Kate Yurkovich
Associate
Guide
Current as of November 9, 2020.
201
On March 18, 2020 the Government of Canada announced the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.
Following an emergency recall of the House of Commons, the government's Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 received Royal Assent on March 25, 2020. The resulting COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, SC 2020, c 5, implements the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and includes the measures noted below.
On April 11, 2020 the Finance Minister introduced in Parliament Bill C-14, A second Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19.The Bill received Royal Assent on the same day. The resulting Emergency Response Act, No. 2, SC 2020, c 6 includes additional flexibilities with regard to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, outlined below. See the Department of Finance's April 11, 2020 news release on Bill C-14 here.
Changes to the Standing Liquidity Facility Collateral Policy | |
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DESCRIPTION | The following interventions, effective immediately:
The Bank of Canada also increased the target for the minimum daily level of settlement balances from $1 billion to $2 billion. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's press release dated March 31, 2020 here. See the Bank of Canada's press release dated March 30, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's Support for Canadians and Businesses page here. See the Bank of Canada's Additional Temporary Changes notice dated March 18, 2020 here. |
Expansion to List of Eligible Securities for Term Repo Operations | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Bank of Canada announced that it will broaden eligible collateral for its Term Repo operations. Eligible securities will now include the full range of collateral eligible under the Standing Liquidity Facility. The expansion will not include the non-mortgage loan portfolio, special deposits held at the Bank of Canada, or USD Securities. The change will result in a revision of the Term Repo terms and conditions, and was effective as of March 19, 2020. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Term Repo operations will occur at least weekly as long as necessary as of March 19, 2020. For details of the March 10, 2020 operation, please see the Bank of Canada's market notice. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's market notice dated March 18, 2020 here. See the Bank of Canada's market notice dated March 16, 2020 here. |
Support To Canada Mortgage Bond Market | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Bank of Canada has announced that it stands ready, as a proactive measure, to provide support to the Canada Mortgage Bond (CMB) market. This support includes purchases of CMBs in the secondary market, as required. Such purchases have been ongoing since March 17, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's market notice dated March 16, 2020 here. |
The Commercial Paper Purchase Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | For the next 12 months, the Bank of Canada will conduct primary and secondary market purchases of CP, including asset-backed CP, issued by Canadian firms, municipalities and provincial agencies with an outstanding CP program. Eligible assets include commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper, in the primary and secondary market, with a tenor of up to 3 months of sufficiently high quality, broadly equivalent to a minimum short-term credit rating of R-1 Commercial paper purchases will be conducted by TD Asset Management on behalf of the Bank of Canada. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The CPPP is effective as of April 2, 2020 Eligible issuers include any of the following issuers with an outstanding Canadian dollar-denominated commercial paper program:
Eligible issuers should access the program through their dealers. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's market notice dated March 31, 2020 here. See the Bank of Canada's Commercial Paper Program website here. |
Lowering of the Overnight Rate Target | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate by 50 basis points to 0.25% percent. |
LINKS | See Bank of Canada's press release dated March 27, 2020 here. |
Expansion of Bank of Canada's Bond Buyback Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Bank of Canada announced broadening of the scope of the current Government of Canada bond buyback program. The following operations have been announced for the upcoming weeks:
The Bank will announce the specific operational details ahead of each operation through its regular Call for Tenders process. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's announcement on March 18, 2020 here. |
Provincial Money Market Purchase Program (PMMP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Under the PMMP the Bank of Canada will purchase up to 40% of each offering of directly-issued provincial money market securities with terms to maturity of 12 months or less. The program includes treasury bills and short term promissory notes of all Canadian provinces. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's published results as of March 30, 2020 here. See the Bank of Canada's announcement dated March 24, 2020 here. |
Banker's Acceptance Purchase Program (BAPF) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Beginning on March 23, 2020, the Bank of Canada will conduct secondary market purchases of one-month Bankers' Acceptances issued and guaranteed by any Canadian bank of sufficiently high quality. BAPF operations will continue to be conducted weekly until market conditions improve. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Eligible counterparties
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LINKS | See the Terms and Conditions for the Banker's Acceptance Purchase Facility here. |
Secondary Market Purchases of Government of Canada Securities | |
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DESCRIPTION | To address strains in the Government of Canada bond market and to enhance the efficacy of the above noted measures, the Bank of Canada has launched a program to purchase Government of Canada securities in the secondary market. The Bank will announce specific operational details ahead of each week's operations through its Call for Tenders process. |
LINKS | See the Bank of Canada's announcement dated March 27, 2020 here. For updated details on these purchases see the Bank of Canada's notice dated March 31, 2020 here. |
Changes to the Canada Account | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Finance is now able to determine the limit of the Canada Account in order to deal with exceptional circumstances. The Canada Account is administered by EDC and is used to support exporters when deemed to be in the national interest. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Exporters can contact EDC directly by phone at 1-800-229-0575 or by e-mail at tradeadvisor-conseiller@edc.ca |
LINKS | See Export Development Canada's webpage dedicated to COVID-19 measures here. |
BDC Capital Bridge Financing Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | BDC Capital, BDC's investment arm, has launched the BDC Capital Bridge Financing Program. Under the program, BDC will match, with a convertible note, a current financing round being raised through qualified existing and/or new investors made into eligible Canadian start-ups. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To be eligible, companies must:
Any matching investment made by BDC Capital will be further subject to BDC's due diligence review, agreement on terms of the investment and approval by a BDC investment committee. The program is not limited to BDC's portfolio and all companies that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. |
LINKS | See BDC Capital's information webpage on the Bridge Financing Program here. |
CanExport SMEs Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Prime Minister announced that the CanExport SMEs program, originally launched in 2016 to help Canadian small businesses access international markets will pivot to providing assistance with expanding e-commerce platforms and offering other support for the COVID-19 era. The main features of the program include:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY |
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Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | BCAP was established to provide $65 billion in additional credit support to small and medium-sized businesses particularly in sectors such as oil, gas, air transportation, and tourism. The program is supported through BDC in cooperation with EDC. In the Speech from the Throne (September 23, 2020), the Government committed to improve the Business Credit Availability Program. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | On April 17, the government announced that they would be expanding BCAP credit support to medium-sized businesses with larger financing needs, beginning with companies in Canada's energy sector. The programs will roll out in the three weeks after March 27, 2020. Interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions, who in turn contact BDC/ EDC where appropriate. See for example: National Bank's COVID-19 webpage TD's COVID-19 webpage |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's Backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here. See the March 27, 2020 Press Release here. Also see BDC's Special Support for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 here. |
BCAP: Canada Emergency Business Account | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Canada Emergency Business Account ("CEBA") is a new loan program that will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover operating costs. If the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022, 25% of it will be forgiven, up to $10,000. To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. On August 31, the Government of Canada announced it is extending applications for CEBA until October 31, 2020. In the Speech from the Throne (September 23, 2020), the government committed to expand the Canada Emergency Business Account to help businesses with fixed costs As of October 8, 2020, an expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans—and that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemic—to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. The projected expenditure for the expanded CEBA program was estimated at $11 billion. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Small businesses and not-for-profits should contact their financial institution to apply for these loans. The Minister of Finance announced that applications for such loans would commence April 9, 2020. Financial institutions are aiming for access to the Canada Emergency Business Account starting in April. On May 19, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that it has changed the eligibility to ensure farmers without payroll can now access the $40,000 interest-free loan available under CEBA – up to $10,000 of which is forgiven if the rest is repaid by December 31, 2022. To qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:
On June 19th, CEBA eligibility was extended to small owner-operated businesses that were previously ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll. To qualify under the expanded eligibility rules, CEBA applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 will need:
Eligible businesses will qualify for financing of up to $40,000, with 25 per cent of this being forgivable based on the current terms of CEBA loans An attestation of the impact of COVID-19 on the business will be required to access the additional financing of $20,000 under the expanded CEBA. The application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31, 2020. To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's update on CEBA changes dated May 22, 2020 here. |
BCAP: Small and Medium Enterprise Loan and Guarantee Program | |
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BDC Co-Lending Program | |
DESCRIPTION | BDC, together with financial institutions, will co-lend term loans to small and medium-sized enterprises for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts up to $6.25 million at a commercial interest rate, 80% of which will be provided by BDC, and the remainder by a financial institution. The potential for lending for this program will be $20 billion. |
LINKS | See BDC's March 27, 2020 Press Release here. See BDC's Special Support for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 here. |
EDC Guarantee Program | |
DESCRIPTION | EDC will provide funding to financial institutions so they can issue new operating credit and cash flow term loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, up to $6.25 million. The loans will be 80% guaranteed by EDC, to be paid within a year. The program cap for this new loan program will be a total of $20 billion for export sector and domestic companies. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The SME Loan and Guarantee program will be administered through private-sector financial institutions. Applications for the program are available on EDC's website here. Applicants must have their CRA business number available prior to starting the application. Once applications are filed, applicants will be contacted by their financial institution account manager. |
LINKS | See the March 27, 2020 Press Release here. See a full list of approved financial institutions and updates on EDC's website here. Also see BDC's Special Support for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 here. |
Canada United Small Business Relief Fund | |
Royal Bank of Canada | |
DESCRIPTION | The Prime Minister then announced an investment of $12 million in the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund to help small businesses recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canada United is a national fundraising campaign created by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in collaboration with private sector partners and provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), to rally support from Canadians for local small businesses in every corner of the country. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Starting on October 26, 2020 small businesses can apply online through the OCC for grants of up to $5,000. The grants will be used to cover the costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements, or enhance their digital or e-commerce capabilities. Applications will open to small businesses across sectors and industries in every part of the country that have between $150,000 and $3 million in annual sales; have up to 75 employees, and are registered in Canada. |
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Temporary Changes to the Work-Sharing Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | Effective March 14, 2020 and until March 14, 2021, the Government of Canada is introducing temporary special measures to support employers and workers affected by COVID-19. Work-Sharing is a program that helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer. The program provides EI benefits to eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share the available work while their employer recovers. Work-Sharing is an agreement between employers, employees and the Government of Canada. The temporary special measures being implemented will provide:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Eligible employers To be eligible for a WS agreement, your business must:
Eligibility was also extended to:
Eligible employees To be eligible for WS, your employees must:
Eligibility was also extended to:
Employers are now requested to submit their applications 10 calendar days prior to the requested start date. The streamlined measures undertaken by Service Canada will aim to reduce the processing time to 10 calendar days To apply for the Work-Sharing Program employers must submit: |
LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's COVID-19 webpage here. |
Temporary Changes to the Canada Summer Jobs Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Canada Summer Jobs program provides opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills within the not-for-profit, small business, and public sectors, and supports the delivery of key community services. Temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program will allow employers to:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | For more information on the Canada Summer Jobs program, visit Employment and Social Development Canada's webpage. The hiring period of Canada Summer Jobs 2020 opened on May 15, 2020. Thousands of job opportunities have been posted on the Job Bank and more will be available in the coming weeks. |
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Emergency Community Support Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada announced a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and non-profit organizations adapt frontline services for vulnerable Canadians during COVID-19. Charities and non-profit organizations requiring financial assistance to address the pandemic, can apply for funding as of May 19, 2020. The Government of Canada is pleased to work with the United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and the Community Foundations of Canada to disburse the $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund. These trusted partners will each post information on eligibility criteria and how to apply on their respective websites. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Community-based organizations from across the country will be able to apply for funding to support a variety of activities, such as:
Applications opened May 19, 2020. For information on applications visit the following websites: The United Way Centraide Canada The Community Foundations of Canada |
LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's news release dated May 16, 2020 here. |
The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Through the Disability stream of the SDPP, $11 million in annual funding is provided to organizations to support projects intended to improve the participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. On June 1, 2020, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion announced financial support of up to $6.4 million over three years for up to 16 organizations across Canada through the disability component of the SDPP. The 16 organizations were chosen through calls for proposals that were launched in 2019. |
LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's news release dated June 1, 2020. See Employment and Social Development Canada's Backgrounder on SDPP here. |
Enabling Accessibility Fund – Small Projects Component | |
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DESCRIPTION | On June 2, 2020, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced the launch of a call for proposals under the newly modernized Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) – small projects component. The call for proposals for the EAF small projects component provides funding to organizations for small-scale construction, renovation or retrofit projects that enable persons with disabilities to live and work in more inclusive and accessible communities. This year, instead of the originally allotted 12 months to complete a project, organizations that apply for funding will now have up to 24 months to complete their projects. Additionally, projects approved for funding will now be 100% funded to a maximum of $100,000. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The EAF Program will offer Webex information sessions to support organizations through the application process. To receive funding, organizations must be a:
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LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's news release dated June 2, 2020 here. |
Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement - Funding for Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care | |
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DESCRIPTION | Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen, and Alberta's Minister of Children's Services, Rebecca Schulz, announced additional investment in early learning and child care through a one-year Canada-Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Alberta will receive $45 million in federal child care funding in response to the pandemic. The province of Alberta will use the money to create new licenced child care spaces through capital and program grants, provide child care subsidies to more families, offer support training for child care staff and offset costs for child care centres associated with COVID-19 closures and reopening. The money is part of a renegotiated bilateral agreement with the federal government under the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework. In addition, the federal government's $19 billion Safe Restart Agreement with the Provinces and Territories includes $625 million towards early learning and child care across the country. |
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Employment Insurance (EI) Program and Income Support Plan | |
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DESCRIPTION | On Monday, August 10, Employment and Social Development Canada announced that the Government of Canada will temporarily set a minimum unemployment rate for the Employment Insurance Program.
Workers would apply after every two-week period for income support and attest that they continue to meet the requirements. In order to continue to be eligible for the benefit, the claimant wound need to look for and accept work when it is reasonable to do so. The benefit is taxable. According to Minister Qualtrough this measure, which incentivizes a worker's return to work, should address the criticism leveled at the CERB.
