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Quick References
COVID-19: Help for businesses in Ontario
Learn about changes to government programs and available supports as your business recovers from COVID-19. (updated Jan 12, 2021) Learn more.
COVID-19 - January 2021
JANUARY 12, 2021: Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Live
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the stay-at-home order.
Mandatory Requirements - Public health measures in each level
Restaurants, Bars and Food or Drink Establishments
Sports and Recreational Fitness
Meeting, Event and other Hospitality
Casinos, Bingo Halls and Gaming Establishments
COVID-19 Spring Updates
APRIL 7, 2020: Recovery Playbook
To assist retailers in their reopening planning, Retail Council of Canada, in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group and retailers from across Canada, are leveraging global best practices for a diverse range of retail formats with the fundamental aim of ensuring a safe environment for employees and customers. Click here for more information and playbook.
APRIL 2, 2020. Summary of Emergency Government Programs for COVID-19 courtesy of Drouillard, Sambrook Kingston Chartered Professional Accountants.
Emergency funding of up to $12 million to expand online and virtual mental health supports and $2.6 million to hire new psychologists and other mental health workers to support Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) personnel.
For Ontarians interested in public addictions services and mental health services for those over 18, they can contact ConnexOntario, Ontario's mental health, addictions and problem gambling help line at 1-866-531-2600.
Children and youth under 18 can locate mental health services through the Ontario.ca and Kids Help Phone websites, or contact Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) for 24/7 support, if they need someone to talk to.
Good2Talk is a free, confidential mental health support service providing professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students in Ontario, 24/7/365. Learn more at www.good2talk.ca.
For victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes - emergency payment of more than $2.7 million to support services for victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes during the COVID-19 crisis.
This additional one-time emergency payment will help more than 50 community agencies across Ontario, including victim crisis assistance organizations (VCAOs), Indigenous organizations and those based in rural areas, stay operational and accessible to victims during the public health crisis. Funds will help front-line staff respond to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis and enhance access to immediate supports for victims, including extended hotels stays, and transportation and meal vouchers available through the Victim Quick Response Program Plus (VQRP+).
The Province is providing relief funding for residential service providers that support vulnerable populations.
Investing up to $40 million to support organizations that provide residential services for children and youth, people with developmental disabilities and emergency shelters for women and families fleeing domestic violence.
The COVID-19 Residential Relief Fund will cover costs such as additional staffing, residential respite for caregivers; personal protective equipment and supplies; initiatives to support physical distancing and transportation to minimize client exposure.
Help ensure that staffing and resources are available to help care for and protect people with developmental disabilities and the frontline workers who support them. These temporary measures provide further flexibility for developmental service agencies to redirect their staffing and financial resources to essential tasks that keep individuals with developmental disabilities safe and out of hospital.
This additional one-time emergency payment will help more than 50 community agencies across Ontario, including victim crisis assistance organizations (VCAOs), Indigenous organizations and those based in rural areas, stay operational and accessible to victims during the public health crisis. Funds will help front-line staff respond to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis and enhance access to immediate supports for victims, including extended hotels stays, and transportation and meal vouchers available through the Victim Quick Response Program Plus (VQRP+).
For people who have lost income as a result of COVID-19 - $2,000 a month for up to 4 months per person – available April 6th.
For self-employed who have lost work
For part-time who have lost work – this benefit and Employment Insurance
Contact your accountant for advice
For anyone who collects GST/HST - Deferral of GST/HST remittances until June 30.
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, due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus.
To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).
Check Canada.ca website – Help for Businesses
Employees of organizations that have experienced at least a 30% revenue decline due to COVID.
75% of their wage up to $58,700 for up to 3 months.
Wages, backdated to March 15.
This subsidy would be available to eligible employers that see a drop of at least 30 percent of their revenue (see Eligible Periods). In applying for the subsidy, employers would be required to attest to the decline in revenue.
For not-for-profits and charities, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their specific circumstances.
Available sometime in April.
See Canada.ca for details.
Check with your accountant regarding eligibility
Admin Related
Normally, AGMs must be held no later than 15 months after the previous AGM or no later than 6 months after fiscal year end. However, Ontario has issued an order for flexibility.
This emergency order applies to not-for-profit corporations incorporated under the Ontario Corporations Act (CA) and gives them the ability to hold virtual meetings; as well as extends the timeframe for AGMs to be held. This Emergency Order will enable organizations to:
Hold meetings of directors, shareholders and members electronically or over the phone even if legislation (like Ontario’s Corporations Act) or your bylaws say you can’t. The electronic or phone system has to allow people to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously. So, for example, an email chain over a few days likely would not qualify as a meeting.
Extend the timeframe by which corporations under the Corporations Act and Business Corporations Act must hold Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
The deadlines for not-for-profits to hold their AGMs are now extended to 90 days after the state of emergency is ended by the Ontario government or If the government ends the state of emergency within 30 days before your current deadline, then you have until 120 days after the state of emergency ends.
Incorporated not-for-profit organizations are required to file an annual form, the T2, with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). In addition, many not-for-profit organizations are also required to complete the T1044. These forms are due six months from the end of an organization’s fiscal year (for example, a fiscal year end of December 31 would have a filing due date of June 30 for these forms).
CRA has announced extensions to these forms. If your forms were due (your ”filing due date”) between March 18 and before June 1, 2020, they are now due June 1, 2020.
For organizations that have a December 31 year end, your filing due date remains June 30.
For organizations that have a March 31 year end, your filing due date remains September 30.
Please confirm your deadline with your accountant.
Work-Sharing Program (Federal) – temporary measures for the downturn in business due to COVID-19
The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. Those who are eligible can apply online.
The Emergency Support Benefit has been introduced to support workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment. We will share details on how to apply once they are available.
The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses.
A Temporary Wage Subsidy will be introduced to support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs. The subsidy would be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during a period of time of up to three months, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
The Bank of Canada also took a series of actions to support the Canadian economy during this period of economic stress, enhance the resilience of the Canadian financial system, and help ensure that financial institutions can continue to extend credit to both households and businesses. This included cutting the interest rate to 0.75% as a proactive measure.
The CRA will allow businesses to defer the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and September 2020 until August 31, 2020.
The Federal Government would like to hear from businesses who can supply products and services in support of Canada’s response to COVID-19?
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness for Business
Ontario Chamber of Commerce COVID -19 Preparedness for Business
RBC Wealth Management A guide to financial support measures to help Canadians impacted by COVID-19
Deliotte. COVID-19 - Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Frequently asked questions
LegalShield. Coronavirus Legal Resource Center
Chamber Back to work checklist.
COVID-19 Guidance for Personal Service Settings. Personal service settings (PSS) are premises at which personal services are offered where there is a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids.
COVID-19 Guidance for Food Premises - Best Practices Summary Sheet.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing involves taking steps to limit the number of people you come into close contact with.
Social distancing includes, but is not limited to:
Working from home where possible.
Avoiding visits to long-term care homes or retirement homes.
Avoiding non-essential trips in the community.
Limiting or cancelling group gatherings.
Avoid all large gatherings of over 50 people.
Planning virtual meetings instead of in person.
Maintaining a distance of 2 metres (two arms' length) between yourself and others.
For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19:
Region of Waterloo Public Health
Government of Ontario
Public Health Agency of Canada
750 Hespeler Road Cambridge, ON N3H 5L8
Phone: 519-622-2221
Fax: 519-622-0177
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