Canada

Business Credit Availability Program 

• The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) is targeted at small and medium-sized businesses. The Government of Canada defines small businesses as companies having less than 99 employees and medium-sized businesses as companies with between 100 and 499 employees.  The BCAP will provide more than $10 billion in support.

• The program is a collaboration between EDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and private sector lenders. The goal is to provide credit solutions for individual businesses in sectors such as oil and gas, air transportation, and tourism.

• On April 17, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that the BCAP will be expanded to support medium-sized businesses with larger financing needs, beginning with companies in Canada’s energy sector.

• For more information, see the Government of Canada's “Business Credit Availability Program” website.

EDC Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (“SMEs”)

• EDC will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow term loans that financial institutions extend to small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the impact of COVID-19 up to $6.25 million with 80% guaranteed by EDC. For export sector and domestic companies, the program cap will be a total of $20 billion. This money is to be used for operational expenses only. Statistics Canada defines SMEs as Enterprises with 1-499 employees. For more information about the thresholds, see the 2017 Statistics Canada survey here.

• This program is now available through various financial institutions and credit unions.

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BDC Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium Enterprises

• The purpose of this program is to provide term loans for operating and liquidity to businesses that were financially viable and generating income prior to the COVID pandemic. The program has three components:
  • loans of up to $312,500 to businesses with revenues of less than $1 million;
  • loans up to $3.125 million for businesses with revenues between $1 million and $50 million;
  • loans up to $6.25 million for businesses with revenues over $50 million.
• Interest will not accrue for the first 12 months of the loan and the loan will be repayable over 10 years. The financial institutions will be releasing additional information in the coming days.
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Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

• The government announced a $25 billion program that will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. The program will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with EDC.

• To qualify, small businesses will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 and $1,5 million in total payroll in 2019, and operating as of March 1, 2020. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000). If the loan is not repaid by then, the remaining balance will be converted to a three-year term loan at 5 per cent interest.

• This program is now available at various financial institutions and credit unions.

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Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Canadian Federal Wage Subsidies

75% wage subsidy 

• On April 11, 2020, the Bill C-14, which proposed a few improvements to the CEWS, received Royal Assent. Briefly, the CEWS represents a government subsidy paid to eligible employers experiencing a 15% decrease in revenues in March, 2020 and 30% decrease in April and May, 2020.

• The CEWS provides a payment of up to 75% of the eligible remuneration normally paid by an eligible employer to eligible employees between March 15, 2020, and June 6, 2020 which is the greater of:
  • 75% of remuneration paid, up to a maximum of $847 per week; or
  • The amount of remuneration paid, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week or 75% of the employee’s “pre-crisis weekly remuneration” (based on the average weekly remuneration paid to a given employee between January 1 and March 15, 2020 inclusively, excluding any seven-day periods in respect of which the employee did not receive remuneration), whichever is less.

Essentially, the CEWS caps out for employees with annual salary remuneration above $58,700

• Eligible employers include individuals, taxable corporations, and partnerships consisting of eligible employers, non‑profit organizations and registered charities.

• There is no overall limit on the CEWS amount an eligible employer can claim, but employers must meet the revenue decrease criteria for each eligible period by comparing monthly 2020 revenue to corresponding monthly 2019 revenue or by comparing with an average of their revenue earned in January and February 2020. Once an employer is found eligible for a specific period, he will automatically qualify for the next period of the program. The non-profit organizations and registered charities are allowed to choose whether or not to include government assistance in revenues for the purpose of applying the revenue decline test, provided that the same approach is maintained throughout the program period. The employers are allowed to measure revenues either on the basis of accrual accounting or cash accounting, provided that the same accounting method is used throughout the program period.

• Additionally, the government is expanding the CEWS by providing an additional amount to wholly compensate employers for their contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan.

• Applications will open online through the CRA in the coming weeks. Eligible employers can apply for the CEWS through the CRA’s My Business Account portal or a web-based application. Employers must keep records demonstrating their reduced revenues and remuneration paid to employees. On April 21, 2020 the Government of Canada launched a CEWS calculator for employers.

• 10% wage subsidy 
  

• On March 18, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau announced a “Helping Businesses Keep Their Workers Wage Subsidy” as part of the Economic Response Plan. This program is designed to support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs.

• On March 25, 2020, the Government of Canada passed Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 (Bill C-13) to implement the response plan measures. Framework legislation enacted as part of Bill C-13 provides a federal payroll deduction rebate which is expected to be 10% of remuneration paid by “Eligible employer” to eligible employees between March 18, 2020 and June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 per employee and to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer. Assistance received under the wage subsidy reduces the amount of remuneration expenses eligible for other federal tax credits calculated on the same remuneration.