The government intends to introduce new legislation to support the implementation of the new benefits. The Government of Canada recognizes that the pandemic has prevented many Canadians from accumulating the number of insurable hours that is normally required to qualify for EI and thus proposes to enhance access to EI regular benefits and EI special benefits. EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:
The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended. The hours credit will be available for new EI claims for one year, in recognition that labour market conditions remain uncertain and will take time to stabilize. To further support clients and in addition to the above measures that will increase access to the program, the government also proposes to give new EI claimants a minimum benefit rate of $400 per week (or $240 for extended parental benefits) - if this is higher than what their benefits would otherwise be - beginning on September 27, 2020. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Effective August 10th, the minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across Canada. |
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's press release on the Employment Insurance Program here. See the Government of Canada's press release on the Income Support Plan here. |
Canada Recovery Benefit | |
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DESCRIPTION | This Benefit will be temporary for one year to help Canadians access EI benefits, effective September 27, 2020. These changes will also establish a minimum weekly benefit payment of $500 for all EI recipients, at the same level as the CRB. Bill C-4, "An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19" proposes to increase the amount of the temporary Canada Recovery Benefit by $100 to $500 per week — ensuring no one will get less than they were receiving under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which ended on the weekend. The Canada Recovery Temporary Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit passed unanimously in the House of Commons and the Senate. The legislation will replace the now-defunct $500-per-week Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for EI who still require income support will be eligible for $500 per week for up to 26 weeks. The applications to these benefits opened Monday October 12 2020. Applications for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB) opened on October 5, 2020. |
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Government of Canada | |
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DESCRIPTION | Bill C-2 also includes proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code to ensure that federally regulated employees have access to job-protected leave to ensure they can avail themselves of these Benefits. A Schedule to Bill C-2 lists the appropriations (on a cash basis) the Government is asking Parliament to approve for COVID-19 relief measures from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The measures are grouped in the following categories: protecting the health and safety of Canadians, support for individuals, support for students and recent graduates, support for seniors, support for vulnerable groups, support for businesses and support for sectors. Bill C-2, An Act relating to economic recovery in response to COVID-19 provides for the establishment of three new government programs: the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Federally regulated employees |
Funding for Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has allocated $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers, put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all temporary foreign workers. Temporary foreign workers are granted an exemption from the travel restrictions to Canada, along with other foreigners that hold student and work visas, provided such persons adhere to a strict 14-day self isolation protocol upon arrival. The federal government will provide support of $1,500.00 for each temporary foreign worker. The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the mandatory 14-day isolation protocols or any other heath order. The program will be in available as long as the Quarantine Act is in force. On July 31st, the Government of Canada announced an additional $59 million in funding to protect the health and safety of migrant workers on Canadian farms. There has been a number of COVID-19 outbreaks on several Canadian farms that have significantly impacted the health and safety of workers. Through additional funding, the Government is strengthening the TFW Program and making further investments to safeguard the health and safety of Canadian and temporary foreign workers from COVID-19 by:
Investing $35 million to improve health and safety on farms and in employee living quarters to prevent and respond to the spread of COVID-19. This will go toward direct infrastructure improvements to living quarters, temporary or emergency housing (on- or off-farm), as well as PPE, sanitary stations, and any other health and safety measures. Non-repayable contributions will be cost-shared 50:50 with the applicants. As of October 28, 2020, the Government of Canada had launched public consultations on the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program. The Government is seeking input until December 22, 2020 on proposed accommodation requirements in the TFW Program's primary agriculture stream. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Government has announced that they will be working with interested provinces in territories in the upcoming days to ensure that this funding is delivered in a manner that meets their needs and best ensures that quarantine requirements are met. |
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's July 31st news release regarding Temporary Foreign Workers here See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada`s news release dated April 13, 2020 here See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated October 27 fo the public consultations on the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program. |
AgriStability 2020 Enrollment Deadline Extended | |
DESCRIPTION | The AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2020 program year has been extended without penalty, from April 30, 2020 to July 3, 2020. This extension will allow farmers more time to sign up and benefit from the program. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | For farmers in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, or Prince Edward Island, AgriStability is delivered provincially. These individuals are directed to contract their respective provincial administration. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 17, 2020 here For more information, contact the AgriStability Administration |
AgriStability Interim Payments Increased for Saskatchewan Producers | |
DESCRIPTION | The federal and provincial governments have agreed to increase the 2020 AgriStability interim benefit payment percentage from 50 per cent to 75 per cent for Saskatchewan producers. Saskatchewan producers can apply for an interim benefit to receive 75 per cent of their estimated final 2020 benefit before completing their program year. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) is also waiving the six-months farming and one production cycle criteria for participants applying for 2020 interim benefits. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To enrol in the AgriStability Program or to apply for an interim benefit, producers can contact their local SCIC office or call the AgriStability Call Centre toll-free at 1-886-270-8450. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 24, 2020 here. Visit Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation's website here. |
Agri-Food Open for E-Business Targeted Intake | |
DESCRIPTION | $2.5 million is being provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help the agri-food sector expand online. The Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations develop online business This targeted application intake features two funding streams: Bring Your Business Online : Eligible organizations and businesses can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to establish an online e-business and marketing presence. Funding under this stream will be quick and responsive for those needing immediate solutions. Develop Online Business Opportunities : Eligible organizations, businesses and collaborations can apply for cost-share funding of up to $75,000 to implement high-impact projects. Funding for the initiative will be cost shared by the Governments of Canada and Ontario |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations develop, expand and enhance their current online presence. See OMAFRA's website here for information on how to apply. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 24, 2020 here. |
Support for Local Food Producers and Farmer's Market from the Governments of Canada and Manitoba | |
DESCRIPTION | Canada and Manitoba will be providing a total of $160,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to Direct Farm Manitoba to purchase a software platform that will allow Manitobans to order food online from local producers and farmers' markets. The funding will also go toward the development of a network of pick-up and delivery options to connect consumers with their orders, and the development of COVID-19 safe handling and packaging practices for producers and processors. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations develop, expand and enhance their current online presence. See OMAFRA's website here for information on how to apply. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 24, 2020 here. |
Increasing the Canadian Dairy Commission Borrowing Limit | |
DESCRIPTION | On May 15, 2020 the Government of Canada announced the adoption of amendments to the Canadian Dairy Commission Act that increase the Canadian Dairy Commission's (CDC) borrowing limit by $200 million (from $300 million to $500 million) to allow cheese and butter to be temporarily stored and avoid waste. |
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Surplus Food Purchase Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has announced the Surplus Food Purchase Program, a $50 million fund designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories, which could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local food organizations who are serving vulnerable Canadians. |
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Emergency Food Security Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | The federal government will provide additional funding of $100 million through the Emergency Food Security Fund which "builds on what we have already achieved through our first round of federal emergency funding, which is helping two million food insecure Canadians through 1,800 local-level projects." The funds will be supplied to national and regional organizations, who will then support food banks and local food organizations across Canada to improve access to food and increase food supply for vulnerable Canadians across the country, who are experiencing food insecurity because of global COVID-19 pandemic. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's website for further information. |
Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | Launched in partnership between Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Forage Capital Inc. – a Calgary-based venture capital firm – the Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund is set up to provide companies with the financial stability and flexibility they need to rebuild their business models during challenging times. Farm Credit Canada is the sole investor in the fund. The fund is set up to support a wide range of enterprises in the agribusiness and agri-food sector, including companies involved in primary production, agri-tech, manufacturing, packaging and distribution. The fund will help companies in times of need through innovative solutions such as convertible debt investments and other flexible financing solutions. Applications will be assessed individually on their merit, and will be supported to a maximum of $10 million. The primary goal of the Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund is to return recipient companies to a sound financial footing. To qualify, companies need to demonstrate an impact from an unexpected business disruption, such as the loss of a key supplier, temporary loss of a facility or permanent loss of critical staff or leadership. Funds cannot be used to repay shareholder loans or purchase shareholder equity positions. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | For more information on funding criteria and the application process, visit Forage Capital Inc.'s website. More information is expected to be provided in upcoming days. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 14, 2020 here. |
Agriculture Training Support Program | |
DESCRIPTION | 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. By providing up to $5 million in support to farmers, agri-businesses and food processors, the program helps offset the cost to train new employees safely in new agri-food roles. The program will support training for as many as 2,500 new jobs in Alberta. 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, approximately $1 million in funding will be targeted for meat processors to provide support for new hires to undertake meat-cutting training. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Applications are available online through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership's website. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. |
Emergency on Farm Support Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | On October 28, 2020, a $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to protect the health and safety of farm workers across the country was announced. The Fund was being deployed province by province to help farm operators, and ensure the health and safety of farm workers across the country. On November 4, 2020, The Prime Minister announced $7.5M under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to help Quebec farmers better protect the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. La Financiere Agricole du Quebec (FADQ) will administer the fund. |
LINKS | See Government of Canada's News Release for Quebec's new funding. |
Agri-food Workplace Protection Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $2.25 million in provincially licensed meat processing plants to better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), the first stream of the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program will provide funding to implement COVID-19 health and safety measures in provincially licensed meat plants, including purchasing additional personal protective equipment, redesigning workstations, supporting employees who require mandatory isolation, and work-site mobility and transportation. In addition, the federal and provincial governments are further investing up to $2.25 million to help farmers better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy food products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The second intake of the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program aims to help farmers enhance health and safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The funding will be used for initiatives like purchasing personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and redesigning workstations. Support is also available for farmers who experience unexpected costs for housing and transportation as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak among on-farm employees. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is now accepting applications and will expedite the approval process to help support workplace health and safety in the agri-food sector. Eligible applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available. On June 12, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced that it is expanding the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program and committing up to $15 million to enhance health and safety measures on farms and in food processing facilities. The Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection program provides cost-share funding for farmers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and implement workplace modifications and other measures. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will begin accepting applications on May 12, 2020 and will expedite the approval process to get the necessary support to the agri-food sector faster. Eligible applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available. More details on the program are available on the Ontario Government's website here. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's May 14, 2020 news release here. See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's May 8, 2020 news release here. |
Helping British Columbia agriculture and food businesses plan for COVID-19 recovery | |
DESCRIPTION | The latest intake of the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program is now open to applications and expanded to include aquaculture and seafood companies to develop COVID-19 business recovery plans. B.C. agriculture, seafood and food processing business owners are encouraged to apply if their revenues have decreased by at least 30% as a result of COVID-19. The funding available includes up to $5,000 in business planning services and coaching for individuals, and up to $20,000 for groups, from a qualified business consultant, to develop an immediate and long-term recovery plan. Eligible applicants may also apply to the specialized business planning stream of the program to further strengthen their business. Funding for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program is provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The partnership is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023. On October 28, 2020, the Government of Canada announced it was investing $4.9 million to further protect British Columbia farm workers during COVID-19. |
LINKS | See Government of Canada's News Release for Quebec's new funding. See Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's news release, October 27, 2020 for the investment of $4.9 million to further protect British Columbia farm workers during COVID-19. |
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced an investment of up to $9.2 million to enhance the YESP and fund up to 700 new positions in the agriculture industry. The YESP will provide agriculture employers up to 50 per cent of the cost of hiring a Canadian youth up to $14,000. Indigenous applicants and those applicants hiring a youth facing barriers are eligible for funding of up to 80 per cent of their costs. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities. Employers may apply for this funding retroactive to April 1, 2020, with projects to be completed by March 31, 2021. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 26, 2020 here. |
Funding for Quebec Agri-Food Businesses | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced over $10 million in funding from Canada Economic Development for the Quebec Region to help agri-food businesses grow and create jobs. The Minister emphasized that the Canadian agri-food industry has been hit hard by COVID-19. The Government of Canada has therefore taken significant action to help the industry get through this difficult period and is committed to providing the necessary tools needed to be part of our economic recovery and to emerge from the crisis stronger and more competitive than before. Thus, the government is working closely with Quebec agri-food businesses to help them innovate and increase their productivity, and thus create jobs. This financial assistance from CED will help these businesses enhance their productivity, specifically through the acquisition of digital and automated equipment, the diversification of their products and services, and the modernization of their facilities. The contributions will support the agri-food industry in its growth efforts and the achievement of its goals with respect to the transition to Enterprise 4.0—key aspects in maintaining the industry's competitiveness in a constantly changing market. |
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's press release on funding Quebec's agri-food industry here. |
Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced on April 25, 2020 that $62.5 million in new assistance will be provided to the fish and seafood processing sector. The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will help businesses:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will be delivered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Further details on how and when processors can apply for assistance will be confirmed at a later date. |
LINKS | See Fisheries and Oceans Canada's news release dated April 25, 2020 here. |
Increased Lending Capacity | |
DESCRIPTION | FCC will receive additional support that will allow for an additional $5 billion in lending capacity to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors. In addition, all eligible farmers who have an outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) loan due on or before April 30 will receive a Stay of Default, allowing them an additional six months to repay the loan. Applicable farmers who still have interest-free loans outstanding will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $100,000 interest-free portion for 2020-2021, as long as their total APP advances remain under the $1 million cap. |
LINKS |
DND Call to Innovative Thinkers for Solutions to COVID-19 challenges through the IDEaS Program | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Department of National Defence has announced an initial commitment of $15 million to call on innovators to find the solution to certain challenges that have resulted from COVID-19. The first three challenges focus on:
|
ACCESSIBILITY & ELIGIBILITY | Innovators can consult the IDEaS Program website here to learn more. |
LINKS | See the Department of National Defence's news release dated May 26, 2020 here. |
Creation of the Industry Strategy Council | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The new Industry Strategy Council will be chaired by Monique Leroux—a strong business leader with a distinguished career in Canadian finance. The council will serve as an advisory board to assess the scope and depth of COVID-19's impact on industries and inform government's understanding of specific sectoral pressures. By enlisting senior business leaders, the Council will build on Canada's strong partnerships between government and industry, notably the Economic Strategy Tables, to support Canadians and their jobs. This proactive and strategic approach is designed to bring the private sector to the table to directly share its perspective on the scope of the challenges being faced across industries. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. |
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has created the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF). The fund will help to:
This initiative includes two components:
$287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country. On Friday October, 2, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a top-up of $600 million for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to continue to help small businesses. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The initiative is implemented by the six regional development agencies which are familiar with their regions' economic realities. The top-up funding will be distributed through Canada's regional development agencies: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor), and Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
The Western Economic Diversification Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Businesses in Western Canada that are unable to access other existing government support measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). As the Regional Development Agency for western Canada, WD will work with key partners, like the Community Futures Network of Canada's offices across the region to help western Canadian businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $304 million will be available for western Canadian businesses. The fund will be offered through repayable loans on two tracks, repayment over 3 years starting in January 2023 :
The funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months. The repayment terms for loans up to $40,000 are the same as southern Ontario and Quebec with the 25% forgiveness if the balance of the contribution is repaid before December 31, 2022. Otherwise, the full loan will be repayable on a monthly basis over a 3 year term starting in January 2023 with a requirement that the full balance of the contribution be repaid by December 31, 2025. Loans greater than $40,000 and up to $1 million are 100% repayable over a 3 year term starting in January 2023. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The eligibility criteria for the WD's Relief Fund includes a maximum of 500 full time employees, current and intended future operations located in western Canada and consideration of available alternative government relief funding. The $40,000 and under loan program is also open to pre-revenue firms and businesses without salaried employees but not to sole proprietorships or not-for-profit organizations. Applicants will need to attest that the full amount of the relief was expended for operating costs and WD may request financials to substantiate that information down the road. The $1 million program is aimed at businesses with 2019 revenue of less than $10 million and pre-revenue businesses that received angel or venture capital funding. The application for the larger loan requires descriptions of the impact of COVID-19 on operations and how WD funding will help support the Western Canadian economy. Applicants will need to submit financials for the last two years and estimated 2020 cash flow needs from April 1 to September 30, 2020. Apply online for the fund through WD's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Western Economic Diversification Canada's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
DESCRIPTION | $2.5 million is being provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help the agri-food sector expand online. The Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations develop online business This targeted application intake features two funding streams: Bring Your Business Online : Eligible organizations and businesses can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to establish an online e-business and marketing presence. Funding under this stream will be quick and responsive for those needing immediate solutions. Develop Online Business Opportunities : Eligible organizations, businesses and collaborations can apply for cost-share funding of up to $75,000 to implement high-impact projects. Funding for the initiative will be cost shared by the Governments of Canada and Ontario |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations develop, expand and enhance their current online presence. See OMAFRA's website here for information on how to apply. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 24, 2020 here. |
Support for Local Food Producers and Farmer's Market from the Governments of Canada and Manitoba | |
DESCRIPTION | Canada and Manitoba will be providing a total of $160,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to Direct Farm Manitoba to purchase a software platform that will allow Manitobans to order food online from local producers and farmers' markets. The funding will also go toward the development of a network of pick-up and delivery options to connect consumers with their orders, and the development of COVID-19 safe handling and packaging practices for producers and processors. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will immediately accept applications and expedite the approval process to help businesses and organizations develop, expand and enhance their current online presence. See OMAFRA's website here for information on how to apply. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated April 24, 2020 here. |
Increasing the Canadian Dairy Commission Borrowing Limit | |
DESCRIPTION | On May 15, 2020 the Government of Canada announced the adoption of amendments to the Canadian Dairy Commission Act that increase the Canadian Dairy Commission's (CDC) borrowing limit by $200 million (from $300 million to $500 million) to allow cheese and butter to be temporarily stored and avoid waste. |
LINKS |
