COVID-19 Resources

Stop the Spread Business Hotline

Phone: 1-888-444-3659

This toll-free hotline was introduced to provide support for businesses as they transition during this period. This hotline can be used by businesses to inquire about the Province's recent emergency order or to learn how these measures will impact their business.

To stay up to date on the latest government announcements, follow the respective links below:

Ontario Government: https://news.ontario.ca/newsroom/en

Federal Government: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html

Extension of Validation Periods for Driver, Vehicle and Carrier Products, Services and Health Cards

Validation of the above products has been extended meaning that driver's licenses, licenses plates, photo cards and Commerical Vehicle Operator Certificates that may have expired, or are about to expire, have automatically been extended. This is an attempt to limit the number of in-person visits to Service Ontario.

Find more information at https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/ontario-expands-coverage-for-care.html

Temporary Changes to Municipal Noise By-Laws

This change was introduced to waive local noise by-laws to allow for truck deliveries to happen around the clock. Businesses that require shipments from a warehouse to a store can now do so at their convenience. This measure was put in place to help businesses meet the supply demand across the country without limitations.

Off-Peak Electricity Rate for Small Businesses, Farm Customers and Residential Units
For 45 total days, the government will be using the off peak rate of 10.1 cents-per-kilowatt-hour for small businesses and farms meaning businesses can continue to operate and pay less in hydro costs, a measure implemented to give more liquidity to businesses.

Insurance Mortgage Purchase Program

Launch of an Insured Mortgage Purchase Program of up to $50 billion to provide stable funding to banks and mortgage lenders. In return, this will broaden the amount of support these institutions can offer to businesses and consumers with their mortgages.

Mortgage Default Management Tools

This program was created to give lenders, the financial institutions, more access to tools to assist homeowners who may be affected by COVID-19. The intention of this program is to provide more flexibility for homeowners allowing them to defer mortgage payments on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)-insured loans. Individuals can take advantage of this program immediately.

Find more information at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html#emergency_support_benefit

Small Business 10% Wage Subsidy

Eligible small businesses will have access to a temporary wage subsidy for 3 months. The Federal Government considers small employers to have 1-99 paid employees on record. This subsidy is intended to be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses can reduce their remittance of income tax withheld on their employees' remuneration.

Find more information at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html

Work-Sharing Program

This program is designed to help businesses and employees avoid layoffs when there is a reduction in the amount of business activity. Employees of the business must agree to work at a reduced schedule and share work over a period of time. Eligible businesses must have been in Canada for 2+ years, be a private business, publicly held or a not for profit, must demonstrate that this reduction of business activity is temporary and the reduction of business activity must have decreased by a minimum of 10%. Under this program, employment insurance benefits are provided as income support.

Find more information at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html

Emergency Response Benefit

This program is replacing the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit. This new program will provide a taxable benefit of $2000 a month for up to 4 months to cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school closures.

Job Protection for Workers

The Province is introducing legislation to protect workers in Ontario. This legislation makes it clear that employees are not required to provide a medical note if they take a leave. Further the link below outlines the new rules in greater detail. Employee Standards Amendment Act provides job protection for Canadians.

Find more information at https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/premier-ford-announces-job-protection-for-workers-during-the-covid-19-situation.html

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

$10 billion has been pulled together for businesses under stress as a result of COVID-19. This program will be supported by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC). Both organizations have eligibility requirements which can be found on their respective websites.

• BDC https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/specialsupport.aspx? specialinitiative=covid19
• EDC https://www.edc.ca/en/campaign/coronavirus-covid-19.html

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)

RDAs including FedDev Ontario are implementing a 3 month deferral for companies in repayment and this will take effect April 1, 2020. There are several types of organizations that may be eligible for further funding including tourism operators, small/medium sized businesses, amongst others. 

Access to FedDev funding can be found at https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/07677.html

Phone FedDevOntario at 1-866-593-5505

Financial Institutions

If you receive financing through a financial institution, speak with a representative to hear what they are offering in terms of loans and payment deferrals. Banks across Canada are introducing programs to support businesses and are flexible with terms due to the nature of the situation.

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGEN) Funding

NGEN will invest $50 million to support companies as they prepare to produce medical equipment and products to join the fight against COVID-19. This fund will be used towards the rapid production of critical items identified by the Government of Canada such as virus screening kits, gloves, gowns and masks, amongst others. 

Companies interested in this funding can view more information at http://www.ngen.ca/covid-19-response

Income Tax

All payments of income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 18th and before September 30th will be deferred until after August 31st, 2020. Canadians now have until June 1st to file their taxes for the 2019 year.

Find more information at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html#emergency_support_benefit

Employer Health Tax (EHT) Exemption

On March 26th, the Provincial Government announced that they will be cutting business taxes by $355 million for approximately 57,000 businesses through a temporary increase to the EHT exemption. The EHT is a payroll tax that employers pay based on their total remuneration - which has a top rate of 1.95%. This program applies to private sector employers with a total Ontario Remuneration of $5 million and under. These businesses under the current EHT exemption are eligible for up to $490,000 in returns. This new program aims to increase that maximum amount to $1 million.

Ontario Together Website

This website was created to help businesses and their employees work with the province to meet the challenges of COVID-19. Through this website portal, companies can submit their proposals for quick creative solutions for the Province’s supply challenges.

Find more information at https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-your-organization-can-help-fightcoronavirus

COVID-19 Supplier Purchasing Program

The Government is seeking to purchase goods from suppliers based on a growing list of needs to support our frontline workers. If you think your company can support the fight against COVID-19, please visit https://buyandsell.gc.ca/calling-all-suppliers-help-canada-combat-covid-19

The following is a list of needs:

• Disposable N95 masks
• Disposable surgical masks
• Nitrile gloves
• Vinyl gloves
• Gowns
• Bottles of hand sanitizer
• Other prevention products

In addition to this list of supplies, the Government is also asking for a number of support with services:

• Guard/security services
• Nursing services
• Food services
• Laundry services
• Accommodation maintenance services
• Personal services
• IT support services

Medical Manufacturing

The government is looking for businesses who are able to manufacture medical equipment. Many businesses across Canada are pivoting their manufacturing facilities to help provide for our front line workers.

Those who are looking to help can find more information at https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/maintaingrowimprovebusiness/manufacturers-needed.html

National Research Council of Canada – COVID-19 Challenge Program

This program is composed of the government, academic, and private sector partners, seeking to address a range of needs.

Medium term needs include:

• personal protective equipment
• sanitization products
• diagnostic and testing products
• therapeutics
• disease tracking technology

If you think your business can step in and help the cause, please visit https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/nrc-covid-19-response