Business cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a top priority for mid-sized companies in the COVID-19 era

  It goes without saying that COVID-19 has forced organizations to reconsider every aspect of their operations, from service delivery to the role of technology in keeping their workplaces safe. As they continue to restart and ramp up operations, cybersecurity will rank among their top concerns. A high degree of vigilance could help fend of […]

Office workers

COVID-19 Update: Ottawa extends CERB, overhauls Employment Insurance program

As the fall approaches, federal COVID-19 relief measures are slowly wound down and the economic recovery plods along at a glacial pace with a potential pandemic second wave looming large, Ottawa understood that Canadians would need additional financial assistance in the months ahead. It delivered a costly new aid package last week that includes significant […]

Construction workers and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy extended

COVID-19: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy extended and expanded

As the federal government takes steps to slowly wind down COVID-19 relief measures such as the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit, its economic recovery strategy is becoming clearer after it was announced on Friday that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy  would be extended to November 21st, 2020 (or nine claim periods) and possibly to December 31st, […]

CRA headquarters

COVID-19 Update: Tax payment deadlines extended once again

The federal government continues to enact measures to address the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis, this time announcing yet another extension of tax payment due dates for 2019 tax returns. Individuals, corporations and trusts will now have until September 30th, 2020, to pay outstanding current-year tax balances. The previous payment deadline was September […]

Canada-United States flags

What USMCA means for Canadian businesses doing cross-border trade with the U.S.

  U.S. President Donald Trump has gotten his way. The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was put into effect as of July 1—the earliest date possible following the agreement’s ratification in April. Modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (the USMCA’s predecessor) was a key part of Trump’s campaign in 2016 and the pressure was on […]

CECRA Toronto skyline

COVID-19: A primer on the CECRA rent relief program for SMEs

We’ve blogged extensively in recent weeks about the much-maligned Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program (CECRA) and its undue complexity—even though the initiative is intended to relieve the burden on small and mid-sized businesses struggling due to COVID-19. We’ve been fielding countless calls from entrepreneurs who are still confused about the program and how it […]

Canada Revenue Agency

COVID-19 UPDATE: Filing deadline extensions announced for corporations, trusts

UPDATE: On the heels of the federal government’s announcement this week of penalty deferrals for late T1 filings—which came in addition to a previous extension of the 2019 tax filing deadline to June 1, 2020, all to help Canadians impacted by COVID-19—Ottawa is also granting filing deadline extensions for certain corporations and trusts. Corporations that […]

COVID-19: New Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy updates

The federal government has provided a series of updates and clarifications regarding deduction considerations and qualification eligibility for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, a program designed to encourage employers to retain workers or re-hire those that have been laid off due to COVID-19. The updates are available on the program’s FAQ page and are in […]

COVID-19: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy extended to August

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is being extended until August 29th, 2020. The measure was set to expire on June 6th, 2020. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is designed to encourage small- to medium-sized businesses to retain or rehire employees and avoid layoffs as the pandemic carries on. […]