eligible

Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, cooperatives, and indigenous groups. Activities can be retroactive to March 15, 2020 and must be completed by September 30, 2020

How to apply

Please visit the website for more information

Provincial and Territorial Measures

Alberta

Food, Farming and Forestry Challenge

Announced on June 1, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is accepting applications for the Food, Farming, and Forestry Challenge. This funding opportunity aims to accelerate innovation in support of long-term competitiveness and stimulate growth in the critically important agriculture, agri-food, and forestry sectors.

Projects that result from this challenge will lead to job creation, attract local and international investments and open up new markets.

A total of $40 million will come from the TIER Fund—a key part of Alberta’s climate response, funded by industry—to support the challenge. These investments will be used to aid recovery, strengthen existing industries and help create new opportunities from small and medium enterprises across these sectors. ERA will fund up to $5 million per project and up to 50 percent of total project costs.

The $40 million will help farmers, ranchers, industry, and innovators navigate the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing market implications. These innovations will lead to positive impacts, such as lower production and processing costs for food and fibre and natural solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Who is eligible

More details are available at https://eralberta.ca/

How to apply

More details are available at https://eralberta.ca/

Employee training supports for agri-businesses

Announced on May 08, 2020

Available now: No (will open in the coming weeks)

Summary

In response to COVID-19, the government of Alberta has created a new Agriculture Training Support Program to help employers in the food supply chain provide necessary training to new Alberta employees.

The program is intended to offset costs for COVID-19 safety and training, including the costs for personal protective equipment and to remove any barriers to getting Albertans safely working.

The maximum government contribution under the program is $2,000 per new employee, up to a maximum of $50,000 per employer. Grants will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis until available program funding is fully allocated.

In addition, about $1 million in funding will be targeted for meat processors to provide support for new hires to undertake meat-cutting training.

Who is eligible

More details to follow

How to apply

Application portal can be found here (Not yet open for application)

More details to follow

Utility payment deferral

Announced on March 28, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Albertans who are experiencing financial hardship directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic can work with their utility company to defer electricity and natural gas bills until June 18, 2020, without any late fees or added interest payments.

In addition, no Albertan can be cut off from these services or see their services reduced during this period.

Details

Payments will be required at the end of the deferral period, but the entire amount accrued will not be required at once. In addition to the agreed-upon repayment plan, consumers may:

make additional payments toward their balance
pay one month and defer the next during the period between March 18-June 18
make changes or amendments to a the payment schedule, including automatic payments

Who is eligible

Residential, farm, and small commercial customers:

Electricity consumers with less than 250,000 kilowatt hours of consumption per year.
Natural gas consumers with less than 2500 gigajoules of consumption per year.

How to apply

Contact your natural gas or electricity provider directly.

You can sign up for the deferral at any time; however, the deferral ends on June 19, 2020. After this date, the agreed-upon repayment plan will be implemented.

Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) premiums deferral for private sector businesses

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

All private sector employers will have their WCB premiums deferred until early 2021. For small and medium-sized businesses, the government will cover half of the premium when it is due. This represents a cost of $350 million to the government.

Details

The Alberta government will waive 50 percent of the 2020 WCB premium for small and medium-sized businesses when the WCB resumes invoicing 2021. This will save businesses $350 million. No assistance will be provided to the large employers. However, their 2020 WCB premium payments are also deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due. Employers that have already paid their WCB premiums for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit. All cheques will be sent out by April 6 and no action or call for reimbursement is required.

Who is eligible

Private sector businesses of all sizes.

How to apply

The measure will be automatically applied.

Six-month education property tax and non-residential property tax deferral for businesses

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

This is estimated to represent savings of $458 million for businesses. The Alberta government expects municipalities to set education property tax rates as they normally would, but defer collection. Deferred amounts will be repaid in future tax years.

Details

Businesses are given six months to pay non-residential education property tax. The intention is to leave employers with $458 million cash in hand to help them pay employees and continue operations. Municipalities are expected to set education property tax rates as they normally would, but defer collection. The deferred amounts will be repaid in future tax years.

Who is eligible

All businesses

How to apply

Applied automatically by the provincial government.

Education property tax freeze

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Alberta government will immediately cancel the 2020 budget measure that provided for a 3.4% population and inflation adjustment to the property tax, and will freeze education property taxes at last year’s level. This results in approximately $87 million in savings for Alberta households and businesses in 2020-21.

Details

The government had intended to increase the education property tax rates by 3.4%, which will no longer happen this year.

This incentive is estimated to save homeowners $55 million and businesses $32 million.

Who is eligible

All businesses.

How to apply

Applies automatically.

Extended income tax payments

Announced on March 19, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of Alberta will defer the collection of corporate income tax balances and instalment payments until August 31, 2020.

Details

The Government of Alberta has announced that it will defer the collection of corporate income tax balances and instalment payments that are due after March 18, until August 31, 2020.

Tourism levy deferral

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Hotels and other lodging providers can delay paying the tourism levy until August 31, 2020, for amounts that become due to government on or after March 27, 2020. Payments deferred until August 31, 2020, will not be subject to penalties or interest.

Who is eligible

Hotels and other lodging providers.

How to apply

Still file as required; defer making payments until August.

Banks and credit unions

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Credit unions

Business members should contact their credit union directly to work out a plan for their personal situation. Small business owners who need relief from loan payments should contact their credit union directly to work out a plan for their personal situation.

ATB Financial

ATB small business customers can:

apply for a payment deferral on loans and lines of credit for up to six months
access additional working capital

Other ATB business and agriculture customers can access support on a one-on-one basis.

Note: Further solutions are being considered at this time.

Who is eligible

Small business customers.

How to apply

Contact your credit union or ATB directly.

British Columbia

Wholesale pricing model for liquor licenses

Announced on June 16, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Province has approved a temporary wholesale pricing model that will allow liquor licensees to purchase beer, wine and spirits at reduced cost.

This measure will provide much-needed financial support for businesses like restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences. It will be in place from the end of July 2020 until March 31, 2021, when the program will be reviewed.

Who is eligible

Businesses in BC

How to apply

The application form is available on the website.

Buy BC E-commerce

Announced on May 12, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The government of BC has committed $300,000 to Buy BC E-commerce activities to support the immediate needs of the sector as a result of COVID-19. The program can provide up to $5,000 per applicant on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding has been fully allocated.

