COVID Supports and Info Business

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant, and decisive action to support Canadian businesses facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government of Canada SME Relaunch Grant (recently expanded and updated April 2021)

Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees, and creating new jobs

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Extending the Work-Sharing program
Creating new jobs and opportunities for youth
Extension of lay-off periods

Taxes and tariffs

Waiving tariffs on certain medical goods

Financial support, loans and access to credit

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
Mid-Market Financing Program
Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
Additional support by sector

Targeted support

Supporting Black-led business organizations through the National Ecosystem Fund
Supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Young entrepreneurs

Support for self-employed individuals

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

Indigenous businesses

Relief measures for Indigenous businesses
Supporting business through the pandemic and into recovery
Supporting the Indigenous tourism industry
Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.

Supporting financial stability

Relief for federally regulated pension plan sponsors
Launching an Insured Mortgage Purchase Program
Bank of Canada's actions
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions actions

Find the support you need for your business

Answer a few questions to get a personalized list of support

Support for Sectors

Agriculture and agri-food

Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe
Increasing credit availability
Protecting the health and safety of farm workers
Helping producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19
Increasing the Canadian Dairy Commission borrowing limit
Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability
Expanding AgriInsurance to include labour shortage
Additional support for your business

Aquaculture and fisheries

Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe
Increasing credit availability
Assisting the fish and seafood processing sector
Changes to Employment Insurance (EI) fishing benefits
Additional support for your business

Culture, heritage and sport

Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations
Support for Independent production companies
Supporting Canada's six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission
Helping the National Arts Centre continue its operations
Waiving payments for Part I licence fees
Additional support for your business

Air transportation

Supporting essential air access to remote communities
Continuing the supply of essential goods and services to remote and fly-in communities
Waiving ground lease rents
Additional support for your business

Tourism

Additional support for your business

Energy

Cleaning up orphan and inactive oil and gas wells
Launching the Emissions Reduction Fund
Additional support for your business

Academic and research

Providing wage support for universities and health research institutes
Covering eligible costs to maintain research activities

Infrastructure

Funding for communities
Flexible funding for community resilience
Supporting communities: new ways to adapt spaces and services

Mining

Protecting jobs and safe operations of junior mining exploration and other flow-through share issuers

Construction

Helping address urgent housing needs of vulnerable individuals

Support for organizations helping Canadians

People who need it most

Helping address urgent housing needs of vulnerable individuals
Supporting people experiencing homelessness
Supporting women and children experiencing violence
Providing youth with mental health support
Supporting public health efforts through the Canadian Red Cross
Additional support for your organization

Services to those in need

Improving access to essential food support

Seniors

Supporting the delivery of items and personal outreach
Providing immediate and essential services to seniors

People with disabilities

Providing resources to improve workplace accessibility and access to jobs
Investing in projects through the Accessible Technology Program

Government of Alberta Supports for Employers and Employees

Canada-Alberta Job Grant

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant helps to cover training expenses for existing employees and new hires. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of training costs could be covered, to a total of $15,000 per trainee or if training an existing staff member, up to 70% of training costs could be covered, up to $10,000 per trainee. This grant can be used by an employer to train an individual from a class 5 or 3 to a class 1, employed or unemployed. More info here.

Alberta Jobs Now Program

Private sector businesses and non-profit organizations across all industries can apply for funding to reduce the costs of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans. Additional funding is available for hiring persons with disabilities.

Alberta's Relaunch Strategy

Premier Jason Kenney has released the Government of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy. Click here to see it.

Alberta's Recreation Relaunch Guidelines

The Government of Alberta has provided guidelines for the recreation sector. They are available below;

Banks and Credit Unions

Credit unions

Business members should contact their credit union directly to work out a plan for their personal situation

ATB Financial

ATB small business customers can:
- apply for a payment deferral on loans and lines of credit for up to 6 months
- access additional working capital for ATB customers
- Other ATB business and agriculture customers can access support on a one-on-one basis. Further solutions are being considered at this time

Business Link

Businesslink.ca has resources for small businesses related to COVID-19. They will update the website as new information and resources become available.

Economic Developers Alberta Needs Assessment Survey

The Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) has created an online survey to collect data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to businesses, to ensure we all have the best and most relevant information possible. The primary goal is to identify immediate and emerging business needs and trends, in order to ensure all of our economic development partners, and key stakeholders are able to provide the best response possible. If you are a business owner and are interested in providing feedback, please take the survey here.

Institute for Sustainable Development

Tip sheet for Alberta Businesses and Community Leaders on addressing the Social and Economic Fall-Out from the Coronavirus. You can view it here.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has launched a micro-site regarding COVID-19 and supports/resources available for Canadian small & medium-sized businesses. There are other resources currently available on the website as well as a COVID-19 related newsletter.

Alberta Chamber of Commerce

The Alberta Chamber of Commerce provides a daily update regarding Provincial and Federal Government responses and news releases about the economic recovery plan for COVID-19.

Community Futures Peace Country

Community Futures Peace River can assist businesses in navigating and applying for Provincial and Federal business benefits. For more info, contact Community Futures Peace River at 780.624.1161

Canadian Business Resilience Network

In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery. More information in the coming weeks.

CBNR Reopening Toolkit

This toolkit prepared by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Canadian Business Resilience Network is designed to provide guidance, or access to guidance, for business owners and senior managers responsible for re-establishing their operations while ensuring the health and safety of operators, staff, customers and the general public is at the forefront.

City of Leduc Informative Guide

The City of Leduc has created a very handy and informative guide regarding business supports during COVID-19, check it out here.

Webinars & Articles for Businesses

Updated April 19th, 2021