CLOSED – COVID-19 Government Support Programs

Support for Businesses 

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Small and medium-sized Canadian-based businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19
• Business must have been financially stable and viable prior to current economic situation
• Business must have received payments either from the CEWS or the CERS by having demonstrated a minimum 50% revenue decline for at least 3 months (not necessarily consecutive) within the 8-month period prior to date of HASCAP Guarantee application
• Loan must be used to continue or resume operations (not for repayment of existing financing)

Benefit

• Up to a 12-month postponement of principal payments at start of loan
• The guarantee covers amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1 M
• Loans are low interest bearing with repayment terms up to 10 years

Action Needed

• Government has mandated BDC to provide a guarantee to financial institutions for 100% of value of new term loan
• Application is through financial institution (can apply at one institution only)
• Program is extended to March 31, 2022
• More details and FAQ available here

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Eligible entities include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, specifically:
  • Individuals
  • Taxable Corporations
  • Trusts
  • Partnerships (consisting of eligible entities)
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Registered charities
  • Indigenous government-owned corporations that are carrying on a business, as well as partnerships where the partners are Indigenous governments and eligible employers
  • Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Associations
  • Registered Journalism Organization
  • Private colleges and schools, including institutions that offer specialized services, such as art schools, driving schools, language schools or flight schools

• Public sector entities are generally not eligible
• Eligible entities must experience a decline in revenues when compared to same month in 2019
• Eligible entity can elect to calculate revenues using accrual method or cash method; must use same method for all periods
• As an alternative to year-over-year approach, employers may compare revenue using an average of revenue earned in January and February 2020, provided on March 15, 2020 they had a business number registered with the Minister for purposes of payroll withholdings
• Affiliated groups may compute revenue on a consolidated basis
• Special rules provided for entities having 90% or more of their revenues from non-arm’s length parties

• Eligible employee is an individual employed in Canada by an eligible entity throughout the claim period
• For claim periods 1 to 4, employees with 14 or more consecutive unpaid days in the period were excluded; for claim periods 5 and later, those employees may be included in the calculation
• Employees laid off and rehired can meet the eligibility criteria can be included if they are rehired and paid before being included in the claim
• Whether an employee is active or on leave with pay is determined one week at a time in the subsidy calculator

Benefit

• The rate of the CEWS varies depending on the level of revenue decline, with no minimum reduction, for periods 5 and later; periods 1 to 4 required a decline in revenue greater than or equal to 30% (15% for March 2020)
• For periods 1 to 4, the maximum subsidy rate is 75% of eligible employees’ remuneration, up to a maximum of $847/week per eligible employee
• For periods 5 and 6, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 85% of baseline remuneration (base: 65% + top-up: 0-25%), and $960/week
• For period 7, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 75% of baseline remuneration (base: 50% + top-up: 0-25%), and $847/week
• For periods 8 to 10, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 65% of baseline remuneration (base: 40% + top-up: 0-25%), and $734/week
• For periods 11 to 16, the maximum subsidy  is lesser of 75% of baseline remuneration (base: 40% + top-up: 0-35%), and $847/week
• For period 18, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 60% of baseline remuneration (base: 35% + top-up: 0-25%), and $677/week
• For period 19, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 40% of baseline remuneration (base: 25% + top-up: 0-15%), and $452/week
• For period 20, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 30% (base: 25% + top-up: 15%) and $452/week
• For period 21, the maximum subsidy is lesser of 20% (base: 10% + top-up: 10%) and $226/week
• Program includes 100% refund for certain employer-paid contributions to Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan, and Quebec Parental Insurance Plan
• Refund available on employer-paid contributions for eligible employees for each week throughout which employees are on leave with pay, and for employees that employer is eligible to claim CEWS

Action Needed

• Applications opened for the CEWS beginning April 27, 2020
• Program extended to October 23, 2021
• Deadline to apply is 180 days after the end of each claim period
• Eligible entities apply through the CRA’s My Business Account
• Persons representing a business may apply using Represent a Client
• Alternatively, an online application form will be available
• Applicants need to calculate the estimated subsidy for their business prior to application
• Minister may make information, such as names of employers applying for the CEWS, available publicly
• Employers must attest to decline in revenue in order to be eligible for subsidy; significant penalties and interest will apply to fraudulent claims
• More details about the CEWS available:
  • Department of Finance Canada CEWS
  • CEWS Application Guide

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations or charities who have seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses
• Payments will be made directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring participation of landlords
• Eligibility can be determined here