The e-commerce funding stream is available to agri-businesses that are not currently receiving Buy BC funding.

The project implementation period is June 8, 2020–September 30, 2020. All projects must be completed by September 30, 2020.

Who is eligible

Eligible applicants must:

Be licensed to do business in BC and have a valid BC business number
Have at least two years of business revenues
Be growing or processing one or more agricultural or food products in BC
Use raw materials from BC for processing products when they are available in enough quantities
Not be contracted to receive Buy BC cost-shared funding from IAF this fiscal year

How to apply

The application window (link) will open on May 15 at 9am PDT and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis until May 29 at 4:30pm PDT or until the funding is fully subscribed at which point the application window will close.

If you have an active project under the Buy BC Partnership Program please speak with your program coordinator about incorporating e-commerce activities into your current project. Businesses with active Buy BC logo licenses, including those who have received Buy BC funding in previous fiscal years, are eligible for e-commerce funding.

If your business does not have a Buy BC logo license, we have streamlined the process for you to acquire one. You will be prompted to fill out licensing application questions in the same form as the funding request when the application window opens.

Small Business Recovery (SBR) Consulting Rebate

Announced on April 8, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The SBR Consulting Rebate will reimburse small and medium-sized businesses (operators) in Northern Development’s service region for contracted consulting services. A rebate of up to 85%, to a yearly maximum of $25,000, can be recovered for the cost of hiring a consultant to assist with business efforts.

Details

Eligible consulting projects:

Business planning and strategic planning
Operations/operational efficiency/process improvement or changes (transition to digital platforms)
Cash flow and financial management system
Inventory management
Business continuity planning and emergency response planning
Market development and e-commerce development
Business coaching
Human resource management
Quality and safety management
Marketing strategies, brand development/evolution, and web development

This is a time-sensitive rebate and projects will be funded until the annual budget is committed.

Who is eligible

Company must be located/headquartered in Northern Development’s region (Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet, Northeast, Northwest, and Prince George). See Link
Small and medium-sized businesses impacted by the economic downturn
Incorporated businesses or sole proprietorships that have been established for two or more years, with more than $30,000 in annual revenues
Operating businesses with revenue
Privately owned
Less than 500 employees
Revenues less than $100 million
First Nations businesses in eligible industries
First Nations development corporations
Community contribution companies
Applicants must apply and receive notification of approval prior to beginning the project

How to apply

The application form is available on the website.

Defer Employment Health Tax (EHT) Payments

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Effective immediately, businesses with a payroll of over $500,000 can defer their EHT payments until September 30, 2020. Businesses with a payroll under this threshold are already exempt from the tax.

School tax

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Business and light and major industry property classes benefit from the reduction of school tax by 50%. This will provide $500 million in immediate relief.

Long-term stimulus funding

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: No

Summary

Additional stimulus funding has been announced in the amount of $1.5 billion to help particularly sensitive areas of the economy such as tourism, hospitality, and culture. The detailed stimulus plan is currently being developed.

Tax support for businesses

Announced on March 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Details

Effective immediately, many provincial tax filing and payment deadlines are deferred to September 30, 2020.
Effective immediately, businesses with a payroll over $500,000 can defer their employer health tax (EHT) payments until September 30, 2020. Businesses with a payroll under this threshold are already exempt from the tax.
Payments for provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax, carbon tax, motor fuel tax, and tobacco tax are also deferred until September 30, 2020.
The scheduled April 1 increase to the carbon tax rate and application of PST to e-commerce transactions and sweetened and carbonated drinks will be delayed.
Business and light and major industry property classes will see their school tax cut in half. This will provide $500 million in immediate relief for businesses that own their property and allow commercial landlords to immediately pass savings on to their tenants in triple-net leases.

Manitoba

The Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP)

Announced on April 22, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP) is available to any of the approximately 120,000 businesses in the province that have failed to qualify for the various federal government assistance programs and wage subsidies created to cushion the negative business impacts of COVID-19.

The province will advance each eligible business a non-interest-bearing, forgivable MGPP loan of $6,000, to a total of up to $120 million. The loan will be forgiven on Dec. 31, 2020, if the recipient attests at that time that the business has not received any major non-repayable COVID-19 federal supports, such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the Canada Emergency Business Account, as well as sector-specific federal grant programs specifically developed in response to the pandemic. If the applicant has received benefits under a federal COVID-19 program, then the loan will be added to the recipient’s 2020 tax bill.

Who is eligible

Businesses must:

have been operational on March 20, 2020, the date the Manitoba government declared a province-wide state of emergency under The Emergency Measures Act because of COVID-19
have temporarily ceased or curtailed operations as a result of a COVID-19 public health order and have been economically harmed by the health order
be registered and in good standing with the Manitoba Business and Corporate Registry
have not qualified for federal government COVID-19 grant support
have an email address and a bank account

How to apply

Contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744

Tax-filing extension for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Announced on March 22, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The province will extend the April and May filing deadlines for SMEs with monthly remittances of less than $10,000. Businesses will have up to two additional months to remit retail sales and payroll taxes. The government will also work with businesses regarding flexible payment options that are above the $10,000 cap.

Details

The Government of Manitoba is providing tax relief to businesses hit by the economic downturn from COVID-19 by extending the deadline to submit provincial taxes.

Retail sales tax (RST) returns for small and medium-sized businesses with monthly RST remittances of no more than $10,000 per month that would normally be due on April 20 and May 20 will now be due on June 22, 2020.
Businesses that file on a quarterly basis that have a due date of April 20, 2020, will now have the due date extended to June 22, 2020.
Businesses that qualify for the above filing extension that were not able to file and remit their February sales tax return by the March 20 due date will not be assessed a late filing penalty and interest will not be applied until after June 22, 2020.
Interest will continue to apply on all outstanding tax debts established prior to the March remittance deadlines.
Businesses will still receive paper returns in the mail or web notice reminders by email for return periods in March and April.

Who is eligible

Small and medium-sized enterprises.

How to apply

Contact the Winnipeg office (toll-free in Manitoba: 1-800-782-0318, fax (204) 948-2087, e-mail: MBTax@gov.mb.ca) or the Westman Regional office (Brandon, MB, R7A 6C2, telephone: (204) 945-5603, fax (204) 726-6763).

