COVID-19: Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance update

Of the many government relief programs implemented over the past two months to deliver aid to businesses and individuals financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, none have sowed more confusion and frustration than the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance benefit. Business groups have called out the CMHC-administered program’s complexity and reliance on the goodwill of commercial […]

COVID-19: Ottawa announces new one-time relief payment for senior citizens

The federal government has announced a new one-time COVID-19 relief benefit for senior citizens impacted by social-distancing lockdowns and the ensuing economic upheaval. The support measure will provide seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension with a tax-free payment of $300, along with an additional $200 payment for those who qualify for the […]

Warehousing

COVID-19: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy extended beyond June

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy—the federal program designed to encourage small to medium-sized employers to rehire or retain employees impacted by the COVID-19 crisis—will be extended beyond the original June 6th end date. A new proposed expiry date for the program has yet to be tabled, with Ottawa […]

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

COVID-19: Ottawa announces Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program

The federal government today confirmed an agreement with the provinces to launch the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program (CECRA), a new commercial rent relief measure to assist landlords and small businesses struggling due to COVID-19. The measure would reduce rent for small businesses by 75 per cent, while providing loans to mortgaged commercial property […]

Canada Emergency Student Benefit

COVID-19: Ottawa launches $9 billion student support program

COVID-19 relief funds continue to flow from Ottawa with yesterday’s announcement of a new Canada Emergency Student Benefit, a package to support students and recent graduates not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The nearly $9 billion package is designed to provide assistance to students who are unlikely to find work this summer as […]

Taxation Specialists

COVID-19: How to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

The federal government yesterday announced that it would begin accepting applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) on April 27th, 2020. Businesses should expect to receive funds in May. Ottawa also released details on how to apply for the CEWS, which for organizations registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, can be managed through their […]

Government of Canada benefits

COVID-19: Ottawa enhances Canada Emergency Response Benefit eligibility

Adjustments to new federal relief programs designed to help support Canadians impacted by COVID-19 continues. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday announced a much-anticipated expansion of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which faced heavy criticism due to eligibility rules that disqualified large swaths of the population. The government has since acted to close many of […]

COVID-19: Federal government passes Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy legislation

After an extraordinarily compressed timeline for debate and amendment, Bill C-14, the legislation to enact the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy that will provide relief to employers struggling to remain operational due to COVID-19, has received royal assent. The legislation is highly technical and laden with definitions and exceptions that make it complex—if there was […]

Proposed draft changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would enhance SME relief

News today that the federal government is, indeed, considering changes to the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to aid organizations struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, was lauded by many in the business community. As we reported previously, the $71 billion program would provide a subsidy of up to 75 per cent of […]