Benefit

• The subsidy is available on a sliding scale (with a maximum of 65%) for businesses that can demonstrate a revenue loss from September 27, 2020 to June 5, 2021 (Periods 1 – 16)
• Lockdown support: additional top-up of 25% (maximum possible subsidy of 90%) is available for businesses that temporarily shut down due to a mandatory public health order
• While lockdown support of 25% remains in place, maximum base subsidy declines as follows:
  • Period 17 – 65%
  • Period 18 – 60%
  • Periods 19/20 – 40%
  • Period 21 – 20%

Action Needed

• Program extended to October 23, 2021
• Application is available through the CRA’s MyBusiness Account and Represent a Client portals
• Businesses need to apply to the rent subsidy after the month has passed
• Deadline to apply is 180 days after the end of each claim period
• Subsidy available is determined using the CERS calculator

Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (TWS) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Limited to following employers:
  • A CCPC entitled to a portion of the business limit for the small business deduction in its last taxation year ending prior to March 18, 2020
  • An individual (other than a trust)
  • A partnership, all members of which are: eligible CCPCs, individuals, partnerships or registered charities
  • A non-profit organization exempt from tax
  • A registered charity

• Eligible entities qualify provided they:
  • Employ one or more individuals in Canada;
  • 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 employee.

Benefit

• Subsidy is determined by:
  • A manual calculation equal to 10% of remuneration paid between March 18, 2020 and June 19, 2020
  • Limited to a maximum subsidy amount of $1,375 per employee, to a maximum of $25,000 per employer

Action Needed

• Employers reduce their current remittance of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax that would otherwise be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by the amount of subsidy calculated
• Entities eligible for both TWS and CEWS can elect the TWS to be less than 10%; any TWS claimed reduces amount of CEWS claimable
• More details about the TWS available:
  • Temporary wage subsidy for employers

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) (closed – application deadline has passed)

Eligibility

• Limited to small businesses and not-for-profits who have temporarily reduced revenues due to COVID-19

• Two streams available: (i) Payroll Stream (applicants with employment income paid in 2019 between $20K and $1.5M); (ii) Non-Deferrable Expense Stream (applicants with $20K or less in total employment income paid in 2019)
• Every applicant must have:
  • a business operating account at a participating financial institution at the time of application
  • a CRA business number
• Applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 must have:
  • filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return
  • eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million

Benefit

• Interest-free loans up to $60,000
• 33% of loan (max. $20,000) eligible for forgiveness if balance repaid by December 31, 2022
• Original loan maximum was $40,000; applicants who received the initial loan are eligible to apply for the $20K expansion

Action Needed

• Business owners can apply for support until June 30, 2021
• Application is through financial institutions
• More details about the CEBA available:
  • Government of Canada CEBA

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP): Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) - Export Development Canada (EDC) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Small and medium-sized enterprises
• Applies to export sector and domestic companies

Benefit

• EDC is guaranteeing new operating lines of credit or new term loans to sustain operations in response to COVID-19
• Size of loan or line of credit is determined by financial institution
• Support available until June 2021

Action Needed

• Application is through financial institutions
• More details available:
  • EDC Loan Guarantee

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP): Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program - Export Development Canada (EDC) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Companies who tend to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million
• Guarantees available to exporters, international investors and businesses that sell products or services within Canada

Benefit

• EDC will work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75% of new operating credit and cash-flow loans – ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million

Action Needed

• Application is through primary lenders
• More details available: EDC Loan Guarantee

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP): Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises - Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)  (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Small and medium-sized enterprises directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19
  • Business must have been financially stable and viable prior to pandemic
  • Financing to be used solely to support operational cashflow requirements
  • Subject to financial institution’s credit criteria

Benefit

• BDC is co-lending term loans to SMEs for operational cash flow requirements
• Incremental credit amounts of up to $6.25 M available through program
• Program expanded to mid-sized companies with larger financing needs (up to $60 M)

Action Needed

• Application is through financial institutions
• More details available:
  • BDC Co-Lending Program

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP): Mid-Market Financing Program – Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceed what is already available through the BCAP and other measures
• Qualified companies anticipated to have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million

Benefit

• BDC offers junior loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million

Action Needed

• Application is through primary lenders
• More details available: Mid-Market Financing Program

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Provides assistance to businesses and communities that require additional support to cope with and recover from the pandemic

Benefit

• RRRF mirrors the support offered by other federal programs such as the CEBA or the BCAP
• Businesses already receiving support from the RRRF may be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in additional funding

Action Needed

• To review RRRF eligibility requirements and to apply for support, contact your local regional development agency (see listing here)

