COVID-19: Federal Aid Update

On March 25, the Federal Government announced the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), replacing the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit. As of April 1, the Federal Government estimates that this program is an investment of $24 billion in the Canadian economy.

The CERB provides $2,000 per a four-week period ($500 per week) to individuals impacted by COVID-19.

You may receive the CERB for a maximum of 24 weeks and you must re-apply for it every four weeks.

You will not qualify for the CERB if you quit your employment voluntarily.

In order to qualify for the CERB:

• You must be a Canadian resident aged 15 and older.

• You must have earned at least $5,000 of total income from employment and/or self-employment, and/or certain employment insurance benefits (generally parental benefits) in 2019 or in the 12-month period leading up to your application. CRA has mentioned that income from non-eligible dividends should also count towards this $5,000 income requirement.

• You have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19, or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits, or have exhausted your Employment Insurance regular benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020. 

• You may still be working but cannot earn more than $1,000  of employment or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week period of your first claim.  For subsequent claims, you cannot earn more than $1,000 of employment or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim.

• You did not quit your job voluntarily

Application Process

• The CERB will be available beginning April 6. 

• Apply for the CERB through Service Canada or through your CRA My Account, but not both. You can also apply for the CERB via telephone.

• If you have applied for Employment Insurance already, you do not need to apply for the CERB.

• After you submit your application, you will need to confirm you unemployment status every four weeks to continue to receive the CERB. 

The Federal Government has asked that Canadians abide by the following application schedule, organized by the month you were born in.

If you have a birthday in:

January, February, March	Apply on Mondays
April, May, June	Apply on Tuesdays
July, August, September	Apply on Wednesdays
October, November, December	Apply on Thursdays
Any month	Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Payment

The benefit will be paid by direct deposit or by cheque. If you select the direct deposit option you can expect your funds in three to five days (recommended). If you select the cheque option, you can expect your funds in approximately 10 days.

Learn how to prepare for your CERB application here

Seasonal Workers

If you are a seasonal worker who has exhausted your EI benefits and expecting an upcoming seasonal job that will not be offered due to COVID-19, you may now be eligible for the CERB.

Artists

If you are an artist you are allowed to collect royalty payments for copyrighted works produced before March 1, 2020 while collecting the CERB.

Find an FAQ on the CERB here

If you were recently laid off or have reduced hours and qualify for Employment Insurance benefits, you can apply here.

If you are sick, quarantined or have been directed to self-isolate, the Government is waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI sickness benefits. In addition, the one-week waiting period to claim EI sickness benefits is temporarily waived for those individuals in imposed quarantine.

Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. Do not wait for your record of unemployment.

If you have a new regular or sickness EI claim starting March 15, 2020 or after, your benefits will be delivered as part of the CERB. If you have recently applied for EI regular or sickness benefits, do not re-apply for the CERB. Your application will automatically be assessed to determine if you are eligible for the CERB.

Goods and Services Tax Credit

The Federal Government is providing a one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax credit (GSTC), doubling the maximum annual GSTC payment amounts for the 2019-20 benefit year.

The average payment for those applicable individuals will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.

You do not need to apply for this benefit. If you are eligible you will automatically receive it.

Canada Child Benefit

The Federal Government is also proposing to increase the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment amounts for the 2019-20 benefit year by $300 per child. The overall increase for families receiving CCB will be approximately $550 on average; these families will receive an extra $300 per child as part of their May payment. If you have previously applied for the CCB you do not need to re-apply.

Find more information on the CCB, how to apply, and eligibility here

The proposed enhancements of these two credits can give a single parent with two children and low to modest income nearly $1,500 in additional short-term support.

In addition, the Federal Government announced they will be increasing the CCB for the 2020-2021 year. This results in a raise to the maximum benefit to $6,765 per child under age 6, and $5,708 per child aged 6 through 17.