• Eligible employers include individuals, non-profits, charities, Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) having a business limit in the last taxation year greater than nil (i.e. eligible for the small business deduction), and partnerships, all of the members of which are comprised of the foregoing persons, and must:
  • have an existing business number and payroll program account with the CRA as of March 18, 2020; and
  • pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to at least one individual employed in Canada during the applicable period.
• CCPCs are eligible for the small business deduction if the combined taxable capital employed in Canada of the CCPC and any associated corporations is under $15 million.
• The Department of Finance has further indicated that associated CCPCs would not be required to share the maximum subsidy of $25,000 per employer. Additionally, since the subsidy operates by allowing an eligible employer to reduce their payroll remittances, the Department of Finance suggested that the if the amount of the subsidy exceeded an eligible employer’s payroll remittances for the applicable period, the employer would be allowed to continue to reduce remittances beyond June 20, 2020, or request the unclaimed amount be paid out to the eligible employer or credited against the eligible employer’s 2021 payroll remittances.

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Flexibility for businesses in respect of paying and filing taxes

• As announced on March 18, 2020, the federal government’s COVID-19 Response Plan contains measures that will allow businesses to defer the payment of any income tax that becomes owing between March 18, 2020, and August 31, 2020, until September 1, 2020. Interest and penalties will not apply or be computed to these unpaid tax balances during this period.

• This measure will apply to both monthly instalments and year-end tax balances due under Part I of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

• The deadlines to file certain categories of tax and information returns have been extended:
  • trusts having a taxation year ending on December 31, 2019, may defer filing T3 returns until May 1, 2020;
  • partnerships and their members may defer filing T5013 returns until May 1, 2020;
  • the deadline to file NR4 information returns has been extended to May 1, 2020; and
  • the filing of information returns under Part XVIII and Part XIX of the Income Tax Act may be deferred until September 1, 2020. No interest or penalty will be assessed during this period and no penalty will apply for failure to obtain a self-certification on financial accounts opened before January 1, 2021.
• Administrative tax actions required of taxpayers by the CRA due after March 18, 2020, can be deferred until June 1, 2020. Such actions include the filing of returns, elections, designations, and information requests.

• The CRA has also issued the following relief measures:
  • Audits: the CRA will temporarily suspend audit interactions with taxpayers and their representatives. The CRA will also refrain from initiating any post-assessment GST/HST or income tax audits with small or medium-sized businesses for the next four weeks. However, as indicated by CRA, interaction with taxpayers will only be limited to the cases where the legal deadline to reassess a tax return is approaching, and in cases of high risk GST/HST refund claims that require some contact before they can be paid out. While the Government of Canada defines a “small business” as businesses having less than 100 employees and a “medium-sized business” as having between 100-499 employees, the CRA has not yet provided further guidance on the definition of “small or medium sized businesses” in the context of this specific announcement.
  • Collections: No collection activities will be initiated on new debts until further notice, and the CRA undertakes to make flexible payment arrangements available.
  • Objections: Objections related to Canadians’ entitlement to benefits and credits have been identified as a critical service which will continue to be delivered during COVID-19 times of hardship and therefore, there should be no delays associated with the processing of these objections. The deadline to make any objection request has been extended to June 30, 2020.
  • Appeals: All TCC sittings scheduled between March 30, 2020, and May 1, 2020, are cancelled. Canadian Pension Plan and insurability issues under the Employment Insurance Act will only be progressed where such appeals related to cases where EI benefits are pending. These cases will be considered on a priority basis.
  • Appeals of CPP/EI: Appeals in respect of decisions made by the CRA on pensionability issues under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and insurability issues under the Employment Insurance Act (EI Act), will only be progressed where such appeals related to cases where EI benefits are pending. These cases will be considered on a priority basis. Other appeals will be continued when normal service resumes but neither the CRA nor the Minister of National Revenue have indicated when this is expected to occur. The court will treat all notices of appeal filed during the court’s closure, and for 60 days thereafter, as including a request to extend the filing deadline due to an inability to file based on exceptional grounds due to the pandemic and the closure of the Court Registry.
  • Requirement to pay (RTP): Banks and employers do not need to comply or remit on existing RTPs.
  • Requests for information (“RFI”): Taxpayers who have received a request for information may wait until further notice before providing this information.
  • Transfer pricing documentation: Requests for contemporaneous documents issued before April 1, 2020, with a deadline of March 18, 2020, or later, are deemed to be cancelled. These requests will be re-issued at a later date and the requested documents must be submitted within three months of the re-issued request.
  • Scientific research and experimental development (“SR&ED”): New reviews or audits are not being undertaken at this time. Ongoing exams and audits will be finalized as soon as possible to help businesses get their credits faster. Applications approved during the current period may be subject to review or audit at a later date to confirm eligibility.
  • Delays: Once the crisis has subsided, there will be a significant backlog for the CRA to deal with, and considerable delays for the foreseeable future.
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Deferral of the Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) remittance and customs duty payments