New Brunswick

Business property taxes

Announced on March 20, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Though business property taxes must be paid by May 31, 2020, late penalties will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to see whether the penalty can be waived in recognition of undue financial challenges, such as having to close a business due to COVID-19.

Who is eligible

Businesses are approved on a case-by-case basis.

WSNB premium deferral

Announced on March 20, 2020

Summary

WorkSafeNB announced that assessment premiums related to employer payrolls for March, April, and May will be deferred for three months without interest charges.

Who is eligible

All types of businesses are eligible, except: residential and commercial real estate, beverage rooms and taverns, or any venture of a questionable ethical or legal nature.

Support for small business

Announced on March 20, 2020

Summary

The Government of New Brunswick will provide working capital to support small businesses. Loans will help companies respond to challenges associated with COVID-19.

Loans will be up to $100,000.

Who is eligible

Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) will work with a trusted partner to administer the application process.
More details on the application process to be announced.

How to apply

More details on the application process to be announced.

Deferring interest and principal payments on existing loans

Announced on March 24, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

As an immediate measure, and on a case-by-case basis, the Government of New Brunswick will defer loan and interest repayments for up to six months on existing provincial loans.

This support will enable businesses to have immediate relief if they are experiencing difficulties as a result of COVID-19.

Who is eligible

Assistance is available, on a case-by-case basis, to any business that has a loan with an existing Government of New Brunswick department.

How to apply

The deferral can be requested by contacting the department that issued the loan.

Needed working capital for mid-sized to large employers

Announced on March 24, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) will make available support medium-sized to large employers.

Upon request, ONB will also provide working capital in excess of $100,000 to help large employers manage the impacts of COVID-19 on their operations.

Who is eligible

Large employers will be able to apply for this assistance directly from Opportunities New Brunswick. More details on the application process to be announced.

How to apply

More details on the application process to be announced.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Tourism and Hospitality Support Program

Announced on May 25, 2020

Summary

Under the Tourism and Hospitality Support Program, eligible small and medium-sized tourism operators will be able to apply for a one-time, non-repayable working capital contribution of either $5,000 or $10,000, depending on gross sales.

The support offered by this short-term program will help enable operators to cover some of their business costs. It will provide immediate financial relief to operators who are dealing with substantial losses and continued fixed operating costs, as many in the industry prepare to reopen.

Who is eligible

Applicants include tourism and hospitality operators who:

Are engaged in commercial operations that have experienced a loss of sales during March to May 2020 and/or forecasts for substantial loss of sales for June to December 2020 and have a reasonable plan to continue operations in 2020 and/or 2021.
Are corporations and sole proprietors/partnerships that are Newfoundland and Labrador-owned and -operated.
Prior to March 16, 2020, were in a financial position to operate in 2020.
For the full list of eligibility criteria, visit the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation website.

How to apply

Applications will be available starting Monday, June 8; visit the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation then. For questions, write to: THSP@gov.nl.ca

Please visit the website to apply

Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program (PAAP)

Announced on March 24, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

This program provides non-repayable funding ranging from $20,000 to $75,000 per business, with eligibility levels based on annual gross sales.

Who is eligible

The PAAP program aims to assist commercial farmers, thus eligible for-profit applicants must have reported a minimum of $15,000 in gross sales of agricultural products/services to the Canada Revenue Agency in any one of the last three years.

Funding is available to processors using locally grown or raised agricultural products who can demonstrate a minimum of $15,000 in gross sales of agricultural products.

How to apply

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by e-mail to PAAP@gov.nl.ca.
For more information: 709-637-2096 or 709-637-2077

Please visit the website for more info

Fuel Tax Exemption Permits deadline extended

Announced on March 30, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The expiry date for Fuel Tax Exemption Permits, which allows permit holders to purchase tax-exempt marked gasoline and light fuel oil, was set to expire on March 31, 2020. It has been extended to June 30, 2020.

This exemption extension will ensure permit holders (primarily fishers) are not negatively affected by any inability to apply for a permit extension or for processing delays resulting from COVID-19.

Who is eligible

N/A

How to apply

No application required.

Please visit the website for more info.

Extension of fish-processing and fish-buyer licences

Announced on March 24, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Extension of expiry of fish-processing and fish-buyer licences from March 31, 2020, to August 31, 2020.

Who is eligible

Current holders of these licences.

How to apply

No application required

Please visit the website for more info

Support for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19— Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Announced on May 6, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

To further support businesses impacted by COVID-19, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation announced provincial actions for eligible businesses.

Current deferral of loan payments, under the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation’s Business Investment Fund, has been increased to six months. This measure sees an additional three months added to the original three month deferral action announced on March 18, 2020, which started with April payments.
The hiring eligibility for commercial Research and Development (R&D) projects will be temporarily increased. Specifically, salary support for up to six positions may be considered for eligible commercial R&D projects. The positions may include existing employees, new or a combination of both. This temporary policy pertains to applications approved between April 1 and September 30, 2020.
Contribution levels have been temporarily increased for eligible project applications under R&D commercial and business development support. Eligible costs will now be covered up to 75 percent, up from 50 percent, for applications approved between April 1 and September 30, 2020.

Who is eligible

N/A

How to apply

No application required.

Nova Scotia

Retail and commercial rent deferral incentive

Announced on March 30, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Retail and commercial landlords are encouraged to defer lease payments for the next three months from tenant businesses forced to close due to the public health order.
Landlords are not permitted to change locks or seize the property of businesses that cannot pay rent, if the business closed due to the COVID-19 public health orders.

Who is eligible

Additional details on website.

Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

Announced on March 20, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Alterations to the existing program include:

Deferring principal and interest payments until June 30, 2020.
Enhancing the program to make it easier for businesses to access credit up to $500,000.

Loans may be granted for a term of up to 10 years. The maximum guarantee supplied by the Province of Nova Scotia will be 90 percent of the value of all term loans. The guarantee will remain at 75 percent on lines of credit but a 90 percent guarantee may be available to those that qualify under special financing streams.

Who is eligible

All types of businesses are eligible, except: residential and commercial real estate, beverage rooms and taverns, or any venture of a questionable ethical or legal nature.

How to apply

Applications are processed by local credit unions. Each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and is based on the proposed business plan, and the viability and character of the business.

Deferral of government payments

Announced on March 20, 2020

Summary

The provincial government has earmarked $161 million to address cash flow issues and access to credit for small and medium-sized businesses in Nova Scotia, including funding for the Loan Guarantee Program.