Indigenous Peoples

$305 million in funding will be provided for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities. Find more information and how to apply for the Indigenous Community Support Fund here.

$100 million of funding will be provided to support a range of federal health measures, including support for preparedness in First Nation and Inuit communities. 

Vulnerable Groups

The Federal Government is also providing assistance to those who need it most:

• Providing $100 million to national, regional, and local organizations across Canada to transport and distribute food and other basic necessities safely across the country. Organizations receiving this funding include, but are not limited to: Food Banks Canada, Salvation Army, Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada, and Breakfast Club of Canada. 

• Providing the Reaching Home initiative with $157.5 million to continue to support people experiencing homelessness.

• Supporting women and children fleeing violence, by providing up to $50 million to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres. This includes funding for facilities in Indigenous communities.

• Giving $7.5 million in funding to Kids Help Phone to provide young people with the mental health support they need during this difficult time.

• Investing $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need. The funds will flow through national organizations that have the ability to get funds quickly to local organizations that serve vulnerable populations.

• The Federal Government will be working with provinces and territories through a new transfer to cost-share a temporary top-up to the salaries of workers deemed essential in the fight against COVID-19, for those who make less than $2,500 a month. Details as to the application and delivery of this measure will be released shortly following further work with provinces and territories. 

Canada Emergency Student Benefit

The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) provides financial support to post-secondary students and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who are unable to find work due to COVID-19.

This benefit is for students who are not eligible for the CERB or EI.

From May to August 2020, the CESB provides a payment to eligible students of:

• $1,250 per month for eligible students; or

• $2,000 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities

Applications for the CESB open on May 15.

Find more information on the CESB eligibility and the application process here.

Loan Deferrals

All student loan borrowers will automatically have their loan repayments and interest suspended until September 30, 2020.

Students do not need to apply for the repayment pause.

This moratorium applies to the federal portion of student loans. Borrowers should check with their provincial or territorial student loan provider to see if payment is required on the provincial or territorial portion.

Enhancing Student Financial Assistance for Fall 2020

To address additional financial needs of students caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government proposes to change the Canada Student Loan Program’s (CSLP) eligibility requirements in 2020-21 to allow more students to qualify for supports and be eligible for greater amounts, including doubling the non-repayable Canada Student Grants for full and part time students, as well as for students with disabilities and students with dependents, in the coming academic year. 

• Eligible full-time students can receive up to $6,000

• Eligible part-time students can receive up to $3,600 

The Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependents would also be doubled.
The CSLP is delivered in collaboration with 10 participating jurisdictions. Students in Quebec, Northwest Territories and Nunavut do not receive CSLP support as these jurisdictions run their own student financial assistance programs. Additional compensation will be offered to provinces and territories that do not participate in the CSLP.

In addition, to ensure students can continue their studies in the upcoming fall semester, the Federal Government will:

• Broaden eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student’s and spouse’s contributions in 2020-21, recognizing that many students and families will struggle to save for school this year.

• Enhance the CSLP by raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020-21 from $210 to $350.

• Increase existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing an additional $75.2 million in 2020-21.

• Extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, and supplement existing federal research grants, to support students and post-doctoral fellows, by providing $291.6 million to the federal granting councils. Funding would support a one-semester extension for eligible students whose research scholarships or fellowships end between March and August 2020 and who intend to continue their studies. It would also provide a three-month extension in funding for holders of federal research grants to support eligible trainees and staff paid out of these awards. These extensions cannot be combined with other income supports.

• The Federal Government also intends to enhance work opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the National Research Council of Canada with an investment of $7.5 million.

Canada Student Service Grant: I Want to Help

The new Canada Student Service Grant, will help students gain valuable work experience and skills while they help their communities during the COVID 19 pandemic. For students who choose to do national service and serve their communities, the new Canada Student Service Grant will provide up to $5,000 for their education in the fall.