• On March 27, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that it would defer to June 30, the due dates of the GST/HST collected by the following persons (including self-employed individuals registered for GST/HST purposes) and for the following periods:
  • Monthly filers for GST/HST collected for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods;
  • Quarterly filers for the GST/HST collected for the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period; and
  • Annual filers, for GST/HST returns or instalments are due in March, April or May 2020, for GST/HST collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and for instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year.
• In a commercial goods importation context, payments owing for customs duties and GST at a rate of 5% on imports are generally due before the first day of the month following the month in which the statements of accounts are issued to the importers of commercial goods. The Government of Canada has also announced, on March 27, 2020, that payment deadlines for statements of accounts for March, April, and May are deferred to June 30, 2020.

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Extending the Work-Sharing program

• The Work-Sharing program is provided for workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers. The federal government is extending the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 to 76 weeks.

• In addition, eligibility requirements have been eased and the application process has been streamlined.

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Below is a summary of the Manitoba government supports as of May 7, 2020.

Manitoba

Manitoba declared a provincial state of emergency under the Emergency Measures Acton March 20, 2020.

Child care for essential workers

• On March 20, 2020, The Manitoba government announced the following measures to help provide child care to essential front-line workers:
  • establish a new $18-million grant program to help early childhood educators begin independently offering child-care services at their homes or in the community;
  • continue to provide licensed child-care centres with their full operating grants and subsidies;
  • create a $2 million trust to provide capital gains to child-care providers; and
  • encourage all centres to reimburse prepaid fees to parents for child care they can no longer access at this time.

Extended tax filing deadlines for businesses

• On March 22, 2020, the Premier of Manitoba and Minister of Finance announced that the province will extend the April and May filing deadlines for small and medium-sized business with monthly remittances of not more than $10,000. Businesses will have up to two additional months to remit retail sales taxes, and the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy (payroll tax).

• The Minister of Finance also noted that it will work with businesses regarding flexible repayment options above the $10,000 cap.

• The deadline for filing provincial tax returns and paying any amounts due is extended to August 31, 2020. The Government of Manitoba is willing to extend this date until October 1, 2020, if the federal government agrees with the measure.

• In person service at the Taxation Division Offices is not available. Services are continuing by telephone and online

Extended tax filing deadlines for individuals

• The deadline for filing provincial tax returns and paying any amounts due is extended to August 31, 2020. The Government of Manitoba is willing to extend this date until October 1, 2020, if the federal government agrees with this extension.

• The Government of Manitoba is working with municipal partners to ensure municipalities do not charge interest on provincial education taxes and school division fees. The province is encouraging municipalities to do the same with respect to municipal taxes.

Postpone eviction hearings and freeze rent increases

• On March 24, 2020, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced that the Government of Manitoba is postponing eviction hearings and freezing rents

Rent assist for Manitobans not receiving Employment and Income Assistance (EIA)

• The Government of Manitoba announced a rent assist which is a shelter benefit for low-income Manitobans who rent their own accommodations in the private market. The rent assist will benefit to Manitobans by paying them a benefit based on their income and the cost of rent in the market for their family size.

Temporary exception to employment standards layoff rules

• On March 27, 2020, the Finance Minister announced that it is adding a temporary exception to the employment standards regulations in order to provide flexibility to employers to recall employees once work picks up again.

• Any period of layoff occurring after March 1, 2020, will not be counted toward the period after which a temporary layoff would become a permanent termination, requiring employers to provide pay in lieu of notice.

Suspended student loan repayments

• On April 7, 2020, the Premier announced that the province is suspending repayment of Manitoba Student Aid loans for six months.

$5-million fund for research projects related to COVID-19

• The Government of Manitoba announced a $5-million fund through Research Manitoba to support a clinical trial to determine if a commonly used drug can safely be used as a treatment for COVID-19. Moreover, the fund will also provide support for local researchers to develop solutions to health-care issues. The funds will be distributed as follows:
  • More than $3.5 million to support clinical and applied research including $700,000 for Manitoba’s first COVID-19 clinical trial for a drug.
  • $500,000 invested in partnerships with industry and philanthropic sources supporting existing trials.
  • $1 million invested in COVID-19 innovation projects including looking at the development of diagnostic tools.