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Surplus Food Purchase Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has announced the Surplus Food Purchase Program, a $50 million fund designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories, which could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local food organizations who are serving vulnerable Canadians. |
LINKS |
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Emergency Food Security Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | The federal government will provide additional funding of $100 million through the Emergency Food Security Fund which "builds on what we have already achieved through our first round of federal emergency funding, which is helping two million food insecure Canadians through 1,800 local-level projects." The funds will be supplied to national and regional organizations, who will then support food banks and local food organizations across Canada to improve access to food and increase food supply for vulnerable Canadians across the country, who are experiencing food insecurity because of global COVID-19 pandemic. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's website for further information. |
Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | Launched in partnership between Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Forage Capital Inc. – a Calgary-based venture capital firm – the Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund is set up to provide companies with the financial stability and flexibility they need to rebuild their business models during challenging times. Farm Credit Canada is the sole investor in the fund. The fund is set up to support a wide range of enterprises in the agribusiness and agri-food sector, including companies involved in primary production, agri-tech, manufacturing, packaging and distribution. The fund will help companies in times of need through innovative solutions such as convertible debt investments and other flexible financing solutions. Applications will be assessed individually on their merit, and will be supported to a maximum of $10 million. The primary goal of the Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund is to return recipient companies to a sound financial footing. To qualify, companies need to demonstrate an impact from an unexpected business disruption, such as the loss of a key supplier, temporary loss of a facility or permanent loss of critical staff or leadership. Funds cannot be used to repay shareholder loans or purchase shareholder equity positions. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | For more information on funding criteria and the application process, visit Forage Capital Inc.'s website. More information is expected to be provided in upcoming days. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 14, 2020 here. |
Agriculture Training Support Program | |
DESCRIPTION | 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. By providing up to $5 million in support to farmers, agri-businesses and food processors, the program helps offset the cost to train new employees safely in new agri-food roles. The program will support training for as many as 2,500 new jobs in Alberta. 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, approximately $1 million in funding will be targeted for meat processors to provide support for new hires to undertake meat-cutting training. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Applications are available online through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership's website. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. |
Emergency on Farm Support Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | On October 28, 2020, a $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to protect the health and safety of farm workers across the country was announced. The Fund was being deployed province by province to help farm operators, and ensure the health and safety of farm workers across the country. On November 4, 2020, The Prime Minister announced $7.5M under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to help Quebec farmers better protect the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. La Financiere Agricole du Quebec (FADQ) will administer the fund. |
LINKS | See Government of Canada's News Release for Quebec's new funding. |
Agri-food Workplace Protection Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $2.25 million in provincially licensed meat processing plants to better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), the first stream of the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program will provide funding to implement COVID-19 health and safety measures in provincially licensed meat plants, including purchasing additional personal protective equipment, redesigning workstations, supporting employees who require mandatory isolation, and work-site mobility and transportation. In addition, the federal and provincial governments are further investing up to $2.25 million to help farmers better protect employees and ensure the continued supply of healthy food products for consumers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The second intake of the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program aims to help farmers enhance health and safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The funding will be used for initiatives like purchasing personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and redesigning workstations. Support is also available for farmers who experience unexpected costs for housing and transportation as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak among on-farm employees. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is now accepting applications and will expedite the approval process to help support workplace health and safety in the agri-food sector. Eligible applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available. On June 12, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced that it is expanding the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program and committing up to $15 million to enhance health and safety measures on farms and in food processing facilities. The Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection program provides cost-share funding for farmers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and implement workplace modifications and other measures. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will begin accepting applications on May 12, 2020 and will expedite the approval process to get the necessary support to the agri-food sector faster. Eligible applications will be received and assessed on a continuous basis, while funding is available. More details on the program are available on the Ontario Government's website here. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's May 14, 2020 news release here. See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's May 8, 2020 news release here. |
Helping British Columbia agriculture and food businesses plan for COVID-19 recovery | |
DESCRIPTION | The latest intake of the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program is now open to applications and expanded to include aquaculture and seafood companies to develop COVID-19 business recovery plans. B.C. agriculture, seafood and food processing business owners are encouraged to apply if their revenues have decreased by at least 30% as a result of COVID-19. The funding available includes up to $5,000 in business planning services and coaching for individuals, and up to $20,000 for groups, from a qualified business consultant, to develop an immediate and long-term recovery plan. Eligible applicants may also apply to the specialized business planning stream of the program to further strengthen their business. Funding for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program is provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The partnership is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023. On October 28, 2020, the Government of Canada announced it was investing $4.9 million to further protect British Columbia farm workers during COVID-19. |
LINKS | See Government of Canada's News Release for Quebec's new funding. See Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's news release, October 27, 2020 for the investment of $4.9 million to further protect British Columbia farm workers during COVID-19. |
The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced an investment of up to $9.2 million to enhance the YESP and fund up to 700 new positions in the agriculture industry. The YESP will provide agriculture employers up to 50 per cent of the cost of hiring a Canadian youth up to $14,000. Indigenous applicants and those applicants hiring a youth facing barriers are eligible for funding of up to 80 per cent of their costs. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities. Employers may apply for this funding retroactive to April 1, 2020, with projects to be completed by March 31, 2021. |
LINKS | See Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's news release dated May 26, 2020 here. |
Funding for Quebec Agri-Food Businesses | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced over $10 million in funding from Canada Economic Development for the Quebec Region to help agri-food businesses grow and create jobs. The Minister emphasized that the Canadian agri-food industry has been hit hard by COVID-19. The Government of Canada has therefore taken significant action to help the industry get through this difficult period and is committed to providing the necessary tools needed to be part of our economic recovery and to emerge from the crisis stronger and more competitive than before. Thus, the government is working closely with Quebec agri-food businesses to help them innovate and increase their productivity, and thus create jobs. This financial assistance from CED will help these businesses enhance their productivity, specifically through the acquisition of digital and automated equipment, the diversification of their products and services, and the modernization of their facilities. The contributions will support the agri-food industry in its growth efforts and the achievement of its goals with respect to the transition to Enterprise 4.0—key aspects in maintaining the industry's competitiveness in a constantly changing market. |
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's press release on funding Quebec's agri-food industry here. |
Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced on April 25, 2020 that $62.5 million in new assistance will be provided to the fish and seafood processing sector. The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will help businesses:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will be delivered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Further details on how and when processors can apply for assistance will be confirmed at a later date. |
LINKS | See Fisheries and Oceans Canada's news release dated April 25, 2020 here. |
Increased Lending Capacity | |
DESCRIPTION | FCC will receive additional support that will allow for an additional $5 billion in lending capacity to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors. In addition, all eligible farmers who have an outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) loan due on or before April 30 will receive a Stay of Default, allowing them an additional six months to repay the loan. Applicable farmers who still have interest-free loans outstanding will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $100,000 interest-free portion for 2020-2021, as long as their total APP advances remain under the $1 million cap. |
LINKS |
DND Call to Innovative Thinkers for Solutions to COVID-19 challenges through the IDEaS Program | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Department of National Defence has announced an initial commitment of $15 million to call on innovators to find the solution to certain challenges that have resulted from COVID-19. The first three challenges focus on:
|
ACCESSIBILITY & ELIGIBILITY | Innovators can consult the IDEaS Program website here to learn more. |
LINKS | See the Department of National Defence's news release dated May 26, 2020 here. |
Creation of the Industry Strategy Council | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The new Industry Strategy Council will be chaired by Monique Leroux—a strong business leader with a distinguished career in Canadian finance. The council will serve as an advisory board to assess the scope and depth of COVID-19's impact on industries and inform government's understanding of specific sectoral pressures. By enlisting senior business leaders, the Council will build on Canada's strong partnerships between government and industry, notably the Economic Strategy Tables, to support Canadians and their jobs. This proactive and strategic approach is designed to bring the private sector to the table to directly share its perspective on the scope of the challenges being faced across industries. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. |
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has created the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF). The fund will help to:
This initiative includes two components:
$287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country. On Friday October, 2, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a top-up of $600 million for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to continue to help small businesses. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The initiative is implemented by the six regional development agencies which are familiar with their regions' economic realities. The top-up funding will be distributed through Canada's regional development agencies: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor), and Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
The Western Economic Diversification Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Businesses in Western Canada that are unable to access other existing government support measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). As the Regional Development Agency for western Canada, WD will work with key partners, like the Community Futures Network of Canada's offices across the region to help western Canadian businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $304 million will be available for western Canadian businesses. The fund will be offered through repayable loans on two tracks, repayment over 3 years starting in January 2023 :
The funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months. The repayment terms for loans up to $40,000 are the same as southern Ontario and Quebec with the 25% forgiveness if the balance of the contribution is repaid before December 31, 2022. Otherwise, the full loan will be repayable on a monthly basis over a 3 year term starting in January 2023 with a requirement that the full balance of the contribution be repaid by December 31, 2025. Loans greater than $40,000 and up to $1 million are 100% repayable over a 3 year term starting in January 2023. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The eligibility criteria for the WD's Relief Fund includes a maximum of 500 full time employees, current and intended future operations located in western Canada and consideration of available alternative government relief funding. The $40,000 and under loan program is also open to pre-revenue firms and businesses without salaried employees but not to sole proprietorships or not-for-profit organizations. Applicants will need to attest that the full amount of the relief was expended for operating costs and WD may request financials to substantiate that information down the road. The $1 million program is aimed at businesses with 2019 revenue of less than $10 million and pre-revenue businesses that received angel or venture capital funding. The application for the larger loan requires descriptions of the impact of COVID-19 on operations and how WD funding will help support the Western Canadian economy. Applicants will need to submit financials for the last two years and estimated 2020 cash flow needs from April 1 to September 30, 2020. Apply online for the fund through WD's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Western Economic Diversification Canada's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | |
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DESCRIPTION | Southern Ontario businesses that are unable to access other existing measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through FedDev Ontario. As the Regional Development Agency for southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario will work with key partners such as the Community Futures Development Corporations across the region to help southern Ontario businesses during these difficult times. A total of $252.4 million will be available for southern Ontario businesses as follows:
Repayable loans on two tracks, with repayment over 3 years starting in January 2023:
The loans are intended to cover operating costs for 3 months. On May 31, 2020, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario announced that the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario will received $30 million in FedDev Ontario Regional Relief and Recovery Fund funding to provide financial relief to destination marketing organizations across southern Ontario. The amount of funding available to each destination marketing organization will be determined by Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, based on the entities annual operating budget. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The FedDev program targets businesses located in southern Ontario with 1-499 full time employees that were viable prior to the pandemic and are now facing pressures due to COVID-19. Businesses will need to submit financial statements for the last two years as well as the most recent interim statements with their applications, as well as disclosure on revenue, angel and venture capital funding, outstanding debt and other factors. |
LINKS |
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Quebec businesses that are unable to access existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). As the Regional Development Agency for Quebec, CED will work with key partners such as the offices of the Réseau des SADC et CAE in the province to help Quebec businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $211 million will be available to Quebec businesses. The fund will offer repayable loans on two tracks, repayment starting in January 2023:
Funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months. Similar to the southern Ontario program, the Quebec repayment terms for loans up to $40,000 provide for forgiveness of 25% of the contribution if the balance is repaid before December 31, 2022. Otherwise, the full amount will be repayable over a 3 year term starting in January 2023 with a requirement that everything be repaid by December 31, 2025. Loans over $40,000 must be repaid in full over a 5 year term starting in January 2023. On June 8, 2020, the CED announced it is planning to grant up to $30 million to the PME MTL network through the RRRF. This support is aimed at Montréal businesses ineligible for other federal measures related to COVID-19 that are already in place. On June 9, 2020, the CED announced that of the $211 allocated to Quebec under the RRRF, $71.3 million has been granted to the Réseau des SADC et CAE. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The eligibility criteria for the CED's Relief Fund varies by industry and contributions are capped at a percentage of sales or operating costs as applicable to that particular type of business. Eligible businesses must use the funding to address financial pressures on liquidity and have a post-COVID viability perspective. More details on eligibility criteria for the local business track continue to be rolled out and updates will be provided in the following weeks. |
LINKS | See Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions' news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Atlantic Canadian businesses that are unable to access other existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA_. As the Regional Development Agency for Atlantic Canada, ACOA will work with key partners, such as Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) across the region to help Atlantic Canadian businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $110 million will be available for Atlantic Canadian businesses including:
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ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Applicants can apply for the fund through ACOA's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's news release dated May 13, 2020 here |
FedNor Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Northern Ontario businesses that are unable to access other existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through FedNor. As the Regional Development Agency for Northern Ontario, FedNor will work with key partners, such as Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across the region to help businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $49.5 million will be available for the region's businesses including:
The funding includes earmarked support for Indigenous organizations like settlement-owned businesses The funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | On May 31, 2020, FedNor announced that more than $7.6 million in funding will be provided to support 36 tourism initiatives led by communities, businesses and organizations in the region. For a breakdown of the 36 tourism initiatives in Northern Ontario, see FedNor's Backgrounder here. |
LINKS |
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Northern businesses will be able to access Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through CanNor. CanNor's portion of the RRRF will build on the supports provided by the Agency's Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) to fill further needs for immediate relief for SMEs and to ensure the stability of businesses in sectors that are vital to the recovery of the Northern economy. A total of $34.3 million will be available for territorial businesses through three tracks:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | For detailed information on how to access funding, visit CanNor's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide $15 million in additional funding to support women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). This money will go directly to select organizations that are currently WES Ecosystem Fund recipients and will help women entrepreneurs through the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional funds include the following:
The WES complements other government efforts to advance gender equality, including addressing pay equity, introducing more affordable childcare and putting an end to gender-based violence. In the Speech from the Throne (September 23 2020), a further commitment to strengthen the women entrepreneurship program and to develop an action plan for women in the economy. They intend to support women by making a long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide "accessible, affordable, inclusive and high-quality" early learning and childcare system. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The WES Ecosystem Fund is closed for proposals. Those already chosen to receive funding will benefit from the increase in funding. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 16, 2020 here. |
The Business Resilience Service | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade announced that the Government of Canada will support the launch of a four week hotline service. The Business Resilience Service will help entrepreneurs and small business owners in need of advice regarding financial planning. The hotline will be operated by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Small businesses with pressing financial needs can call 1-866-989-1080, seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 25, 2020 here. |
The Zero Plastic Waste Strategy | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to lay out a vision for a circular economy for plastics and to implement a two-phase action plan under the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste. The aim of the strategy is to strengthen existing programs and increase Canada's capacity to reuse and recover more plastics. Funding includes over $2M through the Zero Plastic Waste Initiative for 14 new Canadian-led plastic reduction initiatives. A key part of the plan is a ban on harmful single-use plastic items such as plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics. The news release issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada states: "This plan also proposes improvements to recover and recycle plastic, so it stays in our economy and out of the environment. The Government of Canada is proposing to establish recycled content requirements in products and packaging. This will drive investment in recycling infrastructure and spur innovation in technology and product design to extend the life of plastic materials." |
LINKS | The discussion paper Proposed Integrated Management Approach to Plastic Products to Prevent Waste and Pollution is open to public comments until December 9, 2020. The government then plans to finalize regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act by the end of 2021. |
Automotive Plant Investment | |
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DESCRIPTION | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a federal-provincial investment of $500 million to transform a Ford automotive plant into a plant dedicated to electric car manufacturing. While most of the press briefing focused on the investment at the Ford plant, the Prime Minister and Premier Ford did respond to some COVID related questions. Finally, both the Prime Minister and the Premier emphasized that the initiative to support electric car manufacturing is a plan for the future to ensure that Canadians have jobs once the pandemic is over. |
Measures to Support the Resilience of Financial Institutions | |
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DESCRIPTION | OFSI announced that it has taken a number of actions to support the resilience of federally regulated financial institutions during the COVID-19 crisis. These measures include:
|
LINKS | See "Support for Canadians and Businesses" on the Government of Canada's website here. |
Publication of Pandemic Info Share | |
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DESCRIPTION | The CCOHS has created an online space, Pandemic Info Share, to enable businesses and organizations to share their pandemic-related good practices and resources. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Pandemic Info Share is available in both French and English and users can search by industry/ sector, resource type, and topics. Good practices and resources can be submitted for consideration to Pandemic Info Share here |
LINKS |
Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Under IMPP the government will purchase up to $150 billion of insured mortgage pools through CMHC. To complement the IMPP, the eligibility criteria for portfolio insurance has been temporarily relaxed. CMHC also announced that it would expand the issuance of Canada Mortgage Bonds to a total annual issuance of up to $60 billion. The additional issuance will be dependent on market conditions and investor demand. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The CMHC requests that all inquiries related to IMPP be sent to impp@cmhc-schl.gc.ca NHA MBS Purchase Operation Eligibility, participation rules, and deadlines for offer submission are outlined on CMHC's website. Portfolio Insurance Effective March 24, 2020, the IMPP offers government-guaranteed insurance to the following mortgages funded prior to March 20, 2020:
|
LINKS | See CMHC's press release dated March 26, 2020 here. See CMHC's press release dated March 20, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's news release dated March 20, 2020 here. For Purchase Operations details visit the CMHC's webpage here. |
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada introduced the CERCA program for small businesses that will seek to provide loans and/or forgivable loans to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactively), May and June. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | On Friday, July 31st, the Government of Canada announced the extension of the CECRA for the month of August. The extension is intended to assist small businesses with paying rent for the month of August. Despite gradual lifting of restrictions and re-opening of businesses across the country, many small businesses continue to require support as they adapt to post-pandemic changes that have been introduced.