More details will be made available on the I Want to Help platform over the coming weeks, including more detailed information about eligibility, the levels of funding available under the grant, how to apply for a national service position, and how applications will be assessed.  

Canada Summer Jobs Program

To support students who are preparing to enter the work force this summer, the Federal Government has committed $263 million in funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program. This will support up to 70,000 job placements for youth 15 to 30 years of age.

The temporary changes to the program in response to COVID-19 for the 2020 year include:

• an increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee;

• an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021;

• allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services; and

• allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.

The Canada Summer Jobs call for applications for the 2020 season closed on February 28, 2020. In response to the economic impacts created by the COVID-19 situation, Members of Parliament will work to identify organizations that provide essential services in the community and could provide youth jobs but did not apply for the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2020.

Job placements could begin as early as May 11, 2020, and end as late as February 28, 2021.

Youth will be able to search for jobs available in their communities through the Job Bank website and app.

Supporting Students Through Expanded Student & Youth Programming

 The government is creating and connecting students to meaningful employment and service opportunities, with:

• $153.7 million for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy to help youth develop the skills and gain the experience they need to successfully transition into the labour market. Funding will support a range of measures in high-demand sectors such as agriculture, technology, health and essential services, creating over 6,000 additional job placements.

• $80 million for the Student Work Placement Program to support up to 20,000 post-secondary students across Canada to obtain paid work experience related to their field of study.

• $15 million for the Supports for Student Learning Program to serve an additional 14,700 youth through support to complete high school and transition to post-secondary education in order to help ensure that vulnerable children and youth do not become further marginalized as a result of COVID-19.

• Additional support for the Canada Service Corps to expand support for meaningful youth service projects that have positive impacts in communities across Canada, including increasing the number of microgrants from 1,800 to 15,000, and providing stipends to participants.

• $40 million to Innovation, Science and Economic Development to support Mitacs in order to create 5,000 new job placements. The Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) will also create a further 5,000 to 10,000 new student placements, by reorienting existing federal support and building online tools.

International Students

The Government of Canada will remove the restriction that allows international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, provided they are working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.

International students and their employers should consult Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada's Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada during the COVID-19 Outbreak to determine if the work the student is doing would allow them to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic session. This temporary rule change will be in place until August 31, 2020.

Registered Retirement Income Funds

The required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) have been reduced by 25% for 2020. This will provide flexibility to seniors that are concerned that they may be required to liquidate their RRIF assets to meet minimum withdrawal requirements.

One-Time Tax-Free Payments

An additional financial support of $2.5 billion will be provided to seniors in the form of a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). This measure would give a total of $500 to individuals who are eligible to receive both the OAS and the GIS, and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19.

*Eligible seniors do not need to apply for this support, it will be distributed automatically by the Federal Government.

Temporarily Extending GIS and Allowance Payments

If seniors’ 2019 income information has not been assessed their GIS and Allowance payments will be temporarily extended. This will ensure that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. To avoid an interruption in benefits, seniors are encouraged to submit their 2019 income information as soon as possible and no later than by October 1, 2020.

Supporting the Delivery of Items and Personal Outreach

The Federal Government is contributing $9 million through United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors. These services could include the delivery of groceries, medications, or other needed items, or personal outreach to assess individuals' needs and connect them to community supports.

Providing Essential Services

An additional investment of $20 million to the New Horizons for Seniors Program will support community-based organizations to provide immediate and essential services to seniors impacted by COVID-19. These activities can include:

• supporting seniors in staying connected with their community and family by providing electronic devices, virtual activities and remote tutorials;

• supporting the delivery of food and medication to self-isolated seniors at home;

• assisting seniors to undertake essential activities, such as visits to the doctor;

• assisting community organizations to provide the types of support above, including hiring staff to replace a loss of volunteerism due to the outbreak;

• providing information to seniors regarding how to care for themselves during the pandemic.