Paid Administrative Leave for Health-Care Staff

• The Government of Manitoba will provide health-care staff paid administrative leave for the full 14-day period of asymptomatic self-isolation.

• Workers that have symptoms during self-isolation will be compensated by sick leave benefits, pursuant to their collective agreement

Unpaid Leave for Employees

• New legislative provisions will allow employees as much unpaid time off work as needed to:
  • be in isolation or quarantine;
  • obtain medical examination, supervision or treatment;
  • comply with an order made under The Emergency Measures Act or the Public Health Act;
  • provide care or support to a family member as a result of COVID-19; or
  • Comply with travel restrictions.

$1,3 billion to support COVID-19 fight

• On April 15, 2020, the Government of Manitoba announced releasing up to $1 billion to support the government’s ongoing actions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic which is requested to be allocated as follows:
  • $500 million for the Health Services Insurance Fund;
  • $400 million for the internal service adjustments appropriations of government; and
  • $100 million for emergency expenditures.
• On April 17, 2020, the Government of Manitoba announced an investment of an additional $300 million to ensure the government can respond quickly to front-line health-care needs and protect vulnerable Manitobans.

Workers Compensation Board surplus

• The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba is returning a $37 million surplus to provide financial relief to eligible employers.

• To be eligible to receive the surplus, employers must have fulfilled their payroll reporting responsibilities for 2019 and paid a WCB premium in 2019. Employers can still report their 2019 payroll to receive the surplus distribution.

Support for small and medium-sized businesses 

• The Government of Manitoba is providing $120 million to support Manitoba’s small and medium-sized businesses through the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP). The MGPP is aimed at helping businesses in Manitoba who do not qualify for the federal government COVID-19 relief programs. The government will advance to each eligible business the non-interest bearing forgivable MGPP loan of $6,000. The loan will be forgiven on Dec. 31, 2020 if the recipient attests that he has not received any major non-repayable COVID-19 federal supports. Otherwise, the loan will be added to the recipient’s 2020 tax bill. In order to be eligible for the MGPP funding, a business must:

  • have been operational on March 20, 2020;

  • have temporarily ceased or curtailed operations as a result of a COVID-19 public health order and have been harmed by it;

  • be registered and in good standing with the Manitoba Business and Corporate Registry;

  • have not qualified for federal government COVID-19 grant support; and

  • have an email address and a bank account.

Relief for public insurance policy holders

• Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is returning up to $110 million to provide financial relief to its policyholders. The returns take the form of a rebate based on what policyholders paid last year and expected to be around 11 per cent, or between $140 to $160, per average policyholder. The rebate cheque can be expected between the end of May and early June.

Summer Student Recovery Plan

• The Summer Student Recovery Plan is a new wage subsidy program aimed to support high school and post-secondary students employed in the private and non-profit sectors. The government announced that up to $120 million is available for employers to access a $7 per hour wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $5,000 per student.

Clarification of emergency benefit for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) clients

• On April 24, 2020, the Government of Manitoba announced that it will be treating the Canada Emergency Response Benefit as earned income under the provincial EIA. This will allow EIA clients to continue to receive benefits and will increase the amount of support available to EIA clients.

Orders to support specific groups

• The Government of Manitoba announced on April 28, 2020, that it is implementing four orders to continue to support particular populations during the COVID-19 crisis:
  • the Youth in Care Provisions Order, which ensures that youth in the Child and Family Services system who turn 18 during the pandemic will continue to be offered ongoing supports;
  • the Student Aid Provisions Order, which allows post-secondary students to remain eligible for aid even if they temporarily stop qualifying during the state of emergency period. This provision lowers the minimum monthly repayment to $0 for the next six months, suspends the obligation for a student to start paying back their loan eight months after they end their studies, prevents borrowers from going into default during the state of emergency period, and extends the maximum term for repayment;
  • the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) Credential Provisions Order, which suspends the requirement that a carrier licensed under the agreement must have and display credentials, and the province will not fine licensed carriers if their licensing authority was unable to distribute their credentials; and
  • the Trucking and Transportation Provisions Order, which extends the expiry dates on certain permits, certificates or registrations until July 31. Deadlines to pay IRP registration renewal charges are also extended, along with an extended period between required inspections on vehicles such as busses and commercial carriers. In addition, the regular three-month deadline for new residents and non-residents to replace their out-of-province driving permits with a Manitoba driver’s licence, vehicle registration or insurance is also extended to July 31.

Seniors Economic Recovery Credit

• The Government of Manitoba is extending $45 million in direct financial support through the Seniors Economic Recovery Credit to support seniors. The credit benefits every Manitoban aged 65 and older with a one-time and refundable tax credit of $200.

