To assist York Region businesses dealing with COVID-19, we’ve created this resource page which contains all the information on business supports announced by the Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels of Government. We’ve provided details and access to links below.
Please check back frequently as we will update this page on a regular basis with information as further announcements are made.
Please check back frequently as we will update this page on a regular basis with information as further announcements are made.
Federal Government Measures:
The Federal Government has taken a number of measures to try and assist business through this time.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy covers a portion of an employee’s wages if that companies revenues have decreased due to COVID-19.
The Federal Government has proposed extending CEWS Until September 2021
Apply for CEWS here.
Access the CEWS Calculator here.
Read How the Subsidy is calculated here.
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
Additional Small Business Support
Business Credit Availability Program
The Canadian Government has used the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide $65 billion of additional funding to businesses. The program includes:
Canada Emergency Business Account
Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
These programs will be available three weeks after March 27, and interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions.
The Business Development Bank (BDC) can assist you if you are either an entrepreneur or a small business with these three options. To contact the BDC, either reach them at their financing request page or through their toll-free contact number at 1-877-232-2269 (Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
The Export Development Canada is designed to assist exporting companies with relief options. You can reach them by emailing tradeadvisor-conseiller@edc.ca, calling 1-800-229-0575 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or submitting an inquiry online.
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund:
The Federal Government has announced the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund which will provide financial support to SMEs that are unable to access other federal COVID-19 relief measures. Eligible SMEs in Southern Ontario will be able to apply for this financial assistance through FedDev. Read the full information on the RRRF here.
The Federal Government has taken a number of measures to try and assist business through this time.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy covers a portion of an employee’s wages if that companies revenues have decreased due to COVID-19.
- Companies can now apply for CEWS until June 2021.
- The subsidy rate has been frozen at 65% until December 19th, 2020
- The subsidy has also been amended and now operates as a two-tiered system that provides a subsidy amount depending on how severely a company has been impacted by COVID-19.
- Those experiencing revenue drops of up to 50% will be eligible for up to $1,129 per employee, per week.
- Companies that with more than a 50% drop in revenue over a three-month period may be eligible for a top-up which to $282 extra a week.
- Companies will still need to calculate their subsidy based on a decrease in revenue from the corresponding month in 2019 or January and February 2020.
- Companies must reapply each month to receive the subsidy.
- The subsidy applies to companies of all sizes.
- Not-for-profits/charities are also included.
- Businesses will need to attest that they are doing what they can to pay the other 25% of salaries for employees.
- Applications can be made through the CRA website.
- The payout will then be made to a direct deposit system, which is already used by 50% of companies in Canada.
The Federal Government has proposed extending CEWS Until September 2021
Apply for CEWS here.
Access the CEWS Calculator here.
Read How the Subsidy is calculated here.
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- A bridge financing program for large businesses to help them keep employees on the payroll.
- Will provide support to employers with annual revenues of more than $300 million, who are unable to secure credit from regular financial institutions.
- Companies will need to disclose their environmental plans to secure the loan.
- Companies from all sectors are eligible to apply.
Additional Small Business Support
- $962 million to regional development agencies and community futures network.
- This fund will help businesses that don’t qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage subsidy and those who don’t have a relationship with traditional banks.
- $270 million to the Futurepenuer and industrial research assistance programs which will support start-ups and new companies
- $500 million to heritage Canada to assist the Arts culture and sports sectors.
- This fund will aim to provide wage support to those experiencing liquidity problems within this sector.
Business Credit Availability Program
The Canadian Government has used the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide $65 billion of additional funding to businesses. The program includes:
Canada Emergency Business Account
- The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits
- This amount was increased in October 2020, to enable companies to apply for an additional $20,000
- To qualify, these organizations need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.
- The application deadline for CEBA has now been extended to December 31st, 2020
Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- EDC is working with financial institutions to issue new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs.
Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- BDC is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.
- Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts of up to $6.25 million through the program.
These programs will be available three weeks after March 27, and interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions.
