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Government of Ontario Stop the Spread Business Information Line
Businesses who have questions about closures of workplaces or how emergency measures impact their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. Help is available from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Headlines

Most Masking Requirements to be Lifted on June 11
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, June 8, 2022

Today, Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued the following statement on the lifting of remaining provincial masking requirements:

“With high vaccination rates and Ontario’s COVID-19 situation continuing to improve, most of the province’s remaining provincial masking requirements, including on public transit, will expire as of 12:00 a.m. on June 11, 2022.
To continue providing an additional layer of protection for the most vulnerable, masks will still be required in long-term care and retirement homes. Masking is recommended in higher-risk congregate living settings, such as shelters and group homes.

On June 11, 2022, remaining Directives will also be revoked and replaced with Ministry of Health guidance for health care workers and organizations. This includes guidance on when masks should be worn in hospitals and other health care settings.
​
While masking requirements are expiring, organizations may implement their own policies. Ontarians should continue to wear a mask if they feel it is right for them, are at high risk for severe illness, recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms of the virus or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.​”
Masking Requirements Continue in Select Indoor Settings
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, April 22, 2022

Provincial masking requirements which were set to expire on April 27, 2022 are being extended in current settings until 12:00 a.m. on June 11, 2022, including:
  • public transit;
  • health care settings (e.g., hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics that provide health care services, laboratories, specimen collection centres, and home and community care);
  • long-term care homes;
  • retirement homes; and
  • shelters and other congregate care settings that provide care and services to medically and socially vulnerable individuals.

A complete list of settings where masking requirements continue to apply is available online.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health will also maintain the CMOH Directives currently in effect until June 11, 2022, after which the ministry will issue guidance on personal protective equipment recommendations for infection prevention and control in health care settings.

To further expand the tools available to protect Ontarians and reduce hospital visits, the province will start to receive supplies of Evusheld, an antibody treatment for immunocompromised individuals who are not positive for COVID-19 at the time of administration. Following two single-dose injections, the treatment provides protection from COVID-19 for six months.

Based on advice from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Evusheld will be available to individuals with the highest-risk of a severe outcome from COVID-19 in the coming weeks, including:
  • solid organ transplant recipients;
  • stem cell transplant recipients;
  • CAR-T therapy recipients; and
  • other hematologic cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Tourism Relief Fund Applications Are Open

Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) is supporting the tourism industry in Kawartha Lakes, the City and County of Peterborough and Northumberland County through the allocation of the Tourism Relief Fund on behalf of FedDev Ontario.

Find out eligibility and how to apply through RTO8 at rto8.com/tourism-relief-fund.

Successful applicants will be eligible for up to $100,000 in funding for projects that align with the FedDev Ontario Tourism Relief Fund and federal priorities.

All applications will be evaluated by a special committee. The criteria for success are bound by the rules that govern the Tourism Relief Fund.

​Application deadline is May 15, 2022. Projects must be completed and funds must be spent by December 31, 2022.

RTO8 encourages all stakeholders within the region to apply now.
Peterborough Public Health Update: April 13, 2022

​Today, we are moving from ‘high’ to ‘very-high’ on the COVID-19 Community Risk Index. (Please see press release)

 
Actions you can take:

  1. Masks are simple and effective ways to reduce the spread of COVID in your workplace. We are urging you to implement a workplace masking and vaccine policy. (Please see the request).
 
  1. The vaccines for COVID are safe and effective. Ensuring you and your staff are up to date with their COVID vaccines will go a long way to protecting both the health of your team, the community, and the economy.
    1. The vaccine is proven to decrease the severity of illness should your staff become ill. Additionally, staff who are up to date on their COVID vaccines will require less time off should they become ill. (I.e. 5 days off with 24h improving symptoms for vaccinated staff vs. 10 days off with improving symptoms for unvaccinated/under vaccinated staff).
    2. Please consider implementing a workplace vaccine policy for your staff
 
  1. Please ensure your staff stay home when they are ill or unwell.
    1. In the event that you or your staff are ill or unwell, or have been around others who are ill or unwell – consult ‘What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19’ for next steps
 
  1. In the event that there is an outbreak at your workplace:
 
Outbreak Definition
An outbreak in a workplace is defined as two or more cases in workers and/or other visitors, with a connection (e.g., same work area, same shift) within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the workplace.
 
Examples of reasonably having acquired infection in the workplace include:
  • No known source of infection outside of the workplace (i.e., no known contact with a probable or confirmed case/outbreak outside of the workplace); OR
  • Known exposure in the workplace.
Scenario:
Person A goes to their neighbor’s house for supper and a few days later develops COVID-19. During Person A’s ‘period of communicability’, Person A and Person Person B shared an office and had lunch together.
If Person B, with no other exposure to COVID-19, develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or tests positive for COVID-19, it would be considered a workplace outbreak.
 
If an employer is advised that a worker has an occupational illness due to an exposure at the workplace or that a claim has been filed with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the employer must give notice in writing within four days to:

• the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
• the workplace’s joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative
• the worker’s trade union (if applicable)

You may also wish to review  COVID-19 Guidance: Workplace Outbreaks. Please report workplace outbreak to PPH here.
 
Please note, these are not permanent measures we are asking for, but rather immediate strategies we can activate when they are warranted to reduce the burden on our health care system and protect each other – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
 
In broad strokes all of the above is capture here COVID-19 and workplace health and safety and here COVID-19 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the latter which details employer obligations to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at workplaces).
 
Health Canada has produced this checklist that can also be used to guide you through the process of working together safely: Reducing COVID-19 risk in community settings: A tool for operators

Living with and managing COVID‑19: March 9, 2022
The Government of Ontario has released its plan to lift the remaining public health and workplace safety measures and track key indicators going forward.

​Learn more
Masking Mandate to be Lifted March 21
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, March 9, 2022

With continued improvement in trends, Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings on March 21, with the exception of select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings.
​
Learn how Ontario intends to lift the remaining public health and workplace safety measures and learn to manage COVID-19 for the long-term.
Canada Digital Adoption Program
The Government of Canada has set up the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) realize their full potential by adopting digital technologies. CDAP comprises two separate funding components:
  • Grow Your Business Online - For smaller, consumer-facing businesses, including those in service industries, Grow Your Business Online grants will help them adopt e-commerce technologies. For-profit businesses, including co-operatives and social enterprises, are eligible for this $2