FEDERAL: Government of Canada | Federal Funders | National Associations
PROVINCIAL: Provincial Governments | Provincial Funders | APMA
FEDERAL RESOURCES
Canada’s federal response to COVID-19
Government of Canada
Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS): covering 75% of an employee’s wages – up to $847 per week – for eligible employers. The CEWS will allow you to re-hire your employees and avoid layoffs during the crisis. The program will be in place until August 29.
Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy: a three-month measure that allows eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency
Extending the Work-Sharing program: extension of the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19. This measure will provide income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers
Taxes and tariffs
More time to pay income taxes: allowing all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.
Financial support, loans and access to credit
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans: 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. This program has been implemented by banks and credit unions in collaboration with Export Development Canada. Business owners can apply for support from CEBA through their banks and credit unions.
Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Export Development Canada (EDC) is working with financial institutions to guarantee 80% of new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This financing support is to be used for operational expenses and is available to both exporting and non-exporting companies. This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.
Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Business Development Canada (BDC) is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements. The program offers differing maximum finance amounts based on business revenues. This support is available until or before September 30, 2020. This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA): relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Over the course of the program, property owners will reduce rent by at least 75 % for the months of April, May, June, and July for their small business tenants. CECRA will cover 50 % of the rent, with the tenant paying up to 25 % and the property owner forgiving at least 25 %.
Mid-Market Financing Program: Through the Business Credit Availability Program, the Business Development Canada’s (BDC) Mid-Market Financing Program will provide commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million to medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceed what is already available through the Business Credit Availability Program and other measures. BDC anticipates that qualifying companies will have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 24 weeks to eligible workers who have stopped working or whose work hours have been reduced due to COVID-19. An online questionnaire will help us direct you to the service option that best fits your situation (i.e. eligibility for Employment Insurance benefits or not).
Innovation Canada tool that allows business owners to input information about your company and then see the provincial and federal supports – both related to COVID-19 and otherwise – available to you, including tax credits and funding programs.
Federal Funders: Support for Publishers
- Department of Canadian Heritage (COVID-19 FAQ)
- Canadian Heritage – Information for Canadian Heritage grants and contributions recipients related to COVID-19
- Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations (publishing grants to be processed by Canada Book Fund and Canada Council for the Arts)
- NEW: In Phase 2 $10 million is being allocated to support the publishing sector and will support “Canadian independent publishers who are also operating as book distributors (current recipients of the Canada Book Fund) and other Canadian book distribution entities (previously ineligible recipients, to be funded through the Canada Book Fund)”: Phase 2 backgrounder
- Canada Council for the Arts (Covid-19 FAQ)
- Canada Council – Important Information related to COVID-19
- An online presentation from Simon Brault, CEO and Director of the Canada Council for the Arts is available online. Brault noted that Council anticipates operating in “crisis mode” for two years and does not intend to withdraw support from existing recipients as a result of the crisis.
Other National Bodies & Advocacy
- I Lost My Gig COVID-19 Impact Survey (more info): For individual workers in the creative industries, an impact survey created by ArtsPond, Global Public Affairs, and more.
- Read Aloud Canadian Books: from Association of Canadian Publishers and Access Copyright: Important changes to the Program from July 1 to December 31, 2020: The Read Aloud Canadian Books Program is available as a complimentary add-on to the Access Copyright licence at licensed K-12 and independent schools, as well as licensed public libraries, from July 1 to December 31, 2020. The usage guidelines, which are valid until December 31, 2020, are posted here.
- Save Small Business petition (more info): A petition from savesmallbusinesses.ca, a grassroots coalition of more than 2500 Canadian small businesses
- #CanadaPerforms: a $700,000 short-term relief fund that pays professional Canadian artists and professionally published authors for their online performances. It was launched by Facebook Canada and the National Arts Centre to help ease the financial strain for Canadian artists impacted by the closure of performance venues across Canada related to COVID-19, and to lift the spirits of Canadians during the crisis. Artists who are selected will receive $1,000 and their online performance will be broadcast on the NAC’s Facebook page. Learn more
REGIONAL
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund: to to help more businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism and others that are key to the regions and to local economies. Just over $110 million will be allocated in Atlantic Canada. This fund is specifically targeted to those that may require additional help to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but have been unable to access other support measures. Apply through ACOA
PROVINCIAL
Provincial Governments
- Newfoundland: COVID-19 Information for TCII Clients
- New Brunswick: COVID-19 Measures for Businesses
- Nova Scotia: Support for Business
- Prince Edward Island: COVID-19 Support for Businesses
Provincial Funders: Support for Publishers
- Newfoundland:
- COVID-19 Information for Tourism Culture Industry Innovation Clients (website)
- ArtsNL (COVID-19 FAQ)
- New Brunswick:
- Arts, Culture and Commemorations Branch of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage (website)
- ArtsNB (COVID-19 Statement)
- Nova Scotia
- Communities, Culture, and Heritage (website)
- Arts Nova Scotia (COVID-19 Updates)
- Arts Nova Scotia applications now need to be submitted electronically. They have created a Youtube channel with tutorials for submitting applications online (View their channel)
- Prince Edward Island
Other
- Planning a virtual launch? Monica Miller of Caitlin Press shared a comparison of various virtual launch platforms (more info)
- Essential digital marketing strategies for independent presses. See also: further tips
- Don Gorman of Rocky Mountain Books created a map of indie bookstores across Canada offering curb-side pickups and deliveries, including Francophone booksellers in NB (view the map)
- Canada Payroll Association: COVID-19 FAQ