Additional measures include:

All government loans, including those under the Farm Loan Board, Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Business Fund, Municipal Finance Corp., and Housing Nova Scotia.
Small business fees, including business renewal fees and workers’ compensation premiums (a list of fees will be posted online next week).
Small businesses that do business with the government will be paid within five days instead of the standard 30 days.
$15 million provided as incentive to internet providers to speed up projects that will allow greater access for employees who need to work from home.

Ontario

Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative

June 11, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, is helping small businesses reach more customers through the Digital Main Street platform. This is a $57-million program that will help up to 22,900 Ontario businesses create and enhance their online presence and generate jobs for more than 1,400 students.

Through the initiative, businesses will be able to take advantage of three new programs to support their digital transformation:

shopHERE, powered by Google, will hire highly skilled and trained students to build and support the launch of online stores for businesses that previously did not have the capacity to do so themselves. The goal is to help small businesses compete and grow in a world that is increasingly online, and help them recover as quickly as possible following COVID-19.
The Digital Main Street grant will help main street small businesses be more effective digitally. Through a $2,500 grant administered by the Ontario BIA Association, small businesses will be able to adopt new technologies and embrace digital marketing. Municipalities, chambers of commerce, and business improvement areas (BIAs) can apply for a Digital Service Squad grant, which will allow them to establish teams to provide personalized, one-on-one support.
Future-Proofing Main Street will provide specialized and in-depth digital transformation services and support to help existing main-street firms adapt to changes in their sector and thrive in the new economy. By using teams of digital marketing professionals and talented students, these firms will be able to create new online business models, develop and implement digital and e-commerce marketing strategies, and maximize digital tools, platforms, and content.

Who is eligible

Small businesses in Ontario

How to apply

Visit the website for more information

Agri-Food Open for E-Business targeted intake

Announced on April 28, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The governments of Canada and Ontario are supporting the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors to capture online e-business opportunities that will help create new, expanded or enhanced markets and open new retail channels to help generate new revenue streams for future growth.
The Agri-Food Open for E-Business targeted intake will help businesses/organizations quickly expand their marketing channels and respond to new market challenges, increase online sales in the sector and provide consumers with access to more local food.
This targeted application intake features two funding streams:
- Stream 1: Bring Your Business Online: Provides a grant of up to $5,000 to eligible organizations/businesses to help establish an online presence.
- Stream 2: Develop Online Business Opportunities: Provides cost-share funding for up to 90 percent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 to develop e-business opportunities on a larger scale.

Who is eligible

An applicant must:
- be involved in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors;
- be in compliance with all requirements of law and agree to remain in compliance for the duration of the project;
- be a legal entity capable of entering into an agreement with the Province of Ontario;
- provide a Canada Revenue Agency business number as part of the application process; and
- be engaged in the project and be contributing cash towards the project.
In order to apply, the applicant must agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agri-Food Open for E-Business targeted intake and have the authorized signing officer of the applicant sign and date the application form, including agreeing to the terms and conditions outlined in the application declaration (see respective section below).

How to apply

Applicants can submit a completed application using the electronic application form with all supporting documentation by email to agpartnership@ontario.ca.

If you submit an application by email, but do not receive an acknowledgement within three business days, contact OMAFRA at: 1-877-424-1300.

Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program—Provincially Licensed Meat Processors

Announced on May 8, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The governments of Canada and Ontario are helping agri-food businesses address new and immediate health and safety issues directly related to COVID-19 impacts. Through the partnership, the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program will provide funding for provincially licensed meat processors to implement COVID-19 measures to maintain a safe workplace. Support is also available for employees who require mandatory isolation, worksite mobility and transportation that is in line with public health guidelines.

This program is for projects to implement occupational health and safety measures related to COVID-19 in provincially licensed meat plants

Available cost share:

75 percent, up to a maximum of $20,000 per business

Projects must be implemented and completed no later than November 30, 2020, and abide by all terms and conditions set out by the province. This includes all those set out in the application form and program guidelines.

Who is eligible

To apply, you must

Read, understand and agree to abide by all requirements set out in the terms and conditions, as well as all requirements given in this project category description
Be a provincially licensed meat processor (abattoir and/or freestanding meat plant)
Be in compliance with all requirements of law and agree to remain in compliance with all requirements of law for the duration of the project
Provide a Canada Revenue Agency business number as part of the application process, if applicable

Additional eligibility criteria for eligible activities and expenses for projects can be found in the link

How to apply

Applicants can submit a completed application using the electronic application form with all supporting documentation by email to agpartnership@ontario.ca.

The electronic application form is available here.

Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program—Producers

Announced on May 14, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The governments of Canada and Ontario are helping agri-food businesses address new and immediate health and safety issues directly related to COVID-19 impacts.

Project category 1: For projects to implement occupational health and safety measures related to COVID-19 on farms with intensive use of labour

Project Ccategory 2: For projects to address workforce access and accommodations as a result of an on-farm outbreak of COVID-19

Available cost share

70 percent, up to a maximum of $7,500 per project
A limit of one project per eligible business can be funded under the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program for Producers
A limit of one project per farm property can be funded under the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program for Producers

Projects must be implemented and completed no later than November 30, 2020, and abide by all terms and conditions set out by the province. This includes all those set out in the application form and program guidelines.

Who is eligible

To apply, you must:

Read, understand and agree to abide by all requirements set out in the terms and conditions, as well as all requirements given in this project category description
Be an established farm business that is a legal entity and produces agricultural commodities in Ontario under a valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN), or an allowable exemption. The farm business must involve intensive use of labour where employees may operate within close proximity of one another, or where the operator is responsible for accommodating workers on or off-site.
Be in compliance with all requirements of the law and remain in compliance for the duration of the project.

Additional eligibility criteria for eligible activities and expenses for project category 1 and 2 can be found in the link here

How to apply

Applicants can submit a completed application using the electronic application form with all supporting documentation by email to agpartnership@ontario.ca.

The electronic application form for project category 1 is available here.

The electronic application form for project category 2 is available here.

Deferral of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments

Announced on March 25, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Employers can defer payments to WSIB for up to six months.

Details

All employers covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the financial relief package. Schedule 1 employers with premiums owed to the WSIB will be allowed to defer reporting and payments until August 31, 2020. The deferral will also apply to Schedule 2 businesses that pay WSIB for the cost related to their workplace injury and illness claims.