* For those property owners who do not have a mortgage, CMHC has noted that an alternative mechanism will be implemented.
Impacted small business tenants are businesses, including non-profit and charitable organizations who:
|
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's July 31st news release here. See the Prime Minister's May 25, 2020 news release here. Find detailed information about CECRA through CMHC on their COVID-19: CECRA website here. See the Prime Minister's announcement dated April 16, 2020 here |
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidiary | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The projected expenditure for the new rent support program, including the 25 per cent top up, was estimated at $2.2 billion from now until December 31, 2020. The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which will provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support directly to tenants until June 2021. The new rent subsidy will support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop caused by COVID-19, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020. A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy. This follows a commitment in the Speech from the Throne to provide direct financial support to businesses temporarily shut down because of a local public health decision. |
Rent Relief for Eligible Business Tenants in all National Parks, Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation Areas | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Business that are renters in Parks Canada are currently not eligible for CECRA, as often they (or their landlords) are on federal lands renting from a federal agency. The Government Canada announced on June 1, 2020 that such businesses will not be eligible for relief from rent under similar eligibility conditions to those of CECRA. The Government of Canada will waive up to 75 percent of eligible commercial rents for the months of April, May and June 2020 or equivalent amounts of annual rents. This relief is additional to measures announced March 27 allowing commercial operators to defer payments normally due on or after April 2, 2020 to as late as September 1, 2020. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Parks Canada will be contacting all holders of commercial leases and licences of occupation in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas to provide details on this additional relief being provided by the government. Information will also be made available soon on the Parks Canada website. Visit the Parks Canada website regularly for updates. |
LINKS |
Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | This Reaching Home Strategy was introduced to meet the goals of the recent National Housing Strategy. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Ahmed Hussen, announced the Government of Canada will provide $236.7 million through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy to help extend and expand the emergency response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This funding is in addition to the $157.5 million announced in April 2020 to help communities address the immediate impacts of the pandemic. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Strategy takes a community and outcomes based approach where the government is working with communities and giving them three year to introduce a Coordinated Access System to prioritize the most vulnerable members of their community to meet their housing needs. |
LINKS | See the Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy webpage See the Housing First webpage for the Outcomes-based approach the government implements See also, the Coordinated Access System webpage for process of targeting vulnerable populations. |
Rapid Housing Initiative | |||
---|---|---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Minister Hussen announced a $1billion Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating modular housing as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing. The RHI is the newest initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS). It is expected to enable the rapid creation of up to 3,000 new affordable housing units across the country and will help stimulate the economy. Details to this Initiative were released October 28. The aim of the $1 billion funding is to give the most vulnerable a safe place to live, by quickly cre | Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | |
DESCRIPTION | Southern Ontario businesses that are unable to access other existing measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through FedDev Ontario. As the Regional Development Agency for southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario will work with key partners such as the Community Futures Development Corporations across the region to help southern Ontario businesses during these difficult times. A total of $252.4 million will be available for southern Ontario businesses as follows:
Repayable loans on two tracks, with repayment over 3 years starting in January 2023:
The loans are intended to cover operating costs for 3 months. On May 31, 2020, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario announced that the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario will received $30 million in FedDev Ontario Regional Relief and Recovery Fund funding to provide financial relief to destination marketing organizations across southern Ontario. The amount of funding available to each destination marketing organization will be determined by Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, based on the entities annual operating budget. | ||
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The FedDev program targets businesses located in southern Ontario with 1-499 full time employees that were viable prior to the pandemic and are now facing pressures due to COVID-19. Businesses will need to submit financial statements for the last two years as well as the most recent interim statements with their applications, as well as disclosure on revenue, angel and venture capital funding, outstanding debt and other factors. | ||
LINKS |
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Quebec businesses that are unable to access existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED). As the Regional Development Agency for Quebec, CED will work with key partners such as the offices of the Réseau des SADC et CAE in the province to help Quebec businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $211 million will be available to Quebec businesses. The fund will offer repayable loans on two tracks, repayment starting in January 2023:
Funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months. Similar to the southern Ontario program, the Quebec repayment terms for loans up to $40,000 provide for forgiveness of 25% of the contribution if the balance is repaid before December 31, 2022. Otherwise, the full amount will be repayable over a 3 year term starting in January 2023 with a requirement that everything be repaid by December 31, 2025. Loans over $40,000 must be repaid in full over a 5 year term starting in January 2023. On June 8, 2020, the CED announced it is planning to grant up to $30 million to the PME MTL network through the RRRF. This support is aimed at Montréal businesses ineligible for other federal measures related to COVID-19 that are already in place. On June 9, 2020, the CED announced that of the $211 allocated to Quebec under the RRRF, $71.3 million has been granted to the Réseau des SADC et CAE. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The eligibility criteria for the CED's Relief Fund varies by industry and contributions are capped at a percentage of sales or operating costs as applicable to that particular type of business. Eligible businesses must use the funding to address financial pressures on liquidity and have a post-COVID viability perspective. More details on eligibility criteria for the local business track continue to be rolled out and updates will be provided in the following weeks. |
LINKS | See Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions' news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Atlantic Canadian businesses that are unable to access other existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA_. As the Regional Development Agency for Atlantic Canada, ACOA will work with key partners, such as Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) across the region to help Atlantic Canadian businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $110 million will be available for Atlantic Canadian businesses including:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Applicants can apply for the fund through ACOA's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's news release dated May 13, 2020 here |
FedNor Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Northern Ontario businesses that are unable to access other existing federal relief measures can now apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through FedNor. As the Regional Development Agency for Northern Ontario, FedNor will work with key partners, such as Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across the region to help businesses get through these difficult times. A total of $49.5 million will be available for the region's businesses including:
The funding includes earmarked support for Indigenous organizations like settlement-owned businesses The funding is intended to cover operating costs for 6 months |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | On May 31, 2020, FedNor announced that more than $7.6 million in funding will be provided to support 36 tourism initiatives led by communities, businesses and organizations in the region. For a breakdown of the 36 tourism initiatives in Northern Ontario, see FedNor's Backgrounder here. |
LINKS |
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Regional Relief and Recovery Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | Northern businesses will be able to access Regional Relief and Recovery Fund support through CanNor. CanNor's portion of the RRRF will build on the supports provided by the Agency's Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) to fill further needs for immediate relief for SMEs and to ensure the stability of businesses in sectors that are vital to the recovery of the Northern economy. A total of $34.3 million will be available for territorial businesses through three tracks:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | For detailed information on how to access funding, visit CanNor's webpage here. |
LINKS | See Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency's news release dated May 13, 2020 here. |
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide $15 million in additional funding to support women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). This money will go directly to select organizations that are currently WES Ecosystem Fund recipients and will help women entrepreneurs through the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional funds include the following:
The WES complements other government efforts to advance gender equality, including addressing pay equity, introducing more affordable childcare and putting an end to gender-based violence. In the Speech from the Throne (September 23 2020), a further commitment to strengthen the women entrepreneurship program and to develop an action plan for women in the economy. They intend to support women by making a long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide "accessible, affordable, inclusive and high-quality" early learning and childcare system. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The WES Ecosystem Fund is closed for proposals. Those already chosen to receive funding will benefit from the increase in funding. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 16, 2020 here. |
The Business Resilience Service | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade announced that the Government of Canada will support the launch of a four week hotline service. The Business Resilience Service will help entrepreneurs and small business owners in need of advice regarding financial planning. The hotline will be operated by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Small businesses with pressing financial needs can call 1-866-989-1080, seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm. |
LINKS | See Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's news release dated May 25, 2020 here. |
The Zero Plastic Waste Strategy | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to lay out a vision for a circular economy for plastics and to implement a two-phase action plan under the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste. The aim of the strategy is to strengthen existing programs and increase Canada's capacity to reuse and recover more plastics. Funding includes over $2M through the Zero Plastic Waste Initiative for 14 new Canadian-led plastic reduction initiatives. A key part of the plan is a ban on harmful single-use plastic items such as plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics. The news release issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada states: "This plan also proposes improvements to recover and recycle plastic, so it stays in our economy and out of the environment. The Government of Canada is proposing to establish recycled content requirements in products and packaging. This will drive investment in recycling infrastructure and spur innovation in technology and product design to extend the life of plastic materials." |
LINKS | The discussion paper Proposed Integrated Management Approach to Plastic Products to Prevent Waste and Pollution is open to public comments until December 9, 2020. The government then plans to finalize regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act by the end of 2021. |
Automotive Plant Investment | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a federal-provincial investment of $500 million to transform a Ford automotive plant into a plant dedicated to electric car manufacturing. While most of the press briefing focused on the investment at the Ford plant, the Prime Minister and Premier Ford did respond to some COVID related questions. Finally, both the Prime Minister and the Premier emphasized that the initiative to support electric car manufacturing is a plan for the future to ensure that Canadians have jobs once the pandemic is over. |
Measures to Support the Resilience of Financial Institutions | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | OFSI announced that it has taken a number of actions to support the resilience of federally regulated financial institutions during the COVID-19 crisis. These measures include:
|
LINKS | See "Support for Canadians and Businesses" on the Government of Canada's website here. |
Publication of Pandemic Info Share | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The CCOHS has created an online space, Pandemic Info Share, to enable businesses and organizations to share their pandemic-related good practices and resources. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Pandemic Info Share is available in both French and English and users can search by industry/ sector, resource type, and topics. Good practices and resources can be submitted for consideration to Pandemic Info Share here |
LINKS |
Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP) | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Under IMPP the government will purchase up to $150 billion of insured mortgage pools through CMHC. To complement the IMPP, the eligibility criteria for portfolio insurance has been temporarily relaxed. CMHC also announced that it would expand the issuance of Canada Mortgage Bonds to a total annual issuance of up to $60 billion. The additional issuance will be dependent on market conditions and investor demand. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The CMHC requests that all inquiries related to IMPP be sent to impp@cmhc-schl.gc.ca NHA MBS Purchase Operation Eligibility, participation rules, and deadlines for offer submission are outlined on CMHC's website. Portfolio Insurance Effective March 24, 2020, the IMPP offers government-guaranteed insurance to the following mortgages funded prior to March 20, 2020:
|
LINKS | See CMHC's press release dated March 26, 2020 here. See CMHC's press release dated March 20, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's news release dated March 20, 2020 here. For Purchase Operations details visit the CMHC's webpage here. |
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada introduced the CERCA program for small businesses that will seek to provide loans and/or forgivable loans to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactively), May and June. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | On Friday, July 31st, the Government of Canada announced the extension of the CECRA for the month of August. The extension is intended to assist small businesses with paying rent for the month of August. Despite gradual lifting of restrictions and re-opening of businesses across the country, many small businesses continue to require support as they adapt to post-pandemic changes that have been introduced.
* For those property owners who do not have a mortgage, CMHC has noted that an alternative mechanism will be implemented.