Support for students and post-secondary institutions

• The Government of Manitoba will match all funds raised by universities and colleges for the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) for the 2020-21 academic year. Approximately $30 million will be provided to students this year through scholarships and bursaries.

Infrastructure package to help restart Manitoba recovery

• The Government of Manitoba announced on May 7, 2020 that it is increasing infrastructure investments by an additional $500 million as part of an economic stimulus package to help restart Manitoba’s economy.

• The Manitoba Restart Program will include new water and sewage projects, road and highway resurfacing and repairs, bridge repairs, municipal infrastructure priorities, and potential new cost-sharing construction projects.

Good morning,

We have received a number of enquiries about Travel Insurance coverage on the Chamber Group Insurance Program.

While you are still currently covered for travel to the USA on the Chamber Group Insurance Program, there are a number of other points to consider.

For example: borders closing, flights being shut down and possible lack of medical services being available where you are.

Below is a link to chamberplan.ca.

Please click on the red bar link on this homepage for a cover letter with Customer Service info, a FAQ document, info on the Coronavirus, and a poster that you can hang in your offices.

The FAQ document will be subject to change and they will be updating the content as often as needed!

Things are changing constantly so this information is VERY time sensitive, please keep checking back regularly to this same place on this website for the most up to date information.

Talk soon & stay healthy everyone!

https://chamberplan.ca<https://chambersplanmanitoba.slack.com/files/UPBE4AXEF/F0101H1UGLD/image.png>

If you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to reply or call me directly @ 204.746.5589

We appreciate your patience and support as we address the public health safety concerns posed by COVID-19 (Corona Virus). The well-being of our clients, team members and greater community remain our focus.

Thanks,
Andy Anderson, CAIB | Associate Insurance Broker
Direct: Cell/Text 204-746-5589
Specializing in General, Life and Group Benefits for Business
Rempel Insurance Brokers Ltd/Valley Financial Ltd

Your Best Insurance is an Insurance Broker.

http://www.southeastjournal.ca/files/January%202%20Web.pdf

The Morris Chamber of Commerce was honoured to host MP Candice Bergen for a Meet and Greet at the Morris Multiplex on Wednesday night. This free public event gave attendees a chance to ask questions and raise any issues directly with their Member of Parliament. A diverse number of topics and issues were discussed throughout the evening. Thank you Candice Bergen for taking the time to come and speak with us. Also a special thank you to Tim Hortons for the free coffee!

Here is the link for daily Manitoba Provincial Flood Updates.  They will be releasing information daily.  

https://gov.mb.ca/mit/floodinfo/#forecasts_reports

Thank you to everyone who came out to our annual Chamber Business 2018 Awards and Casino night.  Below are our recipients of this year's awards:

Business of the Year - Santa Lucia

Since it's acquisition by Taso and Natasha Simeonidis, Santa Lucia has continued to set the standard for excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere in Morris.  Through consistently changing and developing a menu to meet local diner's needs, to insisting on only quality, fresh ingredients, Santa Lucia demonstrates a commitment to delivering quality food.

In addition to this, Santa Lucia has continued to reinvest in their property.  From interior renovations to it's bar and restaurant, to physical improvements on the outside of the building, Santa Lucia looks great on our main street.

It is always wonderful to see entrepreneurs come to Morris - it is even better to see them set up roots and invest in our community. 

Congratulations on winning this well deserved award.

Entrepreneur of the Year - Integra Tire

Since starting the operation of Integra Tire in Morris, Randal, Marshall and their entire team have been dedicated to providing competitive prices and excellent customer service to all of their customers.  Through excellent service on everything from car, agricultural and highway tractor tires, Integra Tire has been a great example of how local business can thrive when it works hard to earn local business.

Integra Tire has also embraced the Morris community and have been involved with Stampede Kickoff, the Morris Fire Department and the Dekalb Super Spiel.  Randal has spoken very proudly of the support they have received in the community for their business and how much they appreciate the community as a whole.

Congratulations and we look forward to seeing you build on your success.

Volunteer of the Year - Bud & Shelley Stupnisky

We are very pleased to recognize Bud and Shelley for their contribution to Morris and Area as volunteers.  

In 2018, Bud and Shelley were instrumental in co-chairing the Communities in Bloom conference in Morris.  Their connections were valuable in making the conference a success and in bringing out excellent speakers, including Mark Cullen.

They are also active elsewhere in the Community and we see their involvement with other organizations including the Morris Legion Ladies' Auxiliary, the Public Library and the Curling Club just to name a few.

Thank you for you contribution to our community.