Banks in Canada have affirmed their commitment to working with customers to provide flexible solutions, on a case-by-case basis, for managing through hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes permitting lenders to defer up to six monthly mortgage payments (interest and principal) for impacted borrowers. Contact your financial institution directly to inquire on flexibility for a mortgage deferral. 

Please see our Support for Business section below for some of the business financing and loan measures that have already been announced.

Mortgage Default Management Tools

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) and other mortgage insurers offer tools to lenders that can assist homeowners who may be experiencing financial difficulty. These include payment deferral, loan re-amortization, capitalization of outstanding interest arrears and other eligible expenses, and special payment arrangements.

Canada's mortgage insurers are committed to providing homeowners with solutions to mitigate temporary financial hardship related to COVID-19. This includes permitting lenders to defer up to six monthly mortgage payments (interest and principal) for impacted borrowers. Deferred payments are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.

The Federal Government, through the CMHC, is providing increased flexibility for homeowners facing financial difficulties to defer mortgage payments on homeowner CMHC-insured mortgage loans. CMHC will permit lenders to allow payment deferral beginning immediately. 

Any objections related to Canadians' entitlements to benefits and credits have been identified as a critical service and will continue to be processed during the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, there should not be any delays in processing these objections.

For objections related to other tax matters filed by individuals and businesses, the CRA is currently holding these accounts in abeyance and no collection action will be taken with respect to these accounts during this period of time.

For any objection request due March 18 or later, the deadline is effectively extended until June 30, 2020.

• For individual tax returns, the normal filing due date of April 30 will be deferred until June 1, 2020.

The CRA encourages individuals who expect to receive benefits under the GSTC or the Canada Child Benefit not to delay the filing of their return to ensure their entitlements for the 2020-21 benefit year are properly determined. 

• The tax filing deadline for NR4 information returns are all extended to May 1, 2020.

• The tax filing deadlines for partnership information returns are extended:

• to May 1, 2020 for partnerships that would normally have a March 31 filing;

• to June 1, 2020 for partnerships that would normally have a filing deadline after March 31 and before May 31; and

• to September 1, 2020 for partnerships that would normally have a filing deadline on May 31, or in June, July or August.

• The tax filing deadline for trusts with a tax year-end date of December 31, 2019 is extended to May 1, 2020 while the tax filing deadline for trusts that would otherwise have a filing due date in April or May is extended to June 1, 2020.  For trusts that would otherwise have a filing due in June, July or August, the filing deadline is extended to September 1, 2020.

• The payment of any income tax amounts owing on or after March 18, 2020 and before September 2020, are not due until September 30, 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. This extended deadline is applicable for existing tax debts and does not cancel penalties and interest already assessed on a taxpayer’s account prior to this period. 

• Effective immediately the CRA will recognize electronic signatures as having met the signature requirements of the Income Tax Act, as a temporary administrative measure. This provision applies to authorization forms T183 or T183CORP, which are forms that are typically signed in person by millions of Canadians every year to authorize tax preparers to file taxes. 

• The payment of any income tax amounts owing on or after March 18, 2020 and before September 2020 are not due until September 30, 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. This extended deadline is applicable for existing tax debts and does not cancel penalties and interest already assessed on a taxpayer’s account prior to this period.

• The tax filing deadlines for corporations are all extended to June 1, 2020. This applies to corporations that would otherwise have a filing due date after March 18 and before June 1.

• Furthermore, businesses are allowed to defer filing their T2 corporation income tax returns that would otherwise be due in June, July, and August, to September 30, 2020.

Canada Pension Plan/Employment Insurance (CPP/EI) appeals to the Minister

Taxpayers wanting to file an appeal in relation to CPP/EI rulings decisions are encouraged to do so through My Account to avoid potential delays.  The CPP/EI appeals program is currently only actioning appeals that are related to cases where EI benefits are pending and these cases will be treated on a priority basis. All other appeals will be actioned when normal services resume.