The Business Development Bank (BDC) can assist you if you are either an entrepreneur or a small business with these three options. To contact the BDC, either reach them at their financing request page or through their toll-free contact number at 1-877-232-2269 (Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
The Export Development Canada is designed to assist exporting companies with relief options. You can reach them by emailing tradeadvisor-conseiller@edc.ca, calling 1-800-229-0575 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or submitting an inquiry online.
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund:
The Federal Government has announced the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund which will provide financial support to SMEs that are unable to access other federal COVID-19 relief measures. Eligible SMEs in Southern Ontario will be able to apply for this financial assistance through FedDev. Read the full information on the RRRF here.
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
The Federal Government has proposed extending the current rates for the CERS program until September 25th, 2021.
To find out if you are eligible for CERS and to apply for the subsidy click here.
Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
- Aimed at businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to COVID-19.
- The subsidy will cover a portion of commercial rent or property expenses for eligible businesses.
- Businesses that have experienced a decline in revenue can have up to 65% of their rent covered.
- Businesses forced to close due to a Government-mandated shutdown can have up to 90% of their rent covered.
- Replaces the original CECRA program, with Landlord input no longer needed.
- The program runs retroactively from September 27, 2020, until June 2021.
The Federal Government has proposed extending the current rates for the CERS program until September 25th, 2021.
To find out if you are eligible for CERS and to apply for the subsidy click here.
Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- Provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks
- To be eligible, applicants must have either lost their jobs or had their salary reduced by 50% due to COVID-19.
- Must be ineligible for Employment Insurance
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks
- Eligible applicants must be unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
- Self-isolating for reasons related to COVID-19
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
- The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household
- Eligible workers unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
- A child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
Tax Assistance
Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments
Businesses, including self-employed individuals, can now to defer the following until June 30, 2020
Deadline Extensions
The Government of Canada has launched a dedicated page for Canadian businesses to provide them with the information and resources to navigate the challenges of COVID19 which can be accessed here.
Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments
Businesses, including self-employed individuals, can now to defer the following until June 30, 2020
- Payments of the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST)
- Customs duties owing on their imports.
- The deferral will apply to GST/HST remittances for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods for monthly filers; January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period for quarterly filers
- For annual filers, the amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and installments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year.
- For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, the deferral will include amounts owing for March, April, and May.
Deadline Extensions
- The 2020 tax deadline has been extended to June 1st, 2020.
- Payment deadline for those who owe taxes has been deferred until after August 31, 2020.
The Government of Canada has launched a dedicated page for Canadian businesses to provide them with the information and resources to navigate the challenges of COVID19 which can be accessed here.
Provincial Government Measures:
Provincial Framework for Re-Opening the Economy
The Ontario Government has announced its’ ‘Roadmap to Reopen’ plan which ties restarting the economy to specific public health targets. Find out more here.
Ontario moved to Stage Two of the Roadmap to Reopen on June 30th
Available Provincial Supports
Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant
Access Road to Retail Recovery Guide here.
Read the Re-Opening Guide for Restaurants here.
Submit your re-opening plans and ideas to the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee here.
CEAP-SB Program
The Government has launched the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) to help small businesses and charities who are struggling to pay their energy bills.
For further information click here.
Ontario Together Fund
The Ontario government is launching a new $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses provide innovative solutions or retool their operations in order to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment.
For further information, visit the Ontario Together portal.
Ontario Made
The Ontario Government has committed $500,000 towards the ‘Ontario Made’ initiative to support the Ontario manufacturing sector.
For further information, visit the Ontario Made Portal.
Additional resources:
- To see the announcement of the Ontario Virtual Action Centre please click here.
- See the Essential Business list here.
- See the Government health and safety guidelines for re-opening here.
- The Government has changed rules on the Work-Sharing Program. Details here.
- The Government of Canada's Covid-19 Economic Plan can be accessed here.
- The Canadian Chamber's Business Pandemic Preparedness Guide can be accessed here.
For up-to-date public health information about COVID-19: