red and white flower petals

COVID-19 GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS 

PROVINCIAL

 

For a full overview of programs provided by the Ontario provincial government, click here.

 

To contact the government with questions about the supports, call
1 -866-668-8297 (1-866-ONT-TAXS).
The call centre is open Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Additional contact info:
Tel:416-325-6691
Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090
TTY: 416-325-3408
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095

 

Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant
Small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen may be eligible to receive a one-time grant of $10,000.
Eligibility:Businesses that were required to close due to the public health orders implemented on January 5, 2022; and have fewer than 100 employees.
If an organization previously qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, they will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and do not need to apply for this modified program.
The following small businesses may be eligible:
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms)
  • Performing arts venues 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
Timeline:Applications will open in the coming weeks and payments can be expected in February 2022.

 

Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program
Organizations impacted by lockdown measures and closures can receive a portion of their property tax and energy costs in form of rebate payments during the period of being subjected to lockdown measures.
  • Organizations with capacity reduced to 50% will obtain 50% in rebates for their
costs
  • Organizations closed will obtain 100% in rebates for their costs
Eligibility:A comprehensive list of eligible business types will be available in mid-January
Timeline: Applications open January 18, 2022, with retroactive payments dating back to December 19, 2021

 

Cash Flows
Organizations will have a six-month interest and penalty-free period for most provincially administered taxes
Eligibility:The option to delay tax payments applies to the following taxes:
  • 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
Timeline: January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2022.

 

COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program
Ontario employers must provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave due to COVID-19 related reasons.
Direct hotline for questions: 1-888-999-2248
Timeline: Extended to July 31, 2022.

 

Electricity-Rate Relief
As of January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set to the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour for 24 hours a day.
This is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate.
The updated rate will be in effect for 21 days
This will be applied automatically to residential, small businesses, and farms who are paying regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility. Applies to both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.

FEDERAL

For a full overview of programs provided by the Canadian government, click here.

To access the Business Benefits Finder to determine the best program and service for your organization, click here.


Business

Wage and Hiring Supports

Employers may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of employee wages.

In each applicable claim period, employers can claim one of the following- whichever gives the highest amount:

  • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
  • Hardest-Hit Businesses Recovery Program
  • Canada Recovery Hiring Program

To calculate the amount available to your organization in wage/hiring support, click here.

To apply to the wage and hiring support, click here.

 

 

Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program 

Click Here for Program Info

1.  Organizations in the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors affected by a qualifying public health restriction may be eligible for funding.

Eligibility:

Must meet 3 conditions: More than 50% of eligible revenue

comes from the tourism/entertainment sector, a 12-month average revenue drop of at least 40% from March 2020 to February 2021, and a claim period revenue drop of at least 40%

 

Timeline:Effective until May 7, 2022.

 

2. OR qualify under the Local Lockdown Program (Click here for program info)

Available for eligible organizations, regardless of the sector(organizations do not need to be in the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors.)

Eligibility:Must meet 2 conditions: Organization was affected by a

qualifying public health restriction and a claim period revenue drop of at least 40%

PROPOSED CHANGES: Include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50% and reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25%.

  • Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25% upto a maximum of 75%, depending on their degree of revenue loss.

 

Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program

Click here for program info

Organizations that do not qualify for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery program may qualify for funding.

Eligibility:

Must meet 2 conditions: a 12-month average revenue drop of at least

50% from March 2020 to February 2021 and have a claim period revenue drop of at least 50%.

 

Timeline:Effective until May 7, 2022.

 

Canada Recovery Hiring Program

Click here for program info

Each claim period, eligible employers can claim either the higher of the Canada

Recovery Hiring Program or the wage portion of the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program or the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program

 

Timeline: Effective until May 7, 2022.

 


Other Business Supports

Jobs and Growth Fund 

Click here for program info

Eligible businesses, not-for-profits,and indigenous organizations may be eligible for

funding to support the transition to a green economy, activities supporting an inclusive recovery, digital adoption projects, and projects supporting Canada’s economic growth.

Eligibility: Interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs and eligible not-for-profit organizations could receive non-repayable contributions for upto 90% of eligible costs.

  • Indigenous clients may be eligible for 100% of eligible project costs for projects

Timeline:Applications are accepted on a continuous intake basis until funding is allocated.

Click here to contact a FedNor Officer for further details on eligibility and how to apply.