In addition, the CPP/EI Appeals to the Minister program will exercise discretion on a case by case basis when additional time is required to respond to a request.

Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments

The Federal Government is deferring Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) remittances and customs duty payments to June 30, 2020.

GST/HST Remittance Deferral

To support Canadian businesses in the current extraordinary circumstances, the Minister of National Revenue will extend until June 30, 2020 the time that:

• GST/HST Monthly filers have to remit amounts collected for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods;

• GST/HST Quarterly filers have to remit amounts collected for the January 1 through March 31, 2020 reporting period; and

• GST/HST Annual filers, whose GST/HST return or instalment are due in March, April, or May 2020, have to remit amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year.

Deferral of Customs Duty and Sales Tax for Importers

Payment deadlines for statements of accounts for March, April, and May are being deferred to June 30, 2020.

Suspending Audit Activities and Collections on New Debt

The CRA will not initiate contact with taxpayers for audits, with certain exceptions, This includes:

• no new audits being launched, and

• no requests for information related to existing audits.

No audits should be finalized and no reassessments should be issued.

Collections activities on new debts will be suspended until further notice, and flexible payment arrangements will be available.  Payment arrangements are also available on a case-by-case basis if you can’t pay your taxes, child and family benefit overpayments, Canada Student Loans, or other government program overpayments in full.

Banks and employers do not need to comply or remit on existing requirements to pay during this time.

Taxpayer relief requests

Taxpayers who are unable to file a return or make a payment by the tax-filing and payment deadlines because of COVID-19 can request the cancellation of penalty and interest charged to their account. Penalties and interest will not be charged if the new deadlines that the government has announced to tax-filing and payments are met.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is a $68.5 billion Federal Government program for employers impacted by COVID-19. 

The program is effective from March 15, 2020 to June 2021.

Eligible employers can apply for the subsidy, retroactive to March 15.

The CEWS program has evolved from its initial launch in March 2020. The first 16 weeks (March 15 to July 4, 2020) provide a subsidy of 75% of eligible remuneration, up to a maximum of $847 per week per eligible employee. Eligible employers, such as business owners, that see a drop of at least 15% of their qualifying revenue in March 2020 and 30% for the following months of April, May and June, when compared to their qualifying revenue for the same period in 2019 (or the average of January and February 2020, in some circumstances), qualify for the wage subsidy.

The rules are modified substantially for the fifth (July 5 to August 1, 2020) and subsequent periods, with transitional rules (safe harbour rule) available for the fifth and sixth periods.

Special rules apply for certain other employers. For the following 20 weeks (July 5 to November 21, 2020), the wage subsidy has been modified to be available for all eligible employers that experience a decline in revenue for a claim period, with a base wage subsidy amount, and an additional top-up wage subsidy amount for those employers that have been most adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Further, for the fifth and sixth periods, an eligible employer can calculate their wage subsidy in certain circumstances, under the rules that apply to the first four periods if the result is more favourable (safe harbour rule).

Learn more on CEWS eligibility and the application process  

Introduced on March 18, original subsidy program is still in effect, and those who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, may be eligible for this previously announced program.

The Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deduction required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

You are an eligible employer if you:

• are a(n):

• individual (excluding trusts),

• partnership.

• non-profit organization,

• registered charity, or

• Canadian-controlled private corporation (including a cooperative corporation) eligible for the small business deduction;

• have an existing business number and payroll program account with the CRA on March 18, 2020; and

• pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to an eligible employee.

Note: Partnerships are only eligible for the subsidy if their members consist exclusively of individuals (excluding trusts), registered charities, or Canadian-controlled private corporations eligible for the small business deduction.

For employers that are eligible for both the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy for a period, any benefit from the Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy for remuneration paid in a specific period would generally reduce the amount available to be claimed under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in that same period.

Eligible small employers will receive a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months and the subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. 