Impacted small business tenants are businesses, including non-profit and charitable organizations who:
|
LINKS | See the Government of Canada's July 31st news release here. See the Prime Minister's May 25, 2020 news release here. Find detailed information about CECRA through CMHC on their COVID-19: CECRA website here. See the Prime Minister's announcement dated April 16, 2020 here |
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidiary | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | The projected expenditure for the new rent support program, including the 25 per cent top up, was estimated at $2.2 billion from now until December 31, 2020. The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which will provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support directly to tenants until June 2021. The new rent subsidy will support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop caused by COVID-19, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020. A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy. This follows a commitment in the Speech from the Throne to provide direct financial support to businesses temporarily shut down because of a local public health decision. |
Rent Relief for Eligible Business Tenants in all National Parks, Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation Areas | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Business that are renters in Parks Canada are currently not eligible for CECRA, as often they (or their landlords) are on federal lands renting from a federal agency. The Government Canada announced on June 1, 2020 that such businesses will not be eligible for relief from rent under similar eligibility conditions to those of CECRA. The Government of Canada will waive up to 75 percent of eligible commercial rents for the months of April, May and June 2020 or equivalent amounts of annual rents. This relief is additional to measures announced March 27 allowing commercial operators to defer payments normally due on or after April 2, 2020 to as late as September 1, 2020. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Parks Canada will be contacting all holders of commercial leases and licences of occupation in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas to provide details on this additional relief being provided by the government. Information will also be made available soon on the Parks Canada website. Visit the Parks Canada website regularly for updates. |
LINKS |
Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | This Reaching Home Strategy was introduced to meet the goals of the recent National Housing Strategy. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Ahmed Hussen, announced the Government of Canada will provide $236.7 million through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy to help extend and expand the emergency response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This funding is in addition to the $157.5 million announced in April 2020 to help communities address the immediate impacts of the pandemic. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The Strategy takes a community and outcomes based approach where the government is working with communities and giving them three year to introduce a Coordinated Access System to prioritize the most vulnerable members of their community to meet their housing needs. |
LINKS | See the Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy webpage See the Housing First webpage for the Outcomes-based approach the government implements See also, the Coordinated Access System webpage for process of targeting vulnerable populations. |
Rapid Housing Initiative | |
---|---|
DESCRIPTION | Minister Hussen announced a $1billion Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating modular housing as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing. The RHI is the newest initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS). It is expected to enable the rapid creation of up to 3,000 new affordable housing units across the country and will help stimulate the economy. Details to this Initiative were released October 28. The aim of the $1 billion funding is to give the most vulnerable a safe place to live, by quickly creating up to 3,000 new affordable housing units. It will be provided through two streams:
|
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Identified vulnerable populations such as Indigenous peoples, women, and person in rural and remote areas |
LINKS | See the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's webpage on the Rapid Housing Initiative |
Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) provides short term support, in the form of a non-repayable grant, for ongoing operational costs to small- and medium-sized territorial businesses impacted by economic disruptions due to COVID-19. The Fund will provide eligible territorial SMEs with short-term relief for operational costs in the form of a non-repayable grant ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $100,000. The funding will cover a maximum period of 4 months, retroactive to April 1, 2020. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The NBRF supports small and medium-sized territorial businesses operating in one or more of the territories, and which are currently, and expect to continue, operating at a loss as a direct result of economic disruptions associated with COVID-19. Note: Businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be prioritized. Applicants can view the NBRF application form here. Further information on NBRF is provided in the NBRF Guidelines. |
LINKS | See Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency's webpage on NBRF here. |
Support to Canada's Air Telecommunications Sector | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will not issue letters requesting payment for Part I licence fees by broadcasters for the 2020–21 fiscal year. The government will transfer necessary funds to the CRTC to support its operations. |
LINKS | See Canadian Heritage's news release dated March 30, 2020 here. |
COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations | |
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DESCRIPTION | The COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations will provide $500 million to help address the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so they can continue to support artists and athletes. The objectives of the funding are:
The Fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage and divided among select departmental programs and Portfolio agencies as well as key delivery organizations. Specifically:
|
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | At a minimum, eligible organizations will be required to attest the following in order to receive support:
In order to accelerate the distribution of funds, a two-phased approach will be followed: Phase I For funding recipients who are projecting a significant financial impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic: A formula-based top-up to recipients of the following arts and culture programs: Canada Periodical Fund, Canada Book Fund, Canada Music Fund (via FACTOR and Musicaction), Canada Arts Training Fund, Canada Arts Presentation Fund, Harbourfront Centre Funding Program, and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program. Funds to certain Sport Support Program and Athlete Assistance Program eligible recipients as well as formula-based top-ups to the bilateral sport agreements with provinces and territories will ensure funding is disbursed rapidly. Emergency funding will also be available to the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the provincial and territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies. Existing agreements will allow for efficient and accelerated delivery. Funds will also be distributed by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada to support their recipients. Measures will be in place to avoid any potential duplication of funding between the Department and these organizations. Phase I also includes support to the April 7, 2020, announcement of the Digital Citizen Initiative's Digital Citizen Contribution Program to help combat false and misleading COVID-19 information as well as the racism and stigmatization that are often the result. Further details on the application process and updated information on Phase 2 of the program is available online here. |
LINKS | See Canadian Heritage's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. See Canadian Heritage's Backgrounder on Emergency Support Fund here. See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Support to Canada's Food Supply | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada is providing $20 million to the CFIA to support critical food inspection. The investment will allow the CFIA to hire, train and equip additional staff to conduct critical inspection activities, reassign staff from within the Agency, and work closer with industry and trading partners to minimize supply disruptions during the crisis. |
LINKS | See the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's news release dated April 14, 2020 here |
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will provide bridge financing to Canada's largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going. The objective of this support is to help protect Canadian jobs, help Canadian businesses weather the current economic downturn, and avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms where possible. This support will not be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor will it provide financing to companies that otherwise 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. Through LEEFF Canada is making available loans of $60 million and above, based on the applicant's cash flow needs for the next 12 months. The loan size for each applicant will be assessed on a case by case basis based on demonstrated need. The government's support for large employers through LEEFF will be delivered by a subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV) and its subsidiary the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC), in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Department of Finance. Size/Principal Amount: The loan will be provided by way of two loan facilities: an unsecured facility equal to 80% of the aggregate loan and a secured facility equal to 20% of the aggregate loan amount. The minimum aggregate loan will be $60 million. The loan will be advanced in tranches over 12 months. Interest Rate: With respect to the unsecured facility, cumulative at 5% per annum payable quarterly in arrears. The interest rate will increase to 8% per annum on the one-year anniversary and will increase by a further 2% per annum each year thereafter. To reduce cash pressures, interest may be paid in-kind for the first two years of the loan. For the secured facility, the interest rate will be based on the interest rate of the borrower's existing secured debt. Term: The duration of the unsecured facility will be five years. The duration of the secured loan facility will match that of the borrower's existing secured debt. The borrower may prepay the loan at any time without penalty. Restriction: The borrower will be subject to certain operating requirements while the loan is outstanding including (i) prohibitions on dividends, capital distributions and share repurchases, and (ii) certain executive compensation restrictions. Covenants: The borrower will be subject to certain affirmative covenants while the loan is outstanding including (i) performance of obligations under existing pension plans; (ii) performance of material obligations under applicable collective bargaining agreements; and (iii) publishing an annual climate‑related financial disclosure report, highlighting how corporate governance, strategies, policies and practices will help manage climate-related risks and opportunities; and contribute to achieving Canada's commitments under the Paris Agreement and goal of net zero by 2050. Governance: CEEFC will reserve the right to appoint an observer to the board of the borrower. Conditions: Certain conditions will need to be satisfied before the initial advance of funds, which will include certain waivers from existing lenders or bondholders of the borrower. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | LEEFF will be open to large Canadian employers who
Large enterprises that meet the qualifying criteria for LEEFF may begin an application by completing the online enquiry form here and sending it to leeff-cuge@cdev.gc.ca. Alternately, interested applicants may send an email to leeff-cuge@cdev.gc.ca with the following information:
Applications for LEEFF opened on May 20, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated May 20, 2020 here. See the Prime Minister's announcement dated May 11, 2020 here. |
Relief to Importers of Certain Medical Goods | |
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DESCRIPTION | On May 6, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that the government is waiving tariffs on certain medical goods including personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. Tariff relief for these goods will remain in place for as long as necessary to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments who are responsible for the property owner-tenant relationships. The Government has stated that more information will be available soon. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated May 6, 2020 here |
Relief for Federally Regulated Pension Plan Sponsors | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide immediate, temporary relief to sponsors of federally regulated, defined benefit pension plans. On May 27, 2020 the Solvency Special Payment Relief Regulations, 2020 under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 came into force, which establish a moratorium on solvency special payments. Under the regulations, from May 29, 2020 until December 30, 2020, federally regulated defined benefit pension plan sponsors are not required to make solvency special payments. The regulations also provide accommodations for solvency special payments made since April 1, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated April 15, 2020 here |
Deferring Payments on Commercial Leases and Licenses of Occupation for Tourism Operators | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will work with tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas to defer payments on commercial leases and licenses of occupation without interest until September 1, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Orphan and Inactive Oil and Gas Wells | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide funding to sustain jobs in the energy sector while cleaning up the environment. This includes:
Under the program, clean-up work would be considered an essential service. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Government of Canada | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government has also committed to strengthen the country's health infrastructure by working with provinces to establish standards for long-term care, accelerate steps for a national, universal pharmacare program, enhance virtual delivery of health care, continue to address the opioid crisis, and further increase access to mental health resources. The Government has promised to help the provinces increase their testing capacity and to pursue every technology and every option for faster tests for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Government will also create a federal Testing Assistance Response Team to meet quickly surging testing needs, including in remote and isolated communities. On October 8, 2020 the government announced an investment of more than $10.2M in COVID-19 mental health and substance use research. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The provinces. |
Additional Support to Futurepreneur Canada | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide $20.1 million in support to young entrepreneurs across Canada who are facing challenges due to COVID-19. Futurepreneur Canada offers loans up to $60,000 CAD for eligible entrepreneurs. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | General Eligibility Requirements include:
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LINKS |
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Oil and Gas Sector | |
DESCRIPTION | $750 million is allocated to Natural Resources Canada over two years, starting in 2020-21, to create a new repayable loan program to work with conventional and offshore oil and gas companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Of this amount, $75 million will be allocated to investments in the offshore sector. A portion of these loans will be convertible to grants. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | This program will support eligible energy sector firms in making capital investments necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on methane. For example, the program could support investments in pumps, valves and other capital equipment that will reduce methane emissions. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Executive Talent Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Executive Talent Program is designed to help Canadian start-ups or SMEs within the natural product sector achieve key growth milestones through a new hire of a C-level or other senior-level executive within the company. Companies can receive a repayable contribution of up to 50% toward the cost of the new executive's salary to a maximum of $50,000. The financing can be used to hire the executive for six months of full-time employment or 12 months of part-time employment. The company will be required to contribute 50% of the cost over the program period¹ and to repay the contribution after the end of the program period. The program is intended to permanently expand the expertise of the executive team to enable new growth opportunities. The repayment of the NPC contribution is interest free for up to 18 months from the end of the program period and any portion after that shall accrue interest at a rate of 5% per annum. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To be eligible for the program, companies must be:
The executive eligibility requirements are as follows:
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LINKS | See Natural Products Canada Executive Talent Program Guidelines here. |
Proof of Concept Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Proof of Concept Program is designed to help establish the commercial feasibility of early stage, innovative natural products and technologies in order to attract and de-risk subsequent investment. The program is open to Canadian academic research institutes, start-up companies, and SMEs. Applicants can receive up to 50% of the cost of the proof of concept plan to a maximum of $100,000 during the Program Period (not to exceed 12 months). The applicant will be required to contribute 50% of the cost over the Program Period. The program does not support basic research or preliminary product/technology development. It is intended to demonstrate commercial potential via preliminary animal, field, demonstration or human trials. For academic research institutes, the program is conditionally repayable and is intended to move a product or technology from intellectual property disclosure to near term spin-out and/or licensing opportunities. For start-ups and SMEs, the program is repayable and is intended to demonstrate commercial feasibility of early stage products and technologies. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To be eligible for the program, companies must be:
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LINKS | See Natural Product Canada Proof of Concept Program Guidelines here. |
The Industrial Research Assistance Program Innovation Assistance Program (IRAP IAP) | ||
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has announced $250 million in funding for the Innovation Assistance Program (IAP) to assist Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises. IRAP IAP provides a wage subsidy (the amount of which has not yet been published) to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks. SMEs pursuing technology-driven innovation who have been unable to secure funding under the CEWS are eligible | See the Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy webpage See the Housing First webpage for the Outcomes-based approach the government implements See also, the Coordinated Access System webpage for process of targeting vulnerable populations. |
Rapid Housing Initiative | |
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DESCRIPTION | Minister Hussen announced a $1billion Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating modular housing as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing. The RHI is the newest initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS). It is expected to enable the rapid creation of up to 3,000 new affordable housing units across the country and will help stimulate the economy. Details to this Initiative were released October 28. The aim of the $1 billion funding is to give the most vulnerable a safe place to live, by quickly creating up to 3,000 new affordable housing units. It will be provided through two streams:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Identified vulnerable populations such as Indigenous peoples, women, and person in rural and remote areas |
LINKS | See the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's webpage on the Rapid Housing Initiative |
Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Northern Business Relief Fund (NBRF) provides short term support, in the form of a non-repayable grant, for ongoing operational costs to small- and medium-sized territorial businesses impacted by economic disruptions due to COVID-19. The Fund will provide eligible territorial SMEs with short-term relief for operational costs in the form of a non-repayable grant ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $100,000. The funding will cover a maximum period of 4 months, retroactive to April 1, 2020. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The NBRF supports small and medium-sized territorial businesses operating in one or more of the territories, and which are currently, and expect to continue, operating at a loss as a direct result of economic disruptions associated with COVID-19. Note: Businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be prioritized. Applicants can view the NBRF application form here. Further information on NBRF is provided in the NBRF Guidelines. |
LINKS | See Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency's webpage on NBRF here. |
Support to Canada's Air Telecommunications Sector | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will not issue letters requesting payment for Part I licence fees by broadcasters for the 2020–21 fiscal year. The government will transfer necessary funds to the CRTC to support its operations. |
LINKS | See Canadian Heritage's news release dated March 30, 2020 here. |
COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations | |
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DESCRIPTION | The COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations will provide $500 million to help address the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so they can continue to support artists and athletes. The objectives of the funding are:
The Fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage and divided among select departmental programs and Portfolio agencies as well as key delivery organizations. Specifically:
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ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | At a minimum, eligible organizations will be required to attest the following in order to receive support:
In order to accelerate the distribution of funds, a two-phased approach will be followed: Phase I For funding recipients who are projecting a significant financial impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic: A formula-based top-up to recipients of the following arts and culture programs: Canada Periodical Fund, Canada Book Fund, Canada Music Fund (via FACTOR and Musicaction), Canada Arts Training Fund, Canada Arts Presentation Fund, Harbourfront Centre Funding Program, and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program. Funds to certain Sport Support Program and Athlete Assistance Program eligible recipients as well as formula-based top-ups to the bilateral sport agreements with provinces and territories will ensure funding is disbursed rapidly. Emergency funding will also be available to the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the provincial and territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies. Existing agreements will allow for efficient and accelerated delivery. Funds will also be distributed by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada to support their recipients. Measures will be in place to avoid any potential duplication of funding between the Department and these organizations. Phase I also includes support to the April 7, 2020, announcement of the Digital Citizen Initiative's Digital Citizen Contribution Program to help combat false and misleading COVID-19 information as well as the racism and stigmatization that are often the result. Further details on the application process and updated information on Phase 2 of the program is available online here. |
