List of essential workplaces

Read the list of essential workplaces in response to COVID-19. If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659

Temporary Business Wage Subsidy

Between March 15 and June 6, 2020, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week or 75 per cent of the employee’s pre-crisis weekly remuneration.

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Government of Canada launches applications                                                for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

OTTAWA, April 27, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - To help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has implemented the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This important economic measure provides a subsidy of 75% of an eligible employee's weekly earnings, to a maximum of $847 per employee per week, to eligible employers, for up to 12 weeks. Retroactive to March 15, 2020, the CEWS will prevent further job losses and encourage employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is administering the CEWS on behalf of the Government.

Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, launched the application process for the CEWS. As of today, employers can apply for the CEWS through My Business Account or through the CRA's online application portal, and their representatives can apply through Represent a Client.  

All claims that are approved through the CRA's automated verification process will be sent for payment on May 5, so that payments being made through direct deposit should begin to appear in employers' accounts as of May 7. Some applications will require a secondary verification, done manually, and in these cases the CRA may contact employers to verify information. It is expected that these secondary verifications will take no more than 72 hours in the vast majority of cases.

The CRA has again partnered with financial institutions to enroll Canadian employers for direct deposit, and employers can now register business payroll accounts for direct deposit with the CRA through their bank portals.

Signing up for direct deposit will enable employers whose applications are approved to receive their CEWS payments quickly and securely. Employers can sign up for direct deposit with their financial institutions even after applying for the CEWS.

The CRA recognizes and appreciates the important role that stakeholder organizations are playing in providing feedback on how the CEWS program will operate.

BACKGROUNDER

To help employers through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has implemented the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). The CEWS aims to prevent further job losses, encourage employers to re-hire workers who were laid off as a result of COVID-19, and help position businesses to resume normal operations more easily following the crisis.

The CEWS allows eligible employers to rehire workers who were laid-off due to COVID-19, retroactive to March 15, 2020. The CEWS application process is now open.

Applying for the CEWS

To provide more information and resources for employers and their representatives, the CEWS web page has been expanded to include an application guide, the CEWS attestation, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section that will be updated regularly.

The easiest way to apply for the CEWS is through My Business Account or Represent a Client. 

The CRA will collect applications throughout this week, and we will use this time to optimize the parameters of our automated verification system based on information we gather through the applications we receive. This will allow us to process all of the applications we've received through our automated verification system on May 4. As such, employers can apply at a time that's convenient for them during this week. 

Employers who have taken advantage of the CEWS calculator function will be able to use the printable statement feature to enter required information into their application, submitting their claim quickly and easily. 

Beginning April 27, 2020, certain financial institutions will offer CRA direct deposit online enrolment for business payroll accounts through their websites, helping businesses get their payments quickly and securely. Employers can sign up for direct deposit with their financial institutions even after applying for the CEWS. We recommend that employers register by May 3 in order to receive their first CEWS payment through direct deposit. Visit Canada.ca/cra-direct- deposit or your financial institution's website for more information.

If employers are not registered for direct deposit, they should allow additional time for their cheque to be delivered by mail to the address on their payroll account (RP).

Employers that are severely affected by the crisis and who make best efforts to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements should expect that the CRA will accept their applications and representations. However, as is the case with other tax measures, CEWS claims will be subject to verification by the CRA. To this end, the CRA may telephone businesses to validate information.

10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers    The 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers reduces the amount of income tax source deductions that employers have to remit to CRA on behalf of their employees by up to 10% of their remuneration (to a maximum of $1,375 per employee up to $25,000 per employer). Many employers that qualify for the CEWS also qualify for the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers.

CEWS and the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers are intended to provide total support of up to 75% for payroll, not 75% + 10%. If you did not reduce the source deductions you remitted to the CRA, but you were entitled to the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers, the CRA will treat you as having over-remitted your employee source deductions (so that normally you will be entitled to a refund).

Additional information is available in the CEWS Application Guide. 

For more information

For more information on the CEWS, please visit our CEWS portal including detailed FAQs about the subsidy and the application process. In addition, we have created infographics to explain eligibility and how to use the CEWS calculator.

Canadians who would like to obtain information by phone can call the dedicated CEWS number at 1-833-966-2099. This line offers access to agents who can provide information about eligibility requirements, calculating the CEWS, or how to apply. The line is operational from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. local time.

To learn more about what CRA is doing, go to Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• To get the latest information please bookmark this page as we update it often and follow us on our social media channels. 

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

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For more information

For more information on the CEWS, please visit our CEWS portal including detailed FAQs about the subsidy and the application process. In addition, we have created infographics to explain eligibility and how to use the CEWS calculator.