The Federal Government launched the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program to provide financial assistance to small businesses in respect of their commercial rent. The program was administrated by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) on behalf of the Federal Government and its provincial and territorial partners. It offered commercial rent assistance for the months of April through September 2020.

The program was available for application since May 25, 2020, and has now ended.

The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy program would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners.

The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65% of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020.

Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.

The CERS would provide a 25% top-up for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65% subsidy listed above. 

Learn more on the CERS here

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is a $55 billion program that provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not for profits. The borrowed funds are to help cover operating costs during a period where revenues have been temporarily reduced. The loan will better position entities to quickly return to providing services and creating employment.

On May 19, 2020, the federal government announced an expansion to the eligibility criteria for the CEBA, making it available to more Canadian small businesses, including:

• Sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses;

• Businesses that rely on contractors; and

• Family-owned corporations that pays employees through dividends

All applicants now have until December 31, 2020 to apply for the CEBA

**COMING SOON** CEBA support is being expanded from $40,000 to $60,000. This expansion will be available to all eligible previous and new CEBA applicants.

Visit Crowe MacKay's CEBA FAQs for more information on the program.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will provide additional support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC).

BDC and EDC are working with private sector lenders to coordinate on credit solutions for individual businesses, including in sectors such as oil and gas, air transportation, exports, and tourism.

This program includes:

A New Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19. To support their operations, Export Development Canada will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow term loans that financial institutions extend to SMEs, up to $6.25 million.

A New Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium Enterprises

The Co-Lending Program will bring the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), together with financial institutions, to co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements. Eligible businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts up to $6.25 million and the BDC’s portion of this program is up to $5 million maximum per loan. Eligible financial institutions will conduct the underwriting and manage the interface with their customers

Support for Mid-Sized Companies

In expanding the BCAP to include mid-sized companies, loans of up to $60 million per company will be granted, with guarantees of up to $80 million. Through the BCAP, EDC, and the BDC will work with private sector lenders to support access to capital for Canadian businesses in all sectors and regions.

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility

The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) program will be open to large for-profit businesses – with the exception of those in the financial sector – as well as certain not for profit businesses, such as airports, with annual revenues generally in the order of $300 million or higher. To qualify for LEEFF support, eligible businesses must be seeking financing of about $60 million or more, have significant operations or workforce in Canada, and not be involved in active insolvency proceedings. Broader sectoral dynamics for LEEFF applicants will be considered through processes led by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada.

The LEEFF is not to be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor can it provide financing to businesses that otherwise have the capacity to manage through the crisis.

Guiding Principles of LEEFF

• Businesses seeking support must demonstrate how they intend to preserve employment and maintain investment activities.

• LEEFF recipients will need to commit to respect collective bargaining agreements and protect workers’ pensions.

• The LEEFF program will require strict limits to dividends, share buy-backs, and executive pay.

• In considering a business’ eligibility, an assessment may be made of its employment, tax, and economic activity in Canada, as well as its international organizational structure and financing arrangements. 

• The program will not be available to businesses that have been convicted of tax evasion. 

Recipients would be required to commit to publish annual climate-related disclosure reports consistent with the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, including how their future operations will support environmental sustainability and national climate goals.

Applications are now open for LEEFF. Apply here

Community Futures Network

Rural businesses and communities can access $287 million in additional funding through the Community Futures Network.

Learn more on the Community Futures Network

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

Assistance for innovative, early-stage companies who are not eligible for other COVID-19 business supports can access the IRAP. The Federal Government is investing $250 million in this program.

IRAP provides advice, connections, and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market. 

Futurpreneur Canada

The Federal Government is providing $20.1 million in support to Futurpreneur Canada to support young entrepreneurs across the country facing challenges due to COVID-19. The funding will allow Futurpreneur Canada to provide payment relief for its clients for up to 12 months.

Learn more about Futurpreneur Canada

Businesses in the Territories

Financial aid in the amount of $15 million will be available to businesses in the Territories. These funds will assist businesses with operating costs not already covered by other Government of Canada measures.