In addition, no interest will be accrued on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this six-month deferral period.

Who is eligible

Businesses that report and pay monthly, quarterly, or annually based on their insurable earnings are eligible for this deferral.

How to apply

All employers covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible. Employers do not need to apply to receive the financial relief.

Deferral of provincially administered taxes

Announced on March 25, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

A five-month interest- and penalty-free period has been introduced with respect to payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes for Ontario businesses unable to file or remit select provincial taxes on time due to COVID-19-related circumstances. This relief measure is estimated to be worth $6 billion for Ontario businesses.

Details

Tax-filing and remittance deadlines will remain the same. However, beginning April 1, 2020, penalties and interest will not apply to Ontario businesses that miss any filing or remittance deadlines under select provincial taxes. This will continue for a period of five months.

The tax credit would be available for expenditures in excess of $50,000 and up to a limit of $500,000 for qualifying investments that become available for use by a Canadian-controlled private corporation in the taxation year.

Provincial taxes included in the relief period include:

Employer Health Tax
Tobacco Tax
Fuel Tax
Gas Tax
Beer, Wine & Spirits Tax
Mining Tax
Insurance Premium Tax
International Fuel Tax Agreement
Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefits Plans
Race Tracks Tax

The relief period does not include business accounts with outstanding taxes, or interest or penalties owing from previous periods. Existing debt from before the relief period will continue to accrue interest.

The government is also temporarily suspending audit interactions with most businesses for the month of April 2020.

Who is eligible

Ontario businesses that currently remit the above provincial taxes.

How to apply

Relief is automatic. If a business is unable to file its return or remittance during the relief period, it does not need to contact or notify the Ministry of Finance. Penalties and interest will be waived automatically for all late returns or remittances by Ontario businesses during the relief period.

New regional opportunities investment tax credit

Announced on March 25, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

A 10% refundable corporate income tax credit will be available to eligible businesses that construct, renovate, or acquire qualifying commercial and industrial buildings in designated regions of the province.

Details

Qualifying investments would be eligible expenditures for capital property included in Class 1 and Class 6 for the purposes of calculating capital cost allowance. Qualifying investments would include expenditures for constructing, renovating, or acquiring eligible commercial and industrial buildings and other assets.

Who is eligible

A Canadian-controlled private corporation that makes qualifying investments that become available for use on or after March 25, 2020, in specified regions of Ontario would be eligible for the tax credit.

Areas of the province where investments would be eligible are:

City of Kawartha Lakes
County of Bruce
County of Elgin together with the City of St. Thomas
County of Essex together with the City of Windsor and Township of Pelee
County of Frontenac together with the City of Kingston
County of Grey
County of Haliburton
County of Hastings together with the City of Belleville and City of Quinte West
County of Huron
County of Lambton
County of Lanark together with the Town of Smiths Falls
County of Lennox and Addington
County of Middlesex together with the City of London
County of Northumberland
County of Oxford
County of Perth together with the City of Stratford and the Town of St. Marys
County of Peterborough together with the City of Peterborough
County of Prince Edward
County of Renfrew together with the City of Pembroke
District of Algoma
District of Cochrane
District of Kenora
District of Manitoulin
District of Muskoka
District of Nipissing
District of Parry Sound
District of Rainy River
District of Sudbury together with the City of Greater Sudbury
District of Thunder Bay
District of Timiskaming
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville together with the City of Brockville, the Town of Gananoque, and the Townof Prescott
United Counties of Prescott and Russell
United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry together with the City of Cornwall

How to apply

Annual income tax return

Temporary increase in Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption

Announced on March 25, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

This relief measure involves increasing the EHT exemption from $490,000 to $1 million for 2020. This represents a tax savings totalling approximately $355 million for approximately 57,000 employers.

Details

Employer Health Tax (EHT) is a payroll tax on remuneration paid to employees and former employees. The Ontario government has temporarily increased the EHT exemption for 2020 from $490,000 to $1 million due to the COVID‑19 crisis. The exemption will return to the previous amount, $490,000, on January 1, 2021. The government has also announced a five-month relief period for Ontario businesses that are unable to file or remit their provincial taxes on time due to the special circumstances caused by the COVID‑19 crisis.

Who is eligible

To be able to claim the tax exemption, employers must be eligible employers as defined under the EHT Act.

Eligible employers generally include:

Private-sector employers
Organizations that receive financial assistance from any level of government but are not under the control of government
Crown corporations that are subject to federal income tax under Part I of the federal Income Tax Act

Employers may be corporations, individuals, partnerships, or trusts.

Employers normally cannot claim the exemption if their Ontario payroll for the year (including the payroll of any associated employers) is over $5 million. However, eligible employers that are registered charities can claim the exemption even if their payroll exceeds $5 million.

How to apply

The annual return form is not changing. Only the amount for the exemption claimed will change.

If you have already filed a final or special return for 2020, the Ministry of Finance will be reviewing all 2020 EHT returns that have already been filed and correcting the returns for the new exemption level.
If you have not paid any EHT yet for 2020 and you will not owe any EHT for the year because of the new exemption amount (and you are not an associated employer), you do not need to file an EHT return for 2020.
If your business no longer needs to file an EHT return as a result of the increased exemption amount, you do not need to contact or notify the Ministry of Finance.
If your business is still required to file an EHT return for 2020, you can also benefit from the five-month relief period.

Electricity rate reduction

Announced on March 24, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

All Ontario electricity rates will be moving to off-peak pricing rates immediately for the next 45 days, saving customers 50% compared to on-peak rates. This measure represents an expenditure by the provincial government of approximately $162 million, and on average will result in savings of $150 for small businesses.

Details

For the 45-day period, the Government of Ontario is suspending time-of-use electricity rates, holding electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents/kWh. This rate is available all day, seven days a week, to all time-of-use customers. By switching to a fixed off-peak rate, time-of-use customers will see rate reductions of over 50% compared to on-peak rates.

The Ontario Energy Board is also extending the winter ban on electricity disconnections for residential and low-volume small business customers from April 30, 2020, to July 31, 2020.

Prince Edward Island

Support for primary industries

Announced on April 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

In order to support the potato industry of Prince Edward Island, the province is working with producers and processors to provide $4.7 million towards shipping and storage costs of potatoes for processing.

Additionally, through the Department of Agriculture and Land’s Business Risk Management (BRM) Programs, the province will help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farm operations. Minister of Agriculture and Land, Bloyce Thompson announced up to $8.8 million in support for farmers through the BRM programs for the next two years.

The AgriStability Program includes paying the provincial portion of the costs to increase the coverage level for producers enrolled in the program from 70 percent to 85 percent, and removing the reference margin limit which will have a positive impact on the livestock industry. In addition, the province is offering interim payments of up to 75 percent to get funding into producer’s hands in a timely manner. When combined, this will provide an estimated $5.6 million in support for farmers over two years.

The AgriInsurance Program will offer a 10 percent discount on the producer’s share of insurance premiums, saving farmers an estimated $3.2 million over two years.

Who is eligible

More details to follow.

How to apply

More details to follow.

Supports for primary industries

Announced on April 23, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

To support the potato industry of Prince Edward Island, the province is working with producers and processors to provide $4.7 million for potato shipping and storage costs.

Additionally, through the Department of Agriculture and Land’s Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, the province will help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farm operations. Up to $8.8 million will come through the BRM programs for farmers over the next two years.

The AgriStability Program includes paying the provincial portion of the costs to increase the coverage level for producers enrolled in the program from 70 percent to 85 percent and removing the reference margin limit, which will have a positive impact on the livestock industry. The province is also offering interim payments of up to 75 percent to get funding into producers’ hands in a timely manner. Combined, these measures will provide an estimated $5.6 million in support for farmers over two years.

The AgriInsurance Program will offer a 10 percent discount on the producers’ share of insurance premiums, saving farmers an estimated $3.2 million over two years.

Who is eligible

Details to come

How to apply

Details to come

Please visit the website for more info

COVID-19 support for essential workers

Announced on April 2, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

This program is intended to provide a temporary wage top-up to essential workers employed during the PEI Public Health State of Emergency imposed in response to COVID-19. Eligible employees earning $3,000 per month or less will receive a one-time payment of $1,000, administered through their employer.

Who is eligible

An eligible employee must:

be a resident of Prince Edward Island for at least six months and legally authorized to work in Canada
be employed in any business or organization providing ‘essential services’ as defined by the PEI Chief Public Health Office
have earnings $3,000/month or less (gross) in a consecutive four-week period during the program eligibility period from April 6, 2020, through to July 26, 2020
have an hourly wage of $18.75/hr or less
have worked a minimum of 60 hours during the consecutive four-week period selected (e.g., April 6-May 3, 2020). Note: the eligible employees must have worked the minimum required hours prior to receiving payment under the program.

How to apply

Employers must complete the application on behalf of employees.

Please visit the website for more info

COVID-19 Business Adaptation Advice Program

Announced on April 2, 2020

Applications closed

Summary

The COVID-19 Business Adaptation Advice program provides a non-repayable contribution to PEI businesses, entrepreneurs, not-for-profits, and non-governmental organizations to help them access professional advice and support to adapt or recover from the impacts of pandemic measures.

This assistance will contribute to the costs associated with:

obtaining business, human resources or financial planning and advice
obtaining advice on transitioning to digital or IT solutions
obtaining advice on exporting, marketing, and logistics
obtaining other professional services that may them adapt or recover, determined in consultation with Innovation PEI

This assistance may contribute up to 100 percent of the cost (to a maximum of $2,500) to engage a professional business consultant. The project must be completed between two parties operating at arm’s length.

Who is eligible

All PEI businesses that have been affected by the consequences of COVID-19 measures

How to apply

Online applications are now closed. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2020. Projects must be claimed by January 31, 2021.

Please visit the website for more info

Working capital

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of PEI will support small businesses through a new loan program.

Details

The new Finance PEI program provides support for small businesses through a capital loan of up to $100,000, with a fixed interest rate of 4% per annum. Repayment will commence 12 months after the first disbursement, with the balance outstanding to be repaid over the remaining five-year period.

How to apply

Applications are available through Finance PEI.

Community Business Development Corporations

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of PEI is providing $4.5 million to Community Business Development Corporations across the province to deliver financing to small business and entrepreneurs.

Deferred payments

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of PEI will allow deferred loan payments for clients of specific programs for the next three months.

Details

Scheduled loan payments for clients of Finance PEI, Island Investment Development Inc., and the PEI Century Fund may be deferred for the next three months.

Wage subsidy for PEI workers

Announced on March 18, 2020, revised March 21, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of PEI will provide a temporary allowance for PEI workers facing reduced hours.

Details

Workers who continue to work but experience a considerable reduction in their hours will be eligible for a temporary allowance of $250 per week.

This measure is not applicable to self-employed individuals; these workers may instead refer to the self-employed relief program being administered by Innovation PEI.

Emergency income relief for the self-employed

Announced on March 18, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Self-employed individuals can qualify for emergency income relief through the province of PEI.

Details

This program, administered by Innovation PEI, provides self-employed individuals with a maximum amount of $500 per week for the period of March 16-29, 2020, if they experienced direct financial losses resulting from COVID-19 isolation measures.

Who is eligible

The program is open to the self-employed in all sectors.

To be eligible for this component, self-employed individuals must:

Have declared business income on their most recent tax return
Business income must be their primary source of income
Demonstrate direct financial losses resulting from the COVID-19 isolation measures at the time of application
Not be EI-eligible or receive any other income support (i.e., from business interruption insurance)

How to apply

An online application form is currently available.

You will be required to provide your HST number, most recent Notice of Assessment, and Form T2125 (Statement of Business or Professional Activities).

Launch of commercial lease rent deferral program

Announced on March 30, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Landlords who defer rent payments from commercial tenants for three months (May-July) could be eligible for up to $50,000 per landlord and $15,000 per tenant if deferred rent is not recovered.

How to apply

Landlords must contact Finance PEI by April 15, 2020, to apply.

Expansion of PEI Broadband Fund for businesses (PEIBF)

Announced on March 27, 2020

Summary

The cost of eligibility for the PEIBF has been expanded to support equipment and installation of Mi-Fi units and Wi-Fi signal boosters to enable businesses and the self-employed adapt to increased remote operations.

Wage subsidy for PEI workers

Announced on March 18, 2020, revised March 21, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of PEI will provide a temporary allowance for PEI workers facing reduced hours.