 

 

Work-Sharing Program

Click here for program info

A Work-Sharing agreement is a 3-party agreement involving employers, employees,and Service Canada to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when:there is a temporary decrease in the normal level of business activity, and the decrease is beyond the control of the employer

 

Special measures for COVID-19 include extending the duration of agreements by an

additional 38 weeks. That brings the total to 76 weeks (regardless of how many weeks a business has used before March 14, 2020) followed by a possible new 26-week subsequent agreement. Additional flexibility during COVID-19 is provided.

Timeline: Special COVID-19 measures are in effect until September 24, 2022.

 

 

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program

Click here for program info

Organizations operating in the tourism, restaurant, and in-person services may be eligible for guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs.

 

Eligibility:Organization’s financial institution will determine eligibility based on the

eligibility criteria.

 

Timeline: Applications open until March 31, 2022.

 

 

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility

Click here for program info

Eligible large employers may qualify for bridge financing to meet needs that are not being met with conventional financing.

Eligibility:Organization has a significant impact on Canada’s economy, demonstrates approximately $300 million or more in annual revenues, and requires a minimum loan size of about $60 million.

 


INDIGENOUS

Indigenous Community Business Fund

Click here for program info

Indigenous business owners can apply for non-repayable financial contributions to

support their organizations impacted by COVID-19.

Timeline:Applications are accepted on a continuous basis until funding is allocated.

Email:aadnc.ledontario.aandc@canada.ca

Telephone:647-920-9516

 

Indigenous Community Support Fund

Click here for program info

Indigenous leadership and organization can apply for funding to design and implement community-based projects to assist with COVID-19.

Timeline:The request process for needs-based support recently reopened.

For formula-based funding allocated directly to First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities, there is no deadline or request process. The funding is flowing through existing agreements.

 


 

SECTOR SPECIFIC

Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative

Click here for program info

SMEs and not-for-profits can apply through regional development agencies

for funding to become more sustainable, improve productivity and

strengthen commercialization.

 

 

Employment Insurance (EI) Fishing Benefits

Click here for program info

Self-employed fishers who are seeking work may be eligible to receive fishing

benefits.

 

 

Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative

Click here for program info

Festival organizations can apply through regional development agencies for funding to continue operations and position themselves for economic recovery.

Eligible festivals and events: Those with annual revenues exceeding $10 million.

To contact FedDev Ontario, click here.

 

 

Support for Independent Production Companies

Click here for program info

The Short-term Compensation Fund Initiative will compensate independent production companies for the lack of insurance coverage for COVID-19–related filming interruptions and production shutdowns in the sector.

Funding will be available until March 31, 2022.

 

 

Emissions Reduction Fund

Click here for program info

Funding is available for onshore and offshore oil organizations to invest in green opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

 

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (COVID-19 Resilience Stream)

Click here for program info

Apply through the province to get access to funding for an eligible infrastructure project that are near-term and quick-start programs starting no later than September 2023.

 

 

Tourism Relief Fund

Click here for program info

Tourism organizations adapting their operations and investing in their future

growth may be eligible for funding for projects focused on product or

destination development.

For a full list of eligible applicants and activities click here.

 

 

Regional Air Transportation Initiative

Click here for program info

Air carriers, airports, and organizations in the air transportation industry can apply through regional development agencies to obtain funding for projects to ensure the industry remains operational.


Individuals

Employment Insurance benefits and leave

Click here for program info

Individuals may be eligible for funding if they lost their job through no fault of their own or cannot find a job.

If an individual is not eligible or has received the maximum of EI, they may be eligible to apply for the following:

  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

 

Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

Click here for program info

Employed and self-employed individuals who are not able to work due to a lockdown order in their region can apply for $300 ($270 after taxes withheld)a week.

Timeline:In effect until May 7, 2022.

 

 

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

Click here for program info

Employed and self-employed individuals who are sick, isolating due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition may be eligible for $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) a week.

The maximum number of weeks individuals can apply for is 6 weeks

Timeline:In effect until May 7, 2022.

 

 

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

Click here for program info

Employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work due to caring for a child under 12 years of age or a family member needing supervised care may be eligible for $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) a week.

The maximum number of weeks households can apply for is 44 weeks.

 

Timeline:In effect until May 7, 2022.

 

Other Supports

Mortgage payment deferral

Click here for program info

Homeowners facing financial stress may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral of up to 6 months to help ease the financial burden.

 

Low-income Workers and Families

Click here for program info

The Canada Workers Benefit provides a refundable tax credit for individuals earning a low income and has expanded eligibility.

Low-income workers are now eligible for a tax credit of up to about:

  • $1,400 for workers who are single and without children; and
  • $2,400 for workers with families.