Canada’s Regional Development Agencies

The Federal Government is providing $675 million in financing support to small and medium-sized businesses that are unable to access other COVID-19 business supports through Canada's Regional Development Agencies.

Connect with your Regional Development Agency

Supporting Financial Market Liquidity

The Insured Mortgage Purchase Program will be launched allowing the government to purchase up to $50 billion of insured mortgage pools through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, providing long-term stable funding to banks and mortgage lenders, helping to facilitate continued lending to Canadian consumers and businesses, and adding liquidity to Canada’s mortgage market.

The Bank of Canada also announced measures to help the financial markets, such as adjusting its market liquidity operations, broadening eligible collateral for its repo facility and readiness to provide support to the Canada Mortgage Bond market.

The Federal Government invested $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need.

 The investment will flow through national organizations that have the ability to get funds quickly to local organizations that serve vulnerable populations. It will support a variety of activities, such as:

• increasing volunteer-based home deliveries of groceries and medications;

• providing transportation services, like accompanying or driving seniors or persons with disabilities to appointments;

• scaling up help lines that provide information and support;

• helping vulnerable Canadians access government benefits;

• providing training, supplies, and other required supports to volunteers so they can continue to make their invaluable contributions to the COVID-19 response; and

• replacing in-person, one-on-one contact, and social gatherings with virtual contact through phone calls, texts, teleconferences, or the Internet.

Applications for Funding

A small number of national-level intermediary organizations will be disbursing funds. Community organizations will be able to apply for funds through these national partners or their local entities.

Community organizations should check the websites of the United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and Community Foundations of Canada to learn more about how and when they will be able to apply.

Delivery of Funding

The Federal Government has partnered with national intermediaries to deliver funding because they already have strong connections with community-based organizations. They are also sensitive to local issues and can use this local knowledge to ensure support is provided to the vulnerable groups who need it most. Finally, these partners already fund community-based charities and non-profit organizations quickly and efficiently.

Distribution of Funding

The United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Community Foundations of Canada, together, reach all provinces and territories in Canada. They will allocate funding by taking into account the size of the population as well as regional and local needs.

The Fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage and divided among select departmental programs and Portfolio agencies as well as key delivery organizations, specifically:

• Up to $326.8 million to be distributed by Canadian Heritage, of which:

• $198.3 million will be provided to the beneficiaries of arts and culture funding through existing programs as well as other organizations with demonstrated needs;

• $72 million will be provided to the sport sector;

• $53 million will be provided to the heritage sector through the emergency component of the Museums Assistance Program; and,

• $3.5 million will be provided for COVID-related projects under the Digital Citizen Initiative.

• $55 million to be distributed by the Canada Council for the Arts to help arts organizations that support artists.

• $115.8 million to support the Canadian audiovisual sector, to be distributed by the Canada Media Fund ($88.8 million) and Telefilm Canada ($27 million).

The use of the remaining funds will be assessed based on needs.

Find more information on the Canadian Heritage COVID-19 support funding here.

Relief to the Broadcasting Sector

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will not issue letters requesting payment for Part I license fees by broadcasters for the 2020–21 fiscal year. The government will transfer the necessary funds to the CRTC to support its operations.

H3: Canada Council for the Arts

Canada Council for the Arts will receive $60 million in advance funding to enable core funded organizations to meet their immediate commitments, help ensure cash flow, and address outstanding payments to the artists and cultural workers they employ.

Find more information on the advanced funding here

Digital Originals- Micro Innovation Grants

The Canada Council will provide a total of $1 million in funding to successful applicants to develop, create, and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online.

CBC/Radio-Canada will showcase and amplify the discoverability of select projects on one or more of its platforms.

Find more information on the micro innovation grants here.

Funding Eligibility

Funding will be released in two phases.

Find more information on eligibility for Phase 1 and Phase 2 here.