CURRENT BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMS
FEDERAL COVID-19 BUSINESS RELIEF MEASURES:
- Tourism & Hospitality Recovery Program
- For eligible businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry (e.g., hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators, convention centres, convention and trade show organizers)
- Support through wage and rent subsidies. Starts at 40% of the maximum subsidy for Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for businesses with a 40% current-month revenue decline to a maximum rate of 75% (for those with a current-month revenue decline of 75% or higher). Subsidy rates will be reduced by half from March 13, 2022 to May 7, 2022.
- Top-up rate: An additional 25% for Lockdown Support pro-rated for the number of days under a public health restriction.
- Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program
- For businesses that do not qualify for the Tourism & Hospitality Recovery Program
- Wage and rent subsidies, starts at 10% of the maximum subsidy for Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for businesses with a 50% current-month revenue decline, up to a maximum rate of 50%, for those with a current-month revenue decline of 75% or higher. Subsidy rates will be reduced by half from March 13, 2022 to May 7, 2022.
- Top-up rate: An additional 25% for Lockdown Support pro-rated for the number of days under a public health restriction.
- Local Lockdown Program
- For businesses facing temporary local lockdowns or capacity restrictions of at least 50 per cent (as of Dec 19, 2021), regardless of sector.
- Same subsidy rates as the Tourism & Hospitality Recovery Program except minimum support and current-month revenue decline threshold is 25%, rather than 40% as of Dec 19, 2021.
- Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
- The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) gives temporary income support to employed and self-employed people who cannot work due to a COVID-19 lockdown.
- It will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly impacted by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown or capacity-limiting restrictions (at least 50 per cent), up until May 7, 2022
- Workers may apply for any weeks their region is eligible between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.
- Workers may apply for any eligible 1-week period for up to 60 days after that period has ended.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#businesses
The government will also continue to call on the federal government to come to table and help us support Ontario businesses and Ontario workers by allowing eligible businesses to defer HST and to enhance supports available to workers affected by current public health measures.
ONTARIO COVID-19 BUSINESS RELIEF MEASURES:
Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Support Relief Grant
- As part of a comprehensive plan to support workers and businesses, we announced the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000.
- Eligible small businesses include:
- Restaurants and bars;
- Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms);
- Performing arts and cinemas;
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
- Meeting or event spaces;
- Tour and guide services;
- Conference centres and convention centres;
- Driving instruction for individuals; and
- Before- and after- school programs.
- Eligible small businesses include:
- Questions from businesses should be directed to ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161.
Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program
- Businesses will get back 50% of their reported property tax and energy costs from the Province directly. This include:
- Education, and municipal property taxes
- Electricity, natural gas, propane, and heating oil
- Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their property tax and energy costs.
- Eligible businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs.
- A full list of eligible business types will be available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
- Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022. Payments to eligible businesses will be retroactive to December 19, 2021.
- Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
- Provincially Administered Tax Deferrals
- To help improve cash flows, we are providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This will:
- support businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place
- provide the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning
- The six-month period will begin on January 1, 2022 and end on July 1, 2022.
- This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses.
- Approximately 80,000 businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes:
- To help improve cash flows, we are providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This will:
- Employer Health Tax
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
- Tobacco Tax
- Insurance Premium Tax
- Fuel Tax
- International Fuel Tax Agreement
- Gas Tax
- Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
- Mining Tax
- Race Tracks Tax
Help for Businesses in Ontario Link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs
Business Mentor & CEO at Grow Vantage & Ask For Directions Training
Business Mentor at Ask For Directions Training and Grow Vantage
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
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