Details

Workers who continue to work but experience a considerable reduction in their hours will be eligible for a temporary allowance of $250 per week. This measure is not applicable to self-employed individuals; these workers may instead refer to the self-employed relief program being administered by Innovation PEI.

Who is eligible

Workers who continue to work but experience a considerable reduction in their working hours will be eligible for a temporary allowance of $250 per week.

This measure is not applicable to self-employed individuals.

How to apply

No further public information at this time.

Emergency Relief – Worker Assistance Program

Announced on March 21, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Employers who meet the program criteria are eligible to receive a maximum of $250 per week for each worker who experienced a reduction of at least 8 hours per week during the two-week period March 16-29, 2020 (e.g., a worker who typically works 40 hours/week reduced to 32 hours/week).

Who is eligible

Eligible employers include registered private sector businesses in Prince Edward Island with workers who have experienced a reduction of at least 8 hours per week during the two week period March 16-29, 2020.

How to apply

Submit the completed Worker Assistance Program online application form and the Vendor Registration Form to the following address: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/emergency-relief-worker-assistance-program
You will receive an email confirmation with your online reference number.
A program officer will contact you to review and discuss your application.

Quebec

Emergency assistance for small and medium-sized businesses (COVID-19) – Fonds local d’investissement (FLI)

Announced on April 3, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Small and Medium-sized Business Emergency Assistance Program is designed to support, for a limited period, eligible businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19 and need less than $50,000 in terms of cash flow.

Details

Funding relates to the company's need for liquidity and is determined on the basis of justified and reasonable expenses.

It should make up for the lack of liquidity caused by:

an impossibility or a substantial reduction in the ability to deliver products (goods or services) or goods
a problem with the supply of raw materials or products (goods or services)

The assistance will be provided in the form of a loan or loan guarantee of up to $50,000.

Who is eligible

The following companies are eligible for the program:

businesses in all industries
social economy enterprises, including cooperatives and not-for-profit organizations engaged in commercial activities

To be eligible, the company must:

have been operating in Quebec for at least one year
be temporarily closed, likely to close, or show warning signs of closure
be in the process of maintaining, consolidating, or reviving its activities
have demonstrated a causal link between its financial or operational problems and the COVID-19 pandemic

Excluded are applicants who are under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

How to apply

For information about the Small and Medium-sized Business Emergency Assistance program, contact your MRC, your municipal office, or the agency responsible for managing the Fonds local d’investissement (FLI) in your MRC.

Administrative extensions

Announced on March 19, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Quebec Minister of Finance announced that the province will harmonize with the federal government tax filing and tax payment extensions.

Details

The province of Quebec will harmonize with the federal government’s tax filing and tax payment extensions.

The CRA previously announced that all businesses may defer, until September 1, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 1, 2020.

Concerted temporary action program for businesses - Investissement Québec

Announced on March 19, 2020

Summary

The Government of Quebec is introducing emergency financial assistance to support businesses whose cash flow is affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The concerted temporary action program for business as part of Investissement Québec's ESSOR program is launched.

This measure is designed to shore up the business’s working capital.

Details

A loan guarantee is the preferred form of financing. Financing can also take the form of a loan from Investissement Québec.

Investissement Québec aims to work in close cooperation with financial institutions and federal authorities in order to share risks.

In the case of a line of credit guarantee, the guarantee is applicable only under the following special conditions:

New lines of credit
Existing lines of credit. In this case, Investissement Québec guarantees only the portion of the increase, according to the agreed guarantee rate.

The minimum funding amount is $50,000.

Refinancing is prohibited.

Who is eligible

This financial assistance is available to businesses operating in Québec, including cooperatives and other social economy enterprises with commercial activities.

All industries are eligible, except for the following:

Weapons manufacturing or distribution
Games of chance and gambling, combat sports, bars, racing and other similar activities
Production and sale of tobacco and drugs along with services related to their use, except for projects involving pharmaceutical-grade products approved by Health Canada and having a DIN, or their ingredients, as well as R&D projects licensed by Health Canada
Any activity whose main purpose is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (religion, politics, human rights advocacy, etc.)
Any other activity that may offend public morals.

Eligible businesses are those that find themselves in a precarious situation and temporary difficulty as a result of COVID-19. They must show that their financial structure offers realistic prospects for profitability.

How to apply

Existing clients: For businesses that are already Investissement Québec clients, contact your account manager or project manager directly by e-mail or telephone.

New clients: For non-clients seeking a loan guarantee, contact your financial institution first. It will get in touch with one of our account managers.

Existing clients – Investissement Québec

Announced on March 19, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Investissement Québec wishes to support their existing clients’ cash flow with the possibility to authorize a capital moratorium.

Details

Possibility of a 6 month capital moratorium;

Contact your account manager or Investissement Québec directly by email for more information

Who is eligible

Existing client of Investissement Québec

Existing clients – Fonds local d’investissement (FLI)

Announced on March 19, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of Quebec, through the Fonds local d’investissement (FLI) program, wants to support existing clients by introducing a six-month moratorium on loan repayments.

Details

A six-month repayment moratorium was issued for the repayment (capital and interest) of loans already granted through the FLI program. Interest accrued during this period will be added to the balance of the loan.

Who is eligible

Existing clients of Fonds local d’investissement (FLI).

How to apply

For more information, contact your RCM or the agency responsible for managing the FLI program in your RCM.

Coordinated actions for continued employment program

Announced on April 6, 2020

Summary

Designed to support training and enhanced employment opportunities, this program is two-fold: one component is for businesses and one is for collective promoters/organizations that support employment.

Training or human resources management projects submitted can vary in length from a few days up to several weeks or months.

This program will be accepting projects retroactively from March 15, 2020, until September 30, 2020, or until the allocated budget of $100 million has been exhausted.

Who is eligible

The following training opportunities are eligible under both components of this program: employees’ basic training, francization, e-skills training, ongoing training related to a company’s business operations (whether linked or not to the position held by the employee being trained), training advocated by professional associations, training made necessary due to a business resuming its operations, training related to adapting or changing business activities in a time of economic uncertainty due to COVID-19 that enables the organization to maintain or diversify its business activities (e.g., health safety, remote work) and training for employee requalification.

How to apply

Businesses and self-employed workers must contact their local business advisor, and collective promoters must submit a grant application form by email to following address: partenaires@mtess.gouv.qc.ca

Northwest Territories

Economic relief measures

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Government of the Northwest Territories put together an initial economic relief package valued at $13.2 million that takes effect immediately. This package is intended to work in concert with federal incentives under Canada’s $27 billion COVID-19 Economic Response Plan announced in March.

