Business Recovery Centre

• 📣 CERS (Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy) will cover part of commercial rent or property expenses for qualifying renters and property owners, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. 
  
  
• Safe Restart program. The Government of Canada has struck a deal with the provinces to contribute $19.0 billion to COVID-19 impacted provincial economies.
  
  
• Redesigned Wage subsidy to protect jobs and promote growth. 
  
  
• Updated Canadian travel restrictions:
  • Canada-U.S. Border restrictions extended to August 21, 2020
  • Avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada and avoid all cruise ship travel until further notice.
     
• CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) has been extended to 8 more weeks. Find out what that means for employers. 
  
  
• CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy). Established to prevent further job losses, encourage employers to rehire workers previously laid off due to COVID-19 quickly. UPDATED AUGUST 11, 2020.
  
  
• The Business Resilience Service (BRS). Connect with experienced business advisors from across Canada to guide which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small- to medium-sized business.
  
  
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Subsidy supporting employers cover 75% of wages – up to $847/week, who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, and 30% in April.
  
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• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). $2,000 per week every 4 weeks, up to 16 weeks, for eligible workers.
  
  
• Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). $40,000 interest-free loan for small business and not-for-profits, repaying the loan before Dec 31, 2022, has loan forgiveness of 25%, up to $10,000.
  
  
• Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB). Supports students not eligible for CERB or EI, $1,250/mo. ($1,750 w/dependents) from May-August 2020.
  
  
• Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) – expanded program provides additional credit support:
  • Through BDC
    
  • Through EDC
    
    
• Work Sharing (WS). A third-party agreement involving employers, employees, and Service Canada helps avoid layoffs, with a temporarily reduced work week.
   

ALBERTA GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS:

• 📣 Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. Applications for a second payment will open soon, providing financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations that were ordered to close or curtail operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  
• Alberta K-12 schools September reopening plans.
  
  
• Alberta Stage 2 relaunch has increased the maximum size of outdoor gatherings to 200 people. 
  
  
• The Alberta Petroleum Incentives Program is a 10-year program to stimulate the attraction of petrochemical projects to Alberta. 
  
  
• Alberta's Recover Plan includes $10.0 billion in infrastructure projects to create 50,000 jobs and a new Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant of $5,000 per business.
   
• WCB Premium Payment Deferral. Employers can defer WCB premium payments until 2021.
  
  
• Tourism Levy Deferral. Hotels and other lodging providers can delay paying the tourism levy until August 31/20, due to the government, on or after March 27/20.
  
  
• Small Business Advice. Free support. Call, email or check out their website.
  
  
• Corporate Income Tax Change. Balances and instalment payments due between Mar 18 – Aug 31 are deferred until August 31, 2020.
  
  
• Education Property Tax Deferral. Will be frozen at last year’s level, reversing the 3.4% population and inflation increases.

• Government of Alberta: Actions to protect Albertans and prevent the spread of novel coronavirus
  
  
• Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Information
  
  
• Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support

LEGAL RESOURCES:

• Bennett Jones COVID-19 Resource Centre