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Small business tenants paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70% drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues
• Non-profit and charitable organizations are also eligible

Benefit

• Forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners who agree to reduce eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75% for April, May and June 2020
• Agreement must include a term not to evict tenant
• Rent will be covered 50% by CECRA; 25% by property owner; and 25% by tenant

Action Needed

• Application portal opened May 25, 2020
• Significant information required from applicant
• Details on application process available: CECRA for Small Businesses

Support for Individuals

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Available to workers who:
  • Live in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
  • Stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job;
  • Had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to date of application; and,
  • Did not earn more than $1,000 in employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the four-week period of first claim;
  • Did not earn more than $1,000 in employment or self-employment income for the entire four-week period of each subsequent claim.

• CERB is also accessible to seasonal workers who have exhausted their regular EI benefits but unable to undertake usual seasonal work due to COVID-19 and to workers who have exhausted their regular EI benefits but are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19
• Non-eligible dividends count towards minimum $5,000 income requirement for eligibility; non-eligible dividends also count toward $1000 income threshold for benefit period

Benefit

• Provides $500 per week for up to 28 weeks

Action Needed

• Applications accepted beginning April 6, 2020
• Online or telephone application process
• A person must make an application, if eligible, for every four-week period
• The application must be made no later than December 2, 2020
• Beginning July 5, 2020, applicants must sign attestation acknowledging the government wants them to work
• Guidelines established for days to apply based on birth month
• Transitioning from CERB to EI

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (closed – program has ended)

Eligibility

• Post-secondary students currently in school, planning to start school in September 2020, or having graduated in December 2019, and have lost work or unable to find work due to COVID-19
• Students currently working but earning less than $1,000 per month are also eligible if hours have been cut due to COVID-19 

Benefit

• $,1250 per month from May to August 2020
• Amount increases to $1,750 per month if student is caring for someone or has a disability 

Action Needed

• The program closed for applications on September 30, 2020

Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG) (cancelled – program not implemented)

Eligibility

• Participants must be 30 years of age or younger, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a student with refugee status, and either:
  • Enrolled in and attending post-secondary education during the spring, summer, or fall 2020 semesters
  • Recent post-secondary graduates (no earlier than December 2019); or
  • Studying abroad and currently residing in Canada
• In order for a volunteer opportunity to be eligible, a placement must:
  • Be with a not-for-profit organization, which includes registered charities
  • Take place in Canada and support Canada’s response to COVID-19
  • Be a minimum of 2 hours per week for four weeks
  • Follow all applicable public health requirements

Benefit

• One-time payment available at five levels, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000
• Amount will vary based on number of volunteer hours ($1,000 for each 100 hours completed, up to a maximum of $5,000 for 500 hours) 

Action Needed

• Post-secondary students and recent graduates must register no later than August 21, 2020, to be eligible for the grant
• Completed applications for the CSSG must be submitted no later than November 6, 2020
• Participants may only count hours accumulated from June 25 to October 31, 2020

Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC) - Special payment (closed)

Eligibility

• Individuals who:
  • normally received GSTC and filed a 2018 personal income tax return (T1)
  • previously not entitled to GSTC but now are based on family net income (and filed 2018 T1)

Benefit

• Maximum amounts for 2019-2020 benefit year will increase from:
  • $443 to $886, if single
  • $580 to $1,160, if married or common-law
  • $154 to $306 for each child under age 19 (excluding first eligible child of single parent)
  • $290 to $580 for first eligible child of single parent

Action Needed

• No application required but must file 2018 income tax return
• Payments will be issued April 9, 2020
• May be eligible for retroactive credit if late filing 2018 taxes
• More details on GSTC available:
  • Canada - GSTC

Canada Child Benefit Young Child Supplement (CCBYSC) (closed)

Eligibility

• Eligible to those who are:
  • Living with a child under 6 years of age
  • Primary caregiver to that child
  • Resident of Canada for tax purposes (as well as other criteria related to citizenship /residency status)

Benefit

• Eligible recipients will receive $300 per child if family net income is $120,000 or less, or $150 per child if family net income is more than $120,000
• CRA will make CCBYCS payments on following dates:
  • May 28, 2021 (includes amounts for January and April)
  • July 30, 2021
  • October 29, 2021
• Payments are issued separately from the CCB payments already receiving

Action Needed

• If previously applied for CCB, do not need to reapply
• Otherwise, apply for CCB:
  • Register the birth
  • Online through My Account
  • By mail
• Parent must file 2019 and 2020 income tax returns to receive benefits
• More information available here