The GNWT will continue to identify other relief measures to assist territorial residents and business owners and operators as it responds to COVID-19.

Who is eligible

No details as of yet regarding support to business owners and operators.

How to apply

No details

Supply chain fee reduction

Announced on March 20, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Provides relief to Northern supply-chain businesses through a removal of fees until the end of June for:

Deh Cho Bridge tolls
Truck permits
Airport landing fees

Who is eligible

Commercial truck operating in the territory, a business using the Deh Cho Bridge, a business using airports in the territory.

How to apply

Not required

Business Development and Invest Corporation (BDIC) relief

Announced on March 20, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

(1) BDIC - Working Capital Loans: offer low-interest loans to businesses to help offset up of COVID-19 impacts. This will also be available to new BDIC clients. Loans of up to $25,000 (or more if need is clearly addressed) are being made available to qualified businesses at a rate of 1.75%. Loans will be amortized for up to five years with options for payment deferment for 3 months upon request.

(2) BDIC - Deferred Loan Payments: Clients (borrowers) of the Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) can apply to have their loan repayments reduced or deferred until March 31, 2021 without penalty or additional interest charges. Regular interest will still be charged.

Who is eligible

(1) Business owners must reside in the NWT and must demonstrate financial need due to cash flow issues resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Priority will be given to businesses with fewer than 20 employees but the GNWT will consider applications from businesses with up to 50 employees.

(2) Businesses are automatically approved

How to apply

Application form available at: https://www.bdic.ca/

Send a letter to your Department of Industry Tourism and Investment (ITI) regional office. For more information and a list of regional ITI contacts, visit https://www.bdic.ca/

Clients will need to make their request by the 24^th of the month prior to which they want to start their deferral period. The last date for such requests will be Feb. 24, 2021.

WSCC assessment payments deadline extended

Announced on April 8, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) announced relief measures for businesses unable to make their WSCC assessment payments as a result of the crisis. It has suspended late payment interest charges and extended the assessment payment deadline to August 1, 2020.

Who is eligible

Those who owe WSCC assessment payments.

How to apply

Not required

Payments and collection terms for businesses

Announced on March, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

(1) Payment terms for vendors: Allow small businesses and individuals to access cash flow more quickly by shortening the payment terms on GNWT invoices so that they are paid out as soon as possible.

(2) GNWT collections policy: Provide small businesses and individuals with access to greater cash flow during this crisis by pausing most collections efforts, including:

Outside collection agency activity
GNWT set-offs on GNWT payments
GNWT set-offs on Canada Revenue Agency tax refunds

Who is eligible

(1) Vendor payment terms –invoice submittal process is the same as before (through GNWT Finance)

(2) Collections of GNWT– collections owed by small businesses to the territorial government are on hold.

How to apply

Not required

Yukon

Funding for the aviation industry

Announced on April 15, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

The federal government is contributing $3.56 million to compensate Yukon aviation companies for COVID-19 losses.

The funding will be dispersed by the provincial government.

Air North will receive $1.1 million over three months to continue what are considered critical and essential routes in the north.

When coupled with the previously announced waiver of aviation landing, parking, and loading fees, these changes will save aviation businesses approximately $780,000, according to the government. The new fee waivers include:

land lease and licence fees;
building lease and licence fees;
air terminal building concession fees;
aircraft fuel lease and licence fees;
aircraft fuel concession fees;
parking stall fees; and
service recoveries like charges for electricity.
These fees are waived from April 1 until December 31.

Who is eligible

Businesses that are eligible for the fee waiver include:

air carriers;
commercial aircraft operators (fixed and rotary wing);
aircraft maintenance operators;
aircraft fueling services; and
aviation-related concessionaires such as:
- food services;
- vehicle rentals;
- gift shops.

Other non-commercial agencies are not eligible.

General emergency support package

Announced on March 16, 2020

Available now: Yes

Summary

Premier Sandy Silver announced a $4-million support package to deal with some of the economic fallout. It will be used for, among other things, compensation for workers who need to stay home but don't get paid sick days. It will support workers for up to 10 working days, enough to cover a 14-day isolation period, if necessary. The fund will also be used for waiving and refunding some government fees, deferring workers' compensation premiums and reimbursing pre-paid premiums, and offering grants to businesses that have lost revenue from cancelled events.

Who is eligible

No details as of yet regarding grants to businesses that have lost revenue.

How to apply

No details as of yet regarding grants to businesses that have lost revenue.
Paid sick leave: Eligible employees can access this leave option from March 27, 2020, to June 23, 2020. It can be extended if the situation warrants.

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COVID-19 federal and provincial relief measures for businesses

If you need help identifying the support programs that are applicable for your organization’s circumstance, understanding the potential impact of these measures or exploring other tactics that might help you recover, please reach out to our COVID Concierge service.

Federal Measures

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

Export Development Canada (EDC) offers financing, insurance and risk management solutions to help all Canadian businesses (not only exporters) survive the impact of COVID-19.

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) supports Canadian businesses (mostly small and medium-sized) cope with the effects of COVID-19 through financing, capital and advisory services.

BCAP guarantee program (operating credit and cash flow term loans)

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

Interest-free small loans (CEBA)

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

Fee & Payment Deferrals

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

BCAP Co-lending program (cash flow term loans)

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

Updated BCAP working capital financing

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

Fee and payment deferrals

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

BDC Capital Bridge Financing Program

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

BDC Oil & Gas Sector Financing

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

BCAP Mid-Market Guarantee

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

BCAP Mid-Market Financing Program

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply

Additional federal measures

Emergency Processing Fund (EPF)

Tourism industry investments

Funding to support small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses

Fish Harvester Benefit

Fish Harvester Grant

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)

Temporary 10-percent Wage Subsidy

Futurpreneur

Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF)

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

Funding for Indigenous businesses

Federal regional development agencies to defer payments

CRA extends income tax payments for Canadian businesses

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Work-Sharing Program

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Program

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) COVID-19 support program

Federal regional development agencies to defer payments

CRA extends income tax payments for Canadian businesses

Summary

Details

How to apply

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

Summary

Details

Who is eligible

How to apply

Work-Sharing Program

Summary

Who is eligible

How to apply