LINKS | See Canadian Heritage's news release dated May 8, 2020 here. See Canadian Heritage's Backgrounder on Emergency Support Fund here. See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Support to Canada's Food Supply | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada is providing $20 million to the CFIA to support critical food inspection. The investment will allow the CFIA to hire, train and equip additional staff to conduct critical inspection activities, reassign staff from within the Agency, and work closer with industry and trading partners to minimize supply disruptions during the crisis. |
LINKS | See the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's news release dated April 14, 2020 here |
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will provide bridge financing to Canada's largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going. The objective of this support is to help protect Canadian jobs, help Canadian businesses weather the current economic downturn, and avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms where possible. This support will not be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor will it provide financing to companies that otherwise 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. Through LEEFF Canada is making available loans of $60 million and above, based on the applicant's cash flow needs for the next 12 months. The loan size for each applicant will be assessed on a case by case basis based on demonstrated need. The government's support for large employers through LEEFF will be delivered by a subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV) and its subsidiary the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC), in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Department of Finance. Size/Principal Amount: The loan will be provided by way of two loan facilities: an unsecured facility equal to 80% of the aggregate loan and a secured facility equal to 20% of the aggregate loan amount. The minimum aggregate loan will be $60 million. The loan will be advanced in tranches over 12 months. Interest Rate: With respect to the unsecured facility, cumulative at 5% per annum payable quarterly in arrears. The interest rate will increase to 8% per annum on the one-year anniversary and will increase by a further 2% per annum each year thereafter. To reduce cash pressures, interest may be paid in-kind for the first two years of the loan. For the secured facility, the interest rate will be based on the interest rate of the borrower's existing secured debt. Term: The duration of the unsecured facility will be five years. The duration of the secured loan facility will match that of the borrower's existing secured debt. The borrower may prepay the loan at any time without penalty. Restriction: The borrower will be subject to certain operating requirements while the loan is outstanding including (i) prohibitions on dividends, capital distributions and share repurchases, and (ii) certain executive compensation restrictions. Covenants: The borrower will be subject to certain affirmative covenants while the loan is outstanding including (i) performance of obligations under existing pension plans; (ii) performance of material obligations under applicable collective bargaining agreements; and (iii) publishing an annual climate‑related financial disclosure report, highlighting how corporate governance, strategies, policies and practices will help manage climate-related risks and opportunities; and contribute to achieving Canada's commitments under the Paris Agreement and goal of net zero by 2050. Governance: CEEFC will reserve the right to appoint an observer to the board of the borrower. Conditions: Certain conditions will need to be satisfied before the initial advance of funds, which will include certain waivers from existing lenders or bondholders of the borrower. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | LEEFF will be open to large Canadian employers who
Large enterprises that meet the qualifying criteria for LEEFF may begin an application by completing the online enquiry form here and sending it to leeff-cuge@cdev.gc.ca. Alternately, interested applicants may send an email to leeff-cuge@cdev.gc.ca with the following information:
Applications for LEEFF opened on May 20, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated May 20, 2020 here. See the Prime Minister's announcement dated May 11, 2020 here. |
Relief to Importers of Certain Medical Goods | |
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DESCRIPTION | On May 6, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that the government is waiving tariffs on certain medical goods including personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. Tariff relief for these goods will remain in place for as long as necessary to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments who are responsible for the property owner-tenant relationships. The Government has stated that more information will be available soon. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated May 6, 2020 here |
Relief for Federally Regulated Pension Plan Sponsors | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide immediate, temporary relief to sponsors of federally regulated, defined benefit pension plans. On May 27, 2020 the Solvency Special Payment Relief Regulations, 2020 under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 came into force, which establish a moratorium on solvency special payments. Under the regulations, from May 29, 2020 until December 30, 2020, federally regulated defined benefit pension plan sponsors are not required to make solvency special payments. The regulations also provide accommodations for solvency special payments made since April 1, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's news release dated April 15, 2020 here |
Deferring Payments on Commercial Leases and Licenses of Occupation for Tourism Operators | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will work with tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas to defer payments on commercial leases and licenses of occupation without interest until September 1, 2020. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Orphan and Inactive Oil and Gas Wells | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide funding to sustain jobs in the energy sector while cleaning up the environment. This includes:
Under the program, clean-up work would be considered an essential service. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Government of Canada | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government has also committed to strengthen the country's health infrastructure by working with provinces to establish standards for long-term care, accelerate steps for a national, universal pharmacare program, enhance virtual delivery of health care, continue to address the opioid crisis, and further increase access to mental health resources. The Government has promised to help the provinces increase their testing capacity and to pursue every technology and every option for faster tests for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Government will also create a federal Testing Assistance Response Team to meet quickly surging testing needs, including in remote and isolated communities. On October 8, 2020 the government announced an investment of more than $10.2M in COVID-19 mental health and substance use research. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The provinces. |
Additional Support to Futurepreneur Canada | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada will provide $20.1 million in support to young entrepreneurs across Canada who are facing challenges due to COVID-19. Futurepreneur Canada offers loans up to $60,000 CAD for eligible entrepreneurs. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | General Eligibility Requirements include:
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LINKS |
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Oil and Gas Sector | |
DESCRIPTION | $750 million is allocated to Natural Resources Canada over two years, starting in 2020-21, to create a new repayable loan program to work with conventional and offshore oil and gas companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Of this amount, $75 million will be allocated to investments in the offshore sector. A portion of these loans will be convertible to grants. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | This program will support eligible energy sector firms in making capital investments necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on methane. For example, the program could support investments in pumps, valves and other capital equipment that will reduce methane emissions. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's backgrounder on New Support to Protect Canadian Jobs here |
Executive Talent Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Executive Talent Program is designed to help Canadian start-ups or SMEs within the natural product sector achieve key growth milestones through a new hire of a C-level or other senior-level executive within the company. Companies can receive a repayable contribution of up to 50% toward the cost of the new executive's salary to a maximum of $50,000. The financing can be used to hire the executive for six months of full-time employment or 12 months of part-time employment. The company will be required to contribute 50% of the cost over the program period¹ and to repay the contribution after the end of the program period. The program is intended to permanently expand the expertise of the executive team to enable new growth opportunities. The repayment of the NPC contribution is interest free for up to 18 months from the end of the program period and any portion after that shall accrue interest at a rate of 5% per annum. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To be eligible for the program, companies must be:
The executive eligibility requirements are as follows:
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LINKS | See Natural Products Canada Executive Talent Program Guidelines here. |
Proof of Concept Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The Proof of Concept Program is designed to help establish the commercial feasibility of early stage, innovative natural products and technologies in order to attract and de-risk subsequent investment. The program is open to Canadian academic research institutes, start-up companies, and SMEs. Applicants can receive up to 50% of the cost of the proof of concept plan to a maximum of $100,000 during the Program Period (not to exceed 12 months). The applicant will be required to contribute 50% of the cost over the Program Period. The program does not support basic research or preliminary product/technology development. It is intended to demonstrate commercial potential via preliminary animal, field, demonstration or human trials. For academic research institutes, the program is conditionally repayable and is intended to move a product or technology from intellectual property disclosure to near term spin-out and/or licensing opportunities. For start-ups and SMEs, the program is repayable and is intended to demonstrate commercial feasibility of early stage products and technologies. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To be eligible for the program, companies must be:
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LINKS | See Natural Product Canada Proof of Concept Program Guidelines here. |
The Industrial Research Assistance Program Innovation Assistance Program (IRAP IAP) | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has announced $250 million in funding for the Innovation Assistance Program (IAP) to assist Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises. IRAP IAP provides a wage subsidy (the amount of which has not yet been published) to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks. SMEs pursuing technology-driven innovation who have been unable to secure funding under the CEWS are eligible and can apply for financial assistance under IRAP IAP. As of November 6, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada is providing over $155 million to extend the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program's (NRC IRAP) Innovation Assistance Program (IRAP IAP). |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Companies must meet the following to be eligible:
This program is not available as additional funding for current or future IRAP projects. The extension of the program will allow existing recipients meeting the eligibility criteria to access funding, on a priority basis, for the period of June 24, 2020 through December 19, 2020. The call for applications will close Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Successful applicants are expected to begin receiving payments starting the week of May 11, 2020. |
LINKS | See the NRC's IRAP IAP website here. See the NRC's FAQ on the IRAP IAP program here. See the November 6 News Release outlining the extension of the IRAP. |
The COVID-19 Challenges Procurement Program | |
DESCRIPTION | This program will post challenges seeking near-to-market solutions from small and medium-sized businesses (fewer than 500 staff) that need financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to refine and sell their product or solution to meet a COVID-19 related need. Through this initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC) will establish a number of challenges corresponding to needs of health providers to deal with COVID-19 Together, NRC IRAP and Innovative Solutions Canada will:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Innovative Solutions Canada already has challenges in development, which they will begin posting to their website in the coming days. These will continue as PHAC, HC, and health care providers request new topics. Companies with promising technology relevant to the COVID-19 challenges can register their technology or product by clicking on the Register button found on NRC's COVID-19 webpage here. |
LINKS |
The Pandemic Response Challenge Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The NRC will receive $15M to form dedicated teams to address challenges in the areas of greatest research and development (R&D) need in the fight against COVID-19. The NRC Pandemic Response Challenge Program will accelerate the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures for a rapid front-line response to protect and treat Canadians. The Pandemic Response Challenge Program is currently structured around 3 main research areas:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Researchers at Canadian and international universities, government departments, colleges, and highly innovative firms with relevant expertise can now register their interest to work on these challenges through the NRC's COVID-19 webpage here. Funding is available to help cover the costs of research for academic institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, and other eligible recipients participating in the challenge teams. |
LINKS |
Biomanufacturing Capacity at Royalmount | |
DESCRIPTION | A $15 million investment will fund the certification of the NRC Biomanufacturing facility in Montreal for Good Manufacturing Practices compliance, and will enable production of material that will be used in humans, particularly for vaccines or therapeutics. This certification can also greatly increase the capacity for candidate vaccines or therapeutics to be quickly rolled out and clinically tested, particularly those originating from Canada. The work to refine and certify quality systems at the facility will include:
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LINKS |
Funding for National Museums and the National Battlefield's Commission | |
DESCRIPTION | On June 19, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $25.7 million in emergency funding for Canada's six national museums - the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canada Science and Technology Museum - and the National Battlefields Commission. The purpose of this funding is to support cultural and heritage organizations, as these organizations are drivers of innovation. |
LINKS |
Funding for Canadian Institutes of Health Research and provincial competition partners | |
DESCRIPTION | Total funding of $109.7 million was awarded to 139 research teams across Canada for COVID-19 related research under the second rapid research funding competition of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and provincial competition partners. The funding will support projects across various research areas, including:
The Government of Canada is providing the bulk of the funding for this research with $102.6 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and $6.6 million from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Provincial partners include Alberta Innovates (AI) with funding of $100,000; Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) in British Columbia with funding of $150,000; Research Manitoba (RMB) and Research Nova Scotia (RNS) with each funding of $100,000; Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) with funding of $50,000, and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). On Tuesday September 29, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau announced an additional $400 million in international development funding this year to support trusted partners on the ground fighting COVID 19 as well as the recovery and resilience of developing countries. |
LINKS | Read more about the Government of Canada's funding for Canadian Institutes of Health Research here |
Government of Canada | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has signed agreements with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to secure up to 72 million doses of their COVID-19 adjuvanted recombinant protein-based vaccine candidate. To date, the Government of Canada has allocated $1 billion for the five agreements that are in place. This includes some upfront payments that the pharmaceutical companies require to support vaccine development, testing and at-risk manufacturing. The government is continuing negotiations for access to other leading vaccine candidates. The Government of Canada has also signed two contracts with SiO2 International Inc. to purchase syringes and vials for use in filling up to 80 million doses of vaccine, with deliveries beginning this month. The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced on Tuesday September 30, that the Government of Canada had signed an agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC to purchase up to 7.9 million ID NOW rapid point-of-care tests, pending Health Canada approval of the tests. If approved, these tests would be deployed to provinces and territories to support them in ramping up surge capacity for COVID-19 testing. During Wednesday's question period (September 30) in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Trudeau said Health Canada had confirmed official approval of the rapid test. This approval came a day after Minister Anita Anand had announced an agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC to purchase up to 7.9 million ID NOW rapid point-of-care tests. On October 6, 2020, the Government of Canada had signed a new agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics to purchase up to 20.5 million Panbio COVID-19 Antigen rapid tests. The Panbio COVID-19 Antigen rapid test has two distinct advantages. The test is easy to perform with limited training. Results, which are available in about 20 minutes, can be analyzed on site. On October 5th, the Prime Minister reminded the public that Health Canada received last week its first submission for authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with the University of Oxford. On October 23, 2020, the government of Canada announced its investment of $214 million to advance the development of Canadian COVID-19 vaccine technologies. This includes:
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CanExport SMEs | |
DESCRIPTION | Applicants for this program can apply online for up to $75,000 in CanExport SMEs funding to cover up to 75% of their international market development activities. Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may choose up to (5) export markets to target, where their company has no or minimal business. Activities eligible for CanExport SMEs funding include:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | SMEs must meet the following to be eligible:
See the CanExport SMEs Program Applicant's Guide here for detailed information on how to apply. For detailed information on how the program has been specifically impacted by COVID-19, visit the CanExport SMEs FAQ page. |
LINKS |
Support to Canada's Airport Authorities | |
DESCRIPTION | To help airports reduce cost pressures and preserve cash flow as they deal with the effects of COVID-19 on their revenue, the government is waiving rents paid on ground leases for the 21 airport authorities that form part of the National Airport System and that pay rent to the government. The government will waive rent payments for March 2020 through December 2020. The government is also providing comparable treatment for PortsToronto, which operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, by waiving payments made to the federal government on revenues generated by the airport. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The 21 National Airport System airport authorities covered by this measure are not-for-profit, non-share capital corporations that pay rents to operate airports in Canada under long-term leases with Transport Canada. Rents are based on revenues earned from operating the airports and related lands, which are owned by the government. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's webpage updated March 30, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's news release dated March 30, 2020 here. |
New Measured for Ferries and Commercial Passenger Vehicles | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Transport has announced new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on commercial passenger vessels and ferries. The mandatory requirements and new measures will:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The new measures are in effect as of April 6, 2020 The new measures preventing vessel activity do not apply to:
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LINKS | See Transport Canada's news release dated April 5, 2020 here. |
New Measures For Pleasure Craft In Northern Communities | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Transport has introduced new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in remote and vulnerable Arctic communities. As of June 1, 2020, pleasure craft will be prohibited from operating within Canada's Arctic coastal waters (north of the 60th parallel), as well as in the coastal areas of northern Quebec and Labrador. These measures will remain in place until at least October 31, 2020. These restrictions do not apply to pleasure craft used by local communities, or used for purposes such as essential transportation or subsistence fishing, harvesting and hunting. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Canadians who want to operate their pleasure craft in non-Arctic coastal waters (south of the 60th parallel), as well as on inland lakes and rivers anywhere in Canada, should follow the guidance of their local health authority. Where boating is allowed, people must continue to take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19, including practising good hygiene and frequent hand washing; and respecting physical distancing advice. Recreational boaters can also wear a non-medical mask or face covering as an additional measure when physical distancing is not possible in public settings. |
LINKS | See Transport Canada's news release dated May 14, 2020 here. |
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The CEWS will provide eligible employers with a 75% wage subsidy up to $58,700 per employee ($847 per week). The subsidy amount for a given employee on eligible remuneration paid between March 15 and June 6 will be the greater of:
This program will be applied retroactively as of March 15, 2020. The program will be in place for a 12- week period, from March 15, 2020 to June 6, 2020. On May 15, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that it will extend the CEWS by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. Amounts received by employees through EI pursuant to a Work Sharing Program and amounts received by employers pursuant to the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (see next row) will reduce CEWS amounts. Additionally, the government has proposed to expand the CEWS by providing a 100% refund for certain employer-paid contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. The refund will fully cover these contributions for eligible employees for each week throughout which those employees are on leave with pay and for which the employer is eligible to claim for the CEWS for those employees. This refund would not be subject to the weekly maximum benefit per employee of $847 that an eligible employer may claim in respect of the CEWS, and there would be no overall limit on the refund amount that an eligible employer may claim. The subsidy is extended until next summer. As of October 8, 2020, an additional $6 billion was added to the CEWS program expenditure because the maximum base subsidy rate remains at 65% rather than gradually declining to 20% in period 9, which ends on December 19, 2020. As of October 23, 2020, the airline industry received over $1 billion under CEWS. Discussions of a bailout are still in the works. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | On July 27, Bill C-20, An Act Respecting Further COVID measures, received Royal Assent. The legislation and provides changes to the CEWS Program. Read below for further details.
