It’s January 2022, and while the new year is meant to be a moment of renewal and refreshment, for many, it is a reminder of the calendar countdown we can now do on this pandemic.
We are on the eve of beginning our third year of battling the coronavirus, and its various variants.
The Emery Village Voice has always been focused on its business community, and in that sense, we have spoken with provincial and federal authorities to inform you of the supports available for large and small business, and where to find all the information you need to learn about all of them.
Province of Ontario
The government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect people, jobs and the economy and it will continue to deliver on that commitment, said Scott Blodgett Senior Media Relations Advisor
Ontario Ministry of Finance
The Ontario government is providing targeted relief for businesses and people impacted by the current public health measures aimed at blunting the spread of the Omicron variant.
As part of a comprehensive plan to support workers and businesses, on January 7th the government announced an Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen.
It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000. Details of this program can be found here:
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001399/ontario-providing-supports-for-small-businesses-workers-and-families
Businesses will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense to them: For example, some businesses could use the support to pay employee wages, while others could use it to maintain their inventory.
To help even more businesses, on Tuesday of this week, January 18th, the Ministry of Finance announced the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program which will support eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity due to recently announced public health measures aimed at blunting the spread of the Omicron variant.
Eligible businesses will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to capacity limits.
The rebate amount will be equivalent to 50 to 100 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while the business is subject to public health measures.
More details on that program can be found here:
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001435/applications-now-open-for-ontario-business-costs-rebate-program
As well, the government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by making up to $7.5 billion available through a six month interest and penalty free period for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
This penalty and interest free period started on January 1, 2022.
This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.
More details can be found here: news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001372/ontario-launches-new-supports-for-businesses
Federal Government:
The Emery Village Voice has been provided links at canada.ca to the available programs under these departments:
People and families
Employment Insurance (EI) program
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
Support for businesses
Financial support
Wage and hiring support
Rent and property expenses support
Jobs and Growth Fund
Extending the Work-Sharing program
Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
Self-employed workers
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
Indigenous businesses
Supporting business through the pandemic and into recovery
Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.
To find all the information you need, you can also use this handy portal set up by the federal government to find and outline the benefit you need.
Business Benefits Finder
www.innovation.ised-isde.canada.ca/s/?language=en_CA