Canadians who would like to obtain information by phone can call the dedicated CEWS number at 1-833-966-2099. This line offers access to agents who can provide information about eligibility requirements, calculating the CEWS, or how to apply. The line is operational from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. local time.

To learn more about what CRA is doing, go to Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• To get the latest information please bookmark this page as we update it often and follow us on our social media channels. 

 

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

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Applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) open on April 27, 2020. As a Canadian employer whose business has been affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for a subsidy of 75% of employee wages for up to 12 weeks, retroactive from March 15, 2020, to June 6, 2020.

This wage subsidy will help you to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, help prevent further job losses, and better position you to resume normal operations following the crisis. The CEWS information page also includes a calculator to help you estimate how much you are eligible to receive. 

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Canada Emergency Response Benefit  - Portal Opens April 6

The application portal launched on April 6, 2020, and is now taking applications. The application process requires individuals to: select the initial four-week benefit period, certify eligibility (which will be required for subsequent benefit periods) and confirm direct deposit information. Individuals will need to reaffirm their eligibility to receive the CERB for subsequent four-week benefit periods.

Frequently Asked Questions – Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers

Bill.Morneau@canada.ca, Department of Finance                                  General inquiries Phone: 1-800-959-5525 

News release 

April 1, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada

Employment Support Measures for Business

Emergency Support Benefit & Emergency Care Benefit

Up to $900 biweekly, up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don't qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance.

EI claim   HOW TO APPLY: 

EI regular benefits: Eligibility

Applications will be via CRA Have an EI claim in process but have since been diagnosed with COVID 19?    Please call 1-833-381-2725

Tax Deferment

Deferred until August 31, 2020, the payment tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period. 

HOW TO APPLY:  No application needed

To help support Ontario businesses when they need it most, the government is providing a five-month interest and penalty-free period for businesses to make payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes.

Beginning April 1, 2020, the Province is providing flexibility to about 100,000 businesses in Ontario to help manage their cash flows during this challenging time. This will continue for a period of five months, up until August 31, 2020, and is expected to make available $6 billion to improve the cash flows of Ontario businesses.

For this period, the Province will not apply any penalty or interest on any late-filed returns or incomplete or late tax payments under select provincially administered taxes, such as the Employer Health Tax, Tobacco Tax and Gas Tax.

The initiative and relief period complement the relief from interest and penalties from not remitting Corporate Income Tax owing that was announced by the federal government on March 18, 2020.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

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 (as defined by 499 employees or less).

April 17, Government of Canada announced funding for several programs, which will in turn create funding for jobs and provide access to funding for businesses.

For the energy industry:

• $1.7 billion in funding to cleanup orphaned oil wells
• $750 million for the Emission Reduction Fund for methane reduction
• Continuing work with EDC and BDC to provide credit to medium-sized energy companies

For small businesses that may not qualify for the CEBA and the wage subsidy:

• $962 million to regional development agencies and the Community Futures Network
• $250 million to the Industrial Research Assistance Program and $20 million to Futurpreneur Canada
• $500 million to Canadian Heritage to support people working in arts, culture and sport

Released as of March 18, new relief measures for qualified businesses include:

Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses

Postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less

Reduced rates on new eligible loans.

HOW TO APPLY:    BDC Website        EDC Website

EDC - March 27 News Release

Mortgage Payment Deferrals

The six largest banking institutions in Canada have made a commitment to work with personal and business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through various challenges.

This support will include up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.

HOW TO APPLY: 

This will be done on a first come, first serve basis and requires a direct call to your bank. Here are the helplines for each institution:

BMO: 1- 877-788-1923  •  BMO online support

CIBC: 1-877-454-9030   •  CEBA

National Bank of  Canada:   •   CEBA

RBC: 1-888-648-3511  •   CEBA

Scotiabank: 1-833-315-4357   •  CEBA

TD: 1-888-730-0075   •   CEBA   •   CEBA TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

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 (as defined by 499 employees or less).

Released as of March 18, new relief measures for qualified businesses include:

• Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses;
• Postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less; and
• Reduced rates on new eligible loans.

HOW TO APPLY:  BDC Website   EDC Website

Purchase Order Financing

Cover up to 90% of the purchase order amount to ease cash flow to your suppliers.

• Work-Sharing Program​ | Temporary special measures for the downturn in business due to COVID-19 and for the forestry and steel and aluminum sector

HOW TO APPLY:  BDC Website

Work Sharing Program: Forestry, Steel, Aluminum Sectors

Temporary special measures for the downturn in business due to COVID-19 and for the forestry and steel and aluminum sector 

HOW TO APPLY:  Please apply at least 30 days before you want the temporary special measures to begin.   Canada.ca   

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