The employer must also:
On May 15, 2020, the Minister of Finance announced the approval of regulations that to extend eligibility for the CEWS to the following groups:
The changes to eligibility are retroactive to April 11, 2020, meaning that they apply to the first qualifying period starting March 15, 2020. Qualifying Periods and Requisite Revenue Reduction for each period are as follows:
Period Two
Period Three
Period Four
Bill C-20 introduced the following key changes to the program to ensure a safe restart to the economy.
The reference period for eligibility is the same month of the prior year, or an average of revenues for the two months preceding the period in the previous year (for example, the reference time for period one eligibility is March 2019 or an average of January and February 2019). Once a metric is chosen, it must be used consistently. Eligible employees must be:
Non arm's-length employees (e.g. owners/ shareholders) will be eligible if they were previously on payroll.
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LINKS | See Natural Product Canada Proof of Concept Program Guidelines here. |
The Industrial Research Assistance Program Innovation Assistance Program (IRAP IAP) | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has announced $250 million in funding for the Innovation Assistance Program (IAP) to assist Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises. IRAP IAP provides a wage subsidy (the amount of which has not yet been published) to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks. SMEs pursuing technology-driven innovation who have been unable to secure funding under the CEWS are eligible and can apply for financial assistance under IRAP IAP. As of November 6, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada is providing over $155 million to extend the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program's (NRC IRAP) Innovation Assistance Program (IRAP IAP). |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Companies must meet the following to be eligible:
This program is not available as additional funding for current or future IRAP projects. The extension of the program will allow existing recipients meeting the eligibility criteria to access funding, on a priority basis, for the period of June 24, 2020 through December 19, 2020. The call for applications will close Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Successful applicants are expected to begin receiving payments starting the week of May 11, 2020. |
LINKS | See the NRC's IRAP IAP website here. See the NRC's FAQ on the IRAP IAP program here. See the November 6 News Release outlining the extension of the IRAP. |
The COVID-19 Challenges Procurement Program | |
DESCRIPTION | This program will post challenges seeking near-to-market solutions from small and medium-sized businesses (fewer than 500 staff) that need financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to refine and sell their product or solution to meet a COVID-19 related need. Through this initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada (HC) will establish a number of challenges corresponding to needs of health providers to deal with COVID-19 Together, NRC IRAP and Innovative Solutions Canada will:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Innovative Solutions Canada already has challenges in development, which they will begin posting to their website in the coming days. These will continue as PHAC, HC, and health care providers request new topics. Companies with promising technology relevant to the COVID-19 challenges can register their technology or product by clicking on the Register button found on NRC's COVID-19 webpage here. |
LINKS |
The Pandemic Response Challenge Program | |
DESCRIPTION | The NRC will receive $15M to form dedicated teams to address challenges in the areas of greatest research and development (R&D) need in the fight against COVID-19. The NRC Pandemic Response Challenge Program will accelerate the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures for a rapid front-line response to protect and treat Canadians. The Pandemic Response Challenge Program is currently structured around 3 main research areas:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Researchers at Canadian and international universities, government departments, colleges, and highly innovative firms with relevant expertise can now register their interest to work on these challenges through the NRC's COVID-19 webpage here. Funding is available to help cover the costs of research for academic institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, and other eligible recipients participating in the challenge teams. |
LINKS |
Biomanufacturing Capacity at Royalmount | |
DESCRIPTION | A $15 million investment will fund the certification of the NRC Biomanufacturing facility in Montreal for Good Manufacturing Practices compliance, and will enable production of material that will be used in humans, particularly for vaccines or therapeutics. This certification can also greatly increase the capacity for candidate vaccines or therapeutics to be quickly rolled out and clinically tested, particularly those originating from Canada. The work to refine and certify quality systems at the facility will include:
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LINKS |
Funding for National Museums and the National Battlefield's Commission | |
DESCRIPTION | On June 19, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $25.7 million in emergency funding for Canada's six national museums - the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canada Science and Technology Museum - and the National Battlefields Commission. The purpose of this funding is to support cultural and heritage organizations, as these organizations are drivers of innovation. |
LINKS |
Funding for Canadian Institutes of Health Research and provincial competition partners | |
DESCRIPTION | Total funding of $109.7 million was awarded to 139 research teams across Canada for COVID-19 related research under the second rapid research funding competition of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and provincial competition partners. The funding will support projects across various research areas, including:
The Government of Canada is providing the bulk of the funding for this research with $102.6 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and $6.6 million from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Provincial partners include Alberta Innovates (AI) with funding of $100,000; Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) in British Columbia with funding of $150,000; Research Manitoba (RMB) and Research Nova Scotia (RNS) with each funding of $100,000; Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) with funding of $50,000, and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). On Tuesday September 29, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau announced an additional $400 million in international development funding this year to support trusted partners on the ground fighting COVID 19 as well as the recovery and resilience of developing countries. |
LINKS | Read more about the Government of Canada's funding for Canadian Institutes of Health Research here |
Government of Canada | |
DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada has signed agreements with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to secure up to 72 million doses of their COVID-19 adjuvanted recombinant protein-based vaccine candidate. To date, the Government of Canada has allocated $1 billion for the five agreements that are in place. This includes some upfront payments that the pharmaceutical companies require to support vaccine development, testing and at-risk manufacturing. The government is continuing negotiations for access to other leading vaccine candidates. The Government of Canada has also signed two contracts with SiO2 International Inc. to purchase syringes and vials for use in filling up to 80 million doses of vaccine, with deliveries beginning this month. The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced on Tuesday September 30, that the Government of Canada had signed an agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC to purchase up to 7.9 million ID NOW rapid point-of-care tests, pending Health Canada approval of the tests. If approved, these tests would be deployed to provinces and territories to support them in ramping up surge capacity for COVID-19 testing. During Wednesday's question period (September 30) in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Trudeau said Health Canada had confirmed official approval of the rapid test. This approval came a day after Minister Anita Anand had announced an agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC to purchase up to 7.9 million ID NOW rapid point-of-care tests. On October 6, 2020, the Government of Canada had signed a new agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics to purchase up to 20.5 million Panbio COVID-19 Antigen rapid tests. The Panbio COVID-19 Antigen rapid test has two distinct advantages. The test is easy to perform with limited training. Results, which are available in about 20 minutes, can be analyzed on site. On October 5th, the Prime Minister reminded the public that Health Canada received last week its first submission for authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with the University of Oxford. On October 23, 2020, the government of Canada announced its investment of $214 million to advance the development of Canadian COVID-19 vaccine technologies. This includes:
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CanExport SMEs | |
DESCRIPTION | Applicants for this program can apply online for up to $75,000 in CanExport SMEs funding to cover up to 75% of their international market development activities. Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may choose up to (5) export markets to target, where their company has no or minimal business. Activities eligible for CanExport SMEs funding include:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | SMEs must meet the following to be eligible:
See the CanExport SMEs Program Applicant's Guide here for detailed information on how to apply. For detailed information on how the program has been specifically impacted by COVID-19, visit the CanExport SMEs FAQ page. |
LINKS |
Support to Canada's Airport Authorities | |
DESCRIPTION | To help airports reduce cost pressures and preserve cash flow as they deal with the effects of COVID-19 on their revenue, the government is waiving rents paid on ground leases for the 21 airport authorities that form part of the National Airport System and that pay rent to the government. The government will waive rent payments for March 2020 through December 2020. The government is also providing comparable treatment for PortsToronto, which operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, by waiving payments made to the federal government on revenues generated by the airport. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The 21 National Airport System airport authorities covered by this measure are not-for-profit, non-share capital corporations that pay rents to operate airports in Canada under long-term leases with Transport Canada. Rents are based on revenues earned from operating the airports and related lands, which are owned by the government. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's webpage updated March 30, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's news release dated March 30, 2020 here. |
New Measured for Ferries and Commercial Passenger Vehicles | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Transport has announced new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on commercial passenger vessels and ferries. The mandatory requirements and new measures will:
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ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The new measures are in effect as of April 6, 2020 The new measures preventing vessel activity do not apply to:
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LINKS | See Transport Canada's news release dated April 5, 2020 here. |
New Measures For Pleasure Craft In Northern Communities | |
DESCRIPTION | The Minister of Transport has introduced new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in remote and vulnerable Arctic communities. As of June 1, 2020, pleasure craft will be prohibited from operating within Canada's Arctic coastal waters (north of the 60th parallel), as well as in the coastal areas of northern Quebec and Labrador. These measures will remain in place until at least October 31, 2020. These restrictions do not apply to pleasure craft used by local communities, or used for purposes such as essential transportation or subsistence fishing, harvesting and hunting. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Canadians who want to operate their pleasure craft in non-Arctic coastal waters (south of the 60th parallel), as well as on inland lakes and rivers anywhere in Canada, should follow the guidance of their local health authority. Where boating is allowed, people must continue to take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19, including practising good hygiene and frequent hand washing; and respecting physical distancing advice. Recreational boaters can also wear a non-medical mask or face covering as an additional measure when physical distancing is not possible in public settings. |
LINKS | See Transport Canada's news release dated May 14, 2020 here. |
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) | |
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DESCRIPTION | The CEWS will provide eligible employers with a 75% wage subsidy up to $58,700 per employee ($847 per week). The subsidy amount for a given employee on eligible remuneration paid between March 15 and June 6 will be the greater of:
This program will be applied retroactively as of March 15, 2020. The program will be in place for a 12- week period, from March 15, 2020 to June 6, 2020. On May 15, 2020 the Government of Canada announced that it will extend the CEWS by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. Amounts received by employees through EI pursuant to a Work Sharing Program and amounts received by employers pursuant to the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (see next row) will reduce CEWS amounts. Additionally, the government has proposed to expand the CEWS by providing a 100% refund for certain employer-paid contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. The refund will fully cover these contributions for eligible employees for each week throughout which those employees are on leave with pay and for which the employer is eligible to claim for the CEWS for those employees. This refund would not be subject to the weekly maximum benefit per employee of $847 that an eligible employer may claim in respect of the CEWS, and there would be no overall limit on the refund amount that an eligible employer may claim. The subsidy is extended until next summer. As of October 8, 2020, an additional $6 billion was added to the CEWS program expenditure because the maximum base subsidy rate remains at 65% rather than gradually declining to 20% in period 9, which ends on December 19, 2020. As of October 23, 2020, the airline industry received over $1 billion under CEWS. Discussions of a bailout are still in the works. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | On July 27, Bill C-20, An Act Respecting Further COVID measures, received Royal Assent. The legislation and provides changes to the CEWS Program. Read below for further details.
The employer must also:
On May 15, 2020, the Minister of Finance announced the approval of regulations that to extend eligibility for the CEWS to the following groups:
The changes to eligibility are retroactive to April 11, 2020, meaning that they apply to the first qualifying period starting March 15, 2020. Qualifying Periods and Requisite Revenue Reduction for each period are as follows:
Period Two
Period Three
Period Four
Bill C-20 introduced the following key changes to the program to ensure a safe restart to the economy.
