Today’s Top Story
Government Of Canada Rolls Out Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Improvement Details
This afternoon the government released details of the proposed CEWS program extension and improvements. Legislative approval is still required, however the draft would:
- Allow the extension of the CEWS until December 19, 2020, including redesigned program details until November 21, 2020.
- Make the subsidy accessible to a broader range of employers by including employers with a revenue decline of less than 30% and providing a gradually decreasing base subsidy to all qualifying employers. This would help many struggling employers with less than a 30% revenue loss get support to keep and bring back workers while also ensuring those who have previously benefited could still qualify, even if their revenues recover and no longer meet the 30% revenue decline threshold.
- Introduce a top-up subsidy of up to an additional 25% for employers that have been most adversely affected by the pandemic. This would be particularly helpful to employers in industries that are recovering more slowly.
- Provide certainty to employers that have already made business decisions for July and August by ensuring they would not receive a subsidy rate lower than they would have had under the previous rules.
- Address certain technical issues identified by stakeholders.
We issued a statement that today’s improvements would help get Canadians back to work.
Information On CEWS Improvements
For Your Attention
July Opt-In Is Now Available For The CECRA Program
Businesses may now apply for the opt-in for the month of July for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. If you have previously been approved, you automatically qualify and no additional documents are required, but you must log into the portal and opt-in for your affected tenants. If you haven’t yet applied for CECRA for small businesses, you can apply for July as part of your entire application.
Government Provides Nearly $21 million In Funding For Quebec Manufacturing Automation
On July 16, the Government of Canada announced it will spend nearly $21 million on 45 projects in support of innovative manufacturing businesses. The funding is flowing through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Government Confirms Canada-U.S. Border Closure To Extend Until August 21
As had been widely reported earlier this week, the government has confirmed the current closure of the Canada-U.S. land border will be extended until August 21. The government will continue to reevaluate the situation on a month-by-month basis.
How COVID-19 Changed Canada’s Conversation On Digital Infrastructure
In a matter of months, Canadians’ primary thoughts about broadband connectivity went from cost to need and from “nice to have” to “must have.” Read the recent article in The Hill Times featuring Dr. Trevin Stratton, our Chief Economist and Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, and Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, our Senior Director of Digital Economy, Technology and Innovation, where they discuss the importance of digital infrastructure that works for every Canadian, today and tomorrow. Please note that this article is behind a pay wall.
Webinar Recording: Get Ready Workplace IPAC Program
We were joined by Get Ready for a webinar to discuss the Get Ready Workplace IPAC Program. This program equips Canadian businesses with the tools and knowledge to appropriately respond to an infectious disease outbreak.
Webinar Recording: Brave New World – Navigating The Crisis And Its Aftermath With Desjardins
We were joined by Jimmy Jean, a Macro Strategist with Desjardins Capital Markets, on July 7 for a webinar to discuss Canada’s economic outlook, how we adapt to this new reality and what innovation is needed for Canadian businesses to thrive in the wake of COVID-19.
Free Upcoming Webinars
July 20, 2:00 p.m. ET | How To Support Employees’ Mental Health And Well-Being During COVID-19 And Beyond, Hosted By Sun Life
In a recent survey by Sun Life, over half (56%) of Canadians surveyed said COVID-19 is negatively impacting their mental health. Join this discussion to learn how to develop and maintain a positive mental health environment in your organization with speaker Carmen Bellows, Registered Psychologist, Director Mental Health Solutions at Sun Life Financial.
July 22, 1:00 p.m. ET | Working Remotely Through A Crisis And Flex Work Long Term, Hosted By Canadian Western Bank
Join us for a webinar with Canadian Western Bank’s Chief Information Security Officer and Senior Vice President of Client Solutions to discuss the future of working remotely through a crisis and the long-term outlook for flex work. Get tips for setting up effective work areas for employees, how to support employees’ mental health and what major cyber security threats exist for SMEs now and post-pandemic.
How We’re Helping Canadian Business
Kate And Michael Popovic Tell Us How Being Recipients Of A $10,000 CBRN Grant Will Help Their Business Remain Resilient
Congratulations to Timmins Chiropractic Clinic for being a recipient of a $10,000 CBRN Small Business Relief Fund grant. After 10 years of business, owners Kate and Michael Popovic thought that the chiropractic profession is one that can weather all storms, however the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be an unprecedented challenge for their business. Learn more about how they plan to use the $10,000 to help expand their online chiropractic platform.
A #TeamCanada Approach
Helping Small Businesses Nationwide
Our member Harris Canada Systems Inc. issued more than $100 million in accelerated payments to small business suppliers nationwide – supporting companies that play a critical role in sustaining regional economies and ensuring the nation’s security. L3Harris is contributing $2 million and providing additional equipment and resources to organizations involved in COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts around the world.
