Our continued thanks to Nicole Lorrain from Alberta Labour & Immigration for providing us with ongoing updates from all levels of government and support sectors.
The Province of Alberta has announced a Strategy to support Reopening Business– check out the plan and stages at Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy
Alberta Health has released the Workplace Guidance for Business Owners document outlining health and safety criteria, policies and procedures for businesses reopening.
If you require PPE in order to reopen your business, please see attached document.
Government of Canada Resources
May 6 NEW INFO: The Canadian Hospitality Worker Relief Fund (CHWRF) recently launched to support restaurant and hospitality workers financially impacted by COVID-19. The fund will start accepting applications on May 6, 2020 and will provide one-time $500 grants to eligible applicants. The fund is administered by registered charity, the Design Exchange. CHWRF founding partners, including Uber Eats and Garland – Welbilt Canada, have pledged more than $1 million to launch the fund.
May 6 NEW INFO: EDC Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) Guarantee – EDC works with your financial institution and guarantees a new loan or operating line of credit for 80% of its value, up to $6.25 million, allowing you to deal with payroll and operating cost issues and enabling your financial institution to take on less risk. Available to both exporting and non-exporting companies. Full details available HERE
May 6 NEW INFO: Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) – Under the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, eligible post-secondary students and recent graduates who have seen their education and job prospects hampered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will receive $1,250 a month from May to August. For those who have a disability, or are taking care of someone else, they will receive $2,000, which is equal to the amount received by those eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Also included:
- an additional 76,000 jobs in sectors that need help or are on the front line;
- millions in new spending to extend scholarships, grants, and fellowships as well as doubling the Canada Student Grant program; and,
- a new Canada Student Service Grant that would see young people receive up to $5,000 towards their fall tuition if they volunteer in a sector needing assistance on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full details one how to apply are still to come, but further information is available HERE
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) – a reminder that you have to apply for this every month and not just once to get four payments. $2000/month for up to four months for those that have lost their income due to COVID-19. Update: you can now earn up to $1000 per month and still qualify. For full details and to apply click HERE
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – To help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government approved the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. This would provide a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020. The program provides up to $847 per week per employee between March 15 and June 6. Eligible employers will also receive a 100% refund for certain employer-paid contributions to EI. The program launched on April 27, 2020. There is a calculator that allows you to calculate your eligibility as well as the amount you could claim. For full details and to apply clickHERE
May 6 UPDATED INFO: Community Futures funding – the Prime Minister made an announcement on Friday April 17th that allocates $287M in funding to the Community Futures Program. This funding will be allocated towards smaller employers and businesses located in rural parts of the country who do not qualify for the recently announced wage subsidy or loans or who still need assistance in managing their operations through these challenging times. Details of this program will be made available as soon as possible. To read the full News Release from the Prime Minister’s office, please click HERE.
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) – If you had a successful application in for this program, there are changes to help ensure you are still able to take advantage of the program. Changes include: an increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee; an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021; allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services; allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis. You will be contacted if you were approved for the program or you can also contact them at 1-800-935-5555 (TTY: 1-800-926-9105)
The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. Repayment time frame would be to December 3, 2022. Business owners can apply for support from the Canada Emergency Business Account through their banks and credit unions.
MAY 6 UPDATED INFO: Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) – to provide loans to commercial property owners, who in turn will lower or forgo rent of small businesses in April, May and June. Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments who are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. Details on how to apply are still being worked on but some preliminary information is available HERE
If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, the federal government is requesting your help. The Government of Canada is looking to hear from anyone that:
• Manufactures in Canada and/or has ready access to necessary inputs through their supply chain,
• Has equipment or facilities that can be rapidly re-tooled to meet medical needs, including for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks and surgical gowns, sanitizer, wipes, ventilators, and other medical equipment/supplies,
• Has skilled workers who are able to respond and who could be available for work in the current circumstances.
If you can help, you are encouraged to send a short summary of your offer to ic.mid-dim.ic@canada.ca
Work-share Program: HERE (designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. Employer Contact Centre: 1-800-367-5693. Extending Work-Sharing program: The Government of Canada is Implementing the EI Work Sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hour as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers, by extending the eligibility of such agreements to 76 weeks, easing eligibility requirements, and streamlining the application process. This was announced by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2020.)
Support to Business: HERE
Support to Canadians: HERE
Employment Insurance (EI) Program: The Government of Canada offers benefits for individuals who may qualify if they have lost their job. Full details HERE; COVID EI claims can be made at: 1-833-381- 2725. When you call this number this is the info re. ROES: when issuing ROE, use code D when reason = illness/quarantine, use code A when reason = shutdown due to shortage of work, use code E or N – not sick
COVID-19 updates: HERE
Flexibility regarding filing Taxes: HERE
Government of Alberta Resources
Government of Alberta’s response to the COVID-19 – WebEx meetings will be held at 3pm on Tuesdays and Fridays to provide information on the Government of Alberta’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are a forum to share input and questions with government and to improve situational awareness with business and community. To request an invitation, contact BizConnect@gov.ab.ca
Current COVID-19 updates: HERE
Information on Alberta Employment Standards for layoffs and terminations: Temporary layoff Layoff and recall
Support for Employers: HERE
Income Support Program: Policy and contact infoHERE(Note: your local office may be assessing via telephone, not in person at this time); Income Support can help you and your family with basic living costs and other necessities. Depending on your needs and situation you may be eligible to receive assistance through Alberta’s Income Support program. It is income/asset tested for your entire household and “ongoing” and/or “emergency benefit” streams
Canada Alberta Job Grant – if you have inquiries about extensions to training given cancellations and postponed training or anything else, please ensure you are checking this website regularly as they will post updates. You can always call or email them at the info on their page as well if you have specific questions about your file.
Municipal Resources
City of Red Deer: https://reddeer.ca/whats-happening/covid-19/
City of Red Deer: https://www.reddeer.ca/business/business-environment/covid-19-resources-for-businesses/
Red Deer County: http://rdcounty.ca/585/COVID-19
Olds: https://www.olds.ca/covid-19
Blackfalds: https://www.blackfalds.com/business/business-resource-centre
Sylvan Lake: www.sylvanlake.ca/covid19
Lacombe: www.lacombe.ca/c19businesssupports
Innisfail: www.innisfail.ca/covid19.
Other Resources
Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) – COVID 19 Small Business Help Desk – Click HERE for details. CFIB is Canada’s largest small business association with 110,000 members across all provinces and industries.
CME(Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters) resources can be found HERE. Easy to follow COVID19 safety guides can be found HERE
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)– enabling women to build successful businesses is providing free remote supports:
- Meet with an AWE Business Advisor (remotely) at no cost
- Join our upcoming webinars on navigating COVID-19
- Stay updated on COVID-19 resources for women entrepreneurs
May 6 NEW INFO: ATB launched their relief programs and they can be found HERE