The reference period for eligibility is the same month of the prior year, or an average of revenues for the two months preceding the period in the previous year (for example, the reference time for period one eligibility is March 2019 or an average of January and February 2019). Once a metric is chosen, it must be used consistently. Eligible employees must be:
Non arm's-length employees (e.g. owners/ shareholders) will be eligible if they were previously on payroll. Beginning April 27, 2020, certain financial institutions will offer CRA direct deposit online enrolment for business payroll accounts through their websites, helping businesses get their payments quickly and securely. Employers can sign up for direct deposit with their financial institutions even after applying for the CEWS. Employers are directed to visit the Canada Direct Deposit website or their financial institutions directly for more information. The Government of Canada has launched the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator to help employers as they prepare to apply for the CEWS. Employers who have used the calculator will be able to use the printable statement feature to enter required information into their application. According to the June 16, 2020 update, any changes to eligibility criteria, which are to be determined, will commence for periods 5 and/or 6. The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021 was announced on October 8, 2020.The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020. This measure is part of the government's commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic. |
LINKS | Read about Bill C-20, An Act Respecting Further COVID-19 Measures here. |
Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The subsidy is equal to 10% of the remuneration the employer pays from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee and to a maximum of $25,000 per employer. The subsidy must be calculated by the employer, or whoever is responsible for the employer's payroll remittances. The CRA will not automatically calculate the allowable subsidy. The subsidy calculation is based on the total number of eligible employees employed at any time during the three-month period. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Eligible employers must be
For employers that are eligible for both the CEWS and the temporary wage subsidy for a period, any benefit from the 10 per cent wage subsidy for remuneration paid in a specific period would generally reduce the amount available to be claimed under the CEWS in that same period. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance Canada's March 18, 2020 press release here. |
Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | Employers can use a SUB plan to increase their employees' weekly earnings when they are unemployed due to a temporary stoppage of work, training, illness, injury or quarantine. Employees who are off work temporarily and receiving regular or sickness EI benefits can receive supplementary payments from the employer to top up the employees earnings. A SUB plan must be registered with Service Canada in order for its benefits not to be considered employment earnings and thereby deductible from EI. A SUB plan can allow an employer to agree to make supplementary payments to any eligible employees. These payments, in conjunction with any EI or other benefits that the employee is receiving, cannot exceed 95% of the employee's regular weekly earnings. An employee whose net income (including EI and SUB) is above 1.25 times the maximum yearly insurable earnings may be required to repay some of the EI benefits received. The plan cannot provide that the SUB payment will be made in one lump sum payment; payments must be made periodically. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To register, an employer must create a SUB plan and submit it to Service Canada. There is no specific format but it must include a number of things:
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LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's SUB Program website here |
Deferral on Tax Payments | |
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DESCRIPTION | The CRA will allow all businesses to defer the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18, 2020 until August 31, 2020. The relief will apply to tax balances due as well as installments under Part I of the Income Tax Act. Interest and penalties will not accumulate on owing amounts during this period. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The filing date for corporations remains 6 months after the end of the corporation's tax year. The payment date for the current tax year has been extended to September 1, 2020. |
LINKS | Also see the Department of Finance's Press Release dated March 18, 2020 here. |
Deferral of Administrative Tax Measures | |
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DESCRIPTION | Unless otherwise noted, administrative income tax actions required of taxpayers by the CRA that are due after March 18, 2020, can be deferred to June 1, 2020. These administrative income tax actions include elections, designations and information requests. Payroll deductions payments and all related activities are excluded. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Deferral of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)/ Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Remittances and Customs Duty Payments | |
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DESCRIPTION | Businesses and self-employed individuals can defer payment of GST, HST, and customs duties owing on imports until June 30, 2020. The deferral will apply to GST/HST remittances for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods for monthly filers; the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period for quarterly filers; and for annual filers, the amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer's current fiscal year. For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, deferral will include amounts owing for March, April and May. No interest will apply if payments or remittances are made by the end of June, 2020. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Businesses in need of information about their particular obligations may contact the Canada Revenue Agency or refer to its website. Businesses in need of information about their particular accounting and payment obligations on imported goods may contact the Canada Border Services Agency for more details. |
LINKS | See the CRAs webpage "Support for Employers" dated March 31, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Relief from the Requirement to Pay (RTP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Banks and employers do not need to comply or remit on existing RTPs during this time. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Suspension on Collection and Audits | |
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DESCRIPTION | Collections Collections activities on new tax debts will be suspended until further notice, and the CRA has announced that flexible payment arrangements will be made available Audits The CRA has announced that it, generally, will not contact small or medium businesses to initiate any post-assessment GST/HST or income tax audits for the next four weeks Objections The CRA has identified objections related to Canadian's entitlement to benefits and credits as a critical service. The deadline for filing objections due March 18, 2020 or later has been extended to June 30, 2020. Objections related to other tax matters filed by individuals and businesses will be held in abeyance for the time being. |
LINKS |
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Relaxing Review Procedures for SR&ED Credit Submissions | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program has taken action to ensure claimants receive the credits to which they are entitled, as soon as possible. For the time being, no new reviews/audits will be started and existing reviews/audits will be completed as soon as possible so that businesses have access to their credits faster. Most refundable claims will be processed as soon as possible with minimal burden on the claimant. Claims accepted at this time may be subject to review/audit at a future date to ensure eligibility. |
LINKS |
Tax Filing and Electronic Signatures | |
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DESCRIPTION | On a temporary basis, the CRA will recognize electronic signatures as having met the signature requirement of the Income Tax Act. |
LINKS |
Funding for Provinces and Territories – Safe restart of economy | |
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DESCRIPTION | The federal government announced they would provide the provinces and territories with $19 billion for a safe restart of the economy. As part of the agreement, Ottawa will create a temporary national sick leave program — providing 10 days of paid sick leave to those who do not already have it through their employers — at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. As of October 8th, The Prime Minister announced that the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut would receive supplemental funds of over $37 million under the Safe Restart Agreement ("Agreement"). He said, when the provincial and territorial governments finalized the Agreement in July, they recognized that smaller jurisdictions faced distinct challenges and circumstances. The supplemental funds are for health care services and support to remote populations. The Prime Minister announced that territories would receive up to $41.41 million in support for air carriers to ensure that food, equipment and medicine reach people living in remote communities in a reliable and timely manner. A breakdown of the supplemental funding is provided:
As of October 14, the federal government confirmed their commitment to the Safe Restart Agreement. About 50 per cent of the $4.28 billion provided under the Safe Restart Agreement to support provinces and territories with the costs of increasing their capacity to conduct testing, perform contact tracing, and share public health data that will help fight the pandemic, had already been disbursed. The remaining 50 per cent will be disbursed according to an agreed schedule between the federal government, the provinces and the territories, he said. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Bill C-4, "An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19," expands the eligibility criteria for the new sick leave benefit beyond simply those workers who contract COVID-19. |
LINKS | Read more about the funding for Provinces and Territories here |
Relief Measures for Indigenous Businesses | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada is providing $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses. The funding comes by way of short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses. On June 11, 2020, the Government of Canada has committed a further $133 million on helping Indigenous businesses suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this funding, $117 million will help small and community-owned Indigenous businesses. $16 million of this additional investment will be provided to support Indigenous businesses in the tourism industry, a sector that supports thousands of jobs across the country. |
LINKS | See Indigenous Services Canada news release on the June 11, 2020 commitment. |
Indigenous Community Support Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada announced $305 million in funding to support Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. The Government of Canada recognizes that First Nation, Inuit and Métis are among the most at risk and face unique challenges in addressing COVID-19. It also recognizes that Indigenous leadership, governments and organizations are best placed to determine the needs of Indigenous Peoples and to develop community-based solutions that respond to these challenges. This fund can be used for a wide variety of measures such as supporting Elders and vulnerable community members, addressing food insecurity, educational and other supports for children, mental health assistance and emergency response services, preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and more. It will be distributed through a combination of allocations directly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership. This funding will be available to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, as well as Indigenous communities and organizations serving Indigenous peoples, including First Nations living off-reserve as well as Inuit and Métis living in urban centres, on an application basis. Further details will be forthcoming. On October 8th, the federal government assured the public that more resources would be mobilized for Indigenous communities to manage the second COVID wave. Specifically, the federal government would take steps to make vaccines and COVID testing available to indigenous communities. |
LINKS |
Black Entrepreneurship Program at HXOUSE | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Federal Government announced investments of up to nearly $221 million in partnership with Canadian financial institutions – including up to nearly $93 million from the Government of Canada over the next four years – to launch Canada's first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program. The new program is designed to help thousands of Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis and grow their businesses. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The program's three streams as follows.
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The reference period for eligibility is the same month of the prior year, or an average of revenues for the two months preceding the period in the previous year (for example, the reference time for period one eligibility is March 2019 or an average of January and February 2019). Once a metric is chosen, it must be used consistently.
Eligible employees must be:
Non arm's-length employees (e.g. owners/ shareholders) will be eligible if they were previously on payroll.
As of April 27, 2020, eligible employers can apply for the CEWS through the CRA's My Business Account portal.
Beginning April 27, 2020, certain financial institutions will offer CRA direct deposit online enrolment for business payroll accounts through their websites, helping businesses get their payments quickly and securely. Employers can sign up for direct deposit with their financial institutions even after applying for the CEWS. Employers are directed to visit the Canada Direct Deposit website or their financial institutions directly for more information.
The Government of Canada has launched the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator to help employers as they prepare to apply for the CEWS. Employers who have used the calculator will be able to use the printable statement feature to enter required information into their application.
According to the June 16, 2020 update, any changes to eligibility criteria, which are to be determined, will commence for periods 5 and/or 6.
The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021 was announced on October 8, 2020.The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020. This measure is part of the government's commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic.
LINKS
Read about Bill C-20, An Act Respecting Further COVID-19 Measures here.
See the Department of Finance's July 17, 2020 update here
See the Department of Finance's news release dated May 15, 2020 here.
See the Department of Finance's Backgrounder on Extending Eligibility for the CEWS dated May 15, 2020 here.
See Prime Minister Trudeau's COVID-19 news conference on CBC's May 8, 2020 article here.
See the CRA's news release on CEWS Application process dated April 27, 2020 here.
See the CRA's news release on the CEWS Calculator dated April 21, 2020 here
See the Government of Canada's "Additional Details on the CEWS" here
See the Department of Finance's news release dated April 11, 2020 here
See the Government of Canada's news release dated April 8, 2020 here
See the Government of Canada's backgrounder on CEWS here.
See the Government of Canada's news release dated April 1, 2020 here.
See Global News' coverage on the wage subsidy here.
Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The subsidy is equal to 10% of the remuneration the employer pays from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee and to a maximum of $25,000 per employer. The subsidy must be calculated by the employer, or whoever is responsible for the employer's payroll remittances. The CRA will not automatically calculate the allowable subsidy. The subsidy calculation is based on the total number of eligible employees employed at any time during the three-month period. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Eligible employers must be
For employers that are eligible for both the CEWS and the temporary wage subsidy for a period, any benefit from the 10 per cent wage subsidy for remuneration paid in a specific period would generally reduce the amount available to be claimed under the CEWS in that same period. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance Canada's March 18, 2020 press release here. |
Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Program | |
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DESCRIPTION | Employers can use a SUB plan to increase their employees' weekly earnings when they are unemployed due to a temporary stoppage of work, training, illness, injury or quarantine. Employees who are off work temporarily and receiving regular or sickness EI benefits can receive supplementary payments from the employer to top up the employees earnings. A SUB plan must be registered with Service Canada in order for its benefits not to be considered employment earnings and thereby deductible from EI. A SUB plan can allow an employer to agree to make supplementary payments to any eligible employees. These payments, in conjunction with any EI or other benefits that the employee is receiving, cannot exceed 95% of the employee's regular weekly earnings. An employee whose net income (including EI and SUB) is above 1.25 times the maximum yearly insurable earnings may be required to repay some of the EI benefits received. The plan cannot provide that the SUB payment will be made in one lump sum payment; payments must be made periodically. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | To register, an employer must create a SUB plan and submit it to Service Canada. There is no specific format but it must include a number of things:
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LINKS | See Employment and Social Development Canada's SUB Program website here |
Deferral on Tax Payments | |
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DESCRIPTION | The CRA will allow all businesses to defer the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18, 2020 until August 31, 2020. The relief will apply to tax balances due as well as installments under Part I of the Income Tax Act. Interest and penalties will not accumulate on owing amounts during this period. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | The filing date for corporations remains 6 months after the end of the corporation's tax year. The payment date for the current tax year has been extended to September 1, 2020. |
LINKS | Also see the Department of Finance's Press Release dated March 18, 2020 here. |
Deferral of Administrative Tax Measures | |
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DESCRIPTION | Unless otherwise noted, administrative income tax actions required of taxpayers by the CRA that are due after March 18, 2020, can be deferred to June 1, 2020. These administrative income tax actions include elections, designations and information requests. Payroll deductions payments and all related activities are excluded. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Deferral of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)/ Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Remittances and Customs Duty Payments | |
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DESCRIPTION | Businesses and self-employed individuals can defer payment of GST, HST, and customs duties owing on imports until June 30, 2020. The deferral will apply to GST/HST remittances for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods for monthly filers; the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period for quarterly filers; and for annual filers, the amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer's current fiscal year. For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, deferral will include amounts owing for March, April and May. No interest will apply if payments or remittances are made by the end of June, 2020. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Businesses in need of information about their particular obligations may contact the Canada Revenue Agency or refer to its website. Businesses in need of information about their particular accounting and payment obligations on imported goods may contact the Canada Border Services Agency for more details. |
LINKS | See the CRAs webpage "Support for Employers" dated March 31, 2020 here. See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Relief from the Requirement to Pay (RTP) | |
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DESCRIPTION | Banks and employers do not need to comply or remit on existing RTPs during this time. |
LINKS | See the Department of Finance's Additional Support for Canadian Businesses webpage here. |
Suspension on Collection and Audits | |
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DESCRIPTION | Collections Collections activities on new tax debts will be suspended until further notice, and the CRA has announced that flexible payment arrangements will be made available Audits The CRA has announced that it, generally, will not contact small or medium businesses to initiate any post-assessment GST/HST or income tax audits for the next four weeks Objections The CRA has identified objections related to Canadian's entitlement to benefits and credits as a critical service. The deadline for filing objections due March 18, 2020 or later has been extended to June 30, 2020. Objections related to other tax matters filed by individuals and businesses will be held in abeyance for the time being. |
LINKS |
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Relaxing Review Procedures for SR&ED Credit Submissions | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program has taken action to ensure claimants receive the credits to which they are entitled, as soon as possible. For the time being, no new reviews/audits will be started and existing reviews/audits will be completed as soon as possible so that businesses have access to their credits faster. Most refundable claims will be processed as soon as possible with minimal burden on the claimant. Claims accepted at this time may be subject to review/audit at a future date to ensure eligibility. |
LINKS |
Tax Filing and Electronic Signatures | |
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DESCRIPTION | On a temporary basis, the CRA will recognize electronic signatures as having met the signature requirement of the Income Tax Act. |
LINKS |
Funding for Provinces and Territories – Safe restart of economy | |
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DESCRIPTION | The federal government announced they would provide the provinces and territories with $19 billion for a safe restart of the economy. As part of the agreement, Ottawa will create a temporary national sick leave program — providing 10 days of paid sick leave to those who do not already have it through their employers — at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. As of October 8th, The Prime Minister announced that the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut would receive supplemental funds of over $37 million under the Safe Restart Agreement ("Agreement"). He said, when the provincial and territorial governments finalized the Agreement in July, they recognized that smaller jurisdictions faced distinct challenges and circumstances. The supplemental funds are for health care services and support to remote populations. The Prime Minister announced that territories would receive up to $41.41 million in support for air carriers to ensure that food, equipment and medicine reach people living in remote communities in a reliable and timely manner. A breakdown of the supplemental funding is provided:
As of October 14, the federal government confirmed their commitment to the Safe Restart Agreement. About 50 per cent of the $4.28 billion provided under the Safe Restart Agreement to support provinces and territories with the costs of increasing their capacity to conduct testing, perform contact tracing, and share public health data that will help fight the pandemic, had already been disbursed. The remaining 50 per cent will be disbursed according to an agreed schedule between the federal government, the provinces and the territories, he said. |
ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY | Bill C-4, "An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19," expands the eligibility criteria for the new sick leave benefit beyond simply those workers who contract COVID-19. |
LINKS | Read more about the funding for Provinces and Territories here |
Relief Measures for Indigenous Businesses | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada is providing $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses. The funding comes by way of short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses. On June 11, 2020, the Government of Canada has committed a further $133 million on helping Indigenous businesses suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this funding, $117 million will help small and community-owned Indigenous businesses. $16 million of this additional investment will be provided to support Indigenous businesses in the tourism industry, a sector that supports thousands of jobs across the country. |
LINKS | See Indigenous Services Canada news release on the June 11, 2020 commitment. |
Indigenous Community Support Fund | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Government of Canada announced $305 million in funding to support Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. The Government of Canada recognizes that First Nation, Inuit and Métis are among the most at risk and face unique challenges in addressing COVID-19. It also recognizes that Indigenous leadership, governments and organizations are best placed to determine the needs of Indigenous Peoples and to develop community-based solutions that respond to these challenges. This fund can be used for a wide variety of measures such as supporting Elders and vulnerable community members, addressing food insecurity, educational and other supports for children, mental health assistance and emergency response services, preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and more. It will be distributed through a combination of allocations directly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership. This funding will be available to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, as well as Indigenous communities and organizations serving Indigenous peoples, including First Nations living off-reserve as well as Inuit and Métis living in urban centres, on an application basis. Further details will be forthcoming. On October 8th, the federal government assured the public that more resources would be mobilized for Indigenous communities to manage the second COVID wave. Specifically, the federal government would take steps to make vaccines and COVID testing available to indigenous communities. |
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Black Entrepreneurship Program at HXOUSE | |
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DESCRIPTION | The Federal Government announced investments of up to nearly $221 million in partnership with Canadian financial institutions – including up to nearly $93 million from the Government of Canada over the next four years – to launch Canada's first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program. The new program is designed to help thousands of Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis and grow their businesses. |
ACCESS & ELIGIBILITY | The program's three streams as follows.
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