Programs & Regulations Summary

Updated June 10, 2020

Stage 2 Reopening Regulations:

On Friday, June 12, Dufferin County will enter Stage 2 of the Provincial reopening. Select businesses and public spaces may reopen if they can safely meet the public health criteria.

The following businesses and spaces may open in Stage 2:

• Personal Care Services
• Personal Services
• Restaurants & Bars
• Shopping Malls & Centres
• Photography
• Film & TV
• Tour & Guide Services
• Water Recreational Facilities
• Outdoor Recreational Facilities
• Beaches, Parks & Camping
• Outdoor Recreational Team Sports
• Drive-in & Drive-thru Venues
• Weddings, Funerals and Similar Gatherings
• Libraries
• Community Centres
• Attractions & Heritage Institutions
• Small Outdoor Events

For more details, please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-whats-each-stage?mc_cid=0955ec7f71&mc_eid=88d1dd623a#s-20

Business Supports

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

• tenants will receive a 75% reduction in their rent payments for April, May, and June
• qualifying commercial property owners can receive forgivable loans to cover 50% of eligible rent payments
• expected to be operational by mid-May

the program is for small businesses, non-profits, and charities that:

• pay less than $50,000 per month in rent
• have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70% drop versus pre-COVID-19 revenues

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

• Employers of any size with gross revenues decreased by at least 15% for March, and 30% for subsequent months due to COVID-19 are eligible
• Subsidy is 75% of wages, to a maximum of $847 per week per employee
• The subsidy began March 15, 2020 (applications can be retroactive) and has been extended until August 29, 2020
• Employer paid EI and CPP premiums will be reimbursed to the employer.
• Applications open starting April 27th for the program

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

• Loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and non-profits to help cover operating costs
• If paid back by December 31, 2022 loans will be interest-free and 25% of the loan (up to $10,000) will be forgivable.
• To qualify, organizations need to have had $20,000 - $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019
• Applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 can apply if they meet the following criteria:
  • a business operating account at a participating financial institution
  • a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return
  • eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1,5 million. (examples: rent, property taxes, utilities, insurance)
• To apply contact your current financial institution starting April 9.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

The RRRF fund is intended to support businesses who have attempted to access other federal relief supports and were ineligible, rejected, or require funding for expenses that have not been supported, with priority given to applicants who were ineligible or rejected from other federal relief supports. Details of the program are as follows:

• Maximum assistance under RRRF offered through the Community Futures program is $40,000
• 0% interest rate and no principal payments until December 31, 2022.
• Principal repayments can be voluntarily made at any time.
• 25% (not to exceed $10,000) of any loan can be forgiven provided the recipient has paid 75% of the original loan amount prior to December 31, 2022.
• If the recipient is unable to repay the loan by December 31, 2022, the loan will be converted to a three-year term loan with interest rates up to 5%, effective January 1, 2023. The full balance must be repaid no later than December 31, 2025.

Canada Summer Jobs Program

• Employers can receive up to 100% of the provincial minimum wage for each CSJ employee;
• Extend the end date for employment to February 28, 2021;
• Adapt projects and activities and hire staff on a part-time basis.
• Details should be released week of April 27th

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

• Provide loans (including forgivable loans) to property owners who will in turn lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for April, May, and June
• Details will be announced by the government soon

GST/HST

• Businesses can defer all GST/HST payments until June 30, as well as customs duties owed for imports

_Primary source: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/maintaingrowimprovebusiness/resources-for-canadian-businesses.html#_2._Support_for _

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Personal Supports

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

• If you have stopped working because of Covid-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.
• The benefit will be available to workers:
  • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
  • Who have stopped working because of Covid-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits;
  • New: those who earn less than $1,000 per month are also eligible for CERB benefits
  • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
  • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.
  • Apply here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

Canada Emergency Student Benefit

• Available for students and recent graduates
• Provides $1,250 for each four-week period
• Apply here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/emergency-student-benefit.html

Family / Child Programs

• An extra $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) automatically on the May CCB payment
• Support for Families Initiative: one-time payment of $200 per child 0-12 yeras of age and $250 for those 0-21 with special needs. Apply here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-families
• One-time special GST credit for low- and modest-income families April 9th. If you normally receive the GST/HST credit and have filed a 2018 tax return, you will receive this automatically.

Mortgage support

• Canadians who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID 19 can contact their financial institution regarding a mortgage deferral Primary sources: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/introduces-canada-emergency-response-benefit-to-help-workers-and-businesses.html and _https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html#increasing_canada_childbenefit

Non-Essential Businesses

Non-Essential businesses may operate in the following ways:

• Teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.
• Businesses may transition to online or over the phone sales
• Online or over the phone sales can be delivered by the business, mailed/couriered or made available for curbside pick up.

If you have specific questions about your business, please do not hesitate to call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

Dufferin County Support

Emergency Child Care

• Available for health care and front line workers who have no other alternatives
• Questions can be emailed to emergencychildcare@dufferincounty.ca

Current Regulations / Legal Requirements

• Non-essential businesses are to remain closed List of essential workplaces: https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces
• Gatherings of more than five people prohibited with strict exceptions https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/ontario-prohibits-gatherings-of-five-people-or-more-with-strict-exceptions
• Price gouging is prohibited
  • Form to report price gouging: https://www.ontario.ca/form/report-price-gouging-related-covid-19
• Mandatory Self-Isolation for individuals entering Canada [https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/03/new-order-makes-self-isolation-mandatory-for-individuals-entering-canada.html ](<Mandatory Self-Isolation for individuals entering Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/03/new-order-makes-self-isolation-mandatory-for-individuals-entering-canada.html>)
• Parks, trails and municipal facilities are closed
  • Playgrounds, parks, dog parks, tennis courts, skateparks, etc. are closed across Dufferin County. Entering a closed park or municipal property is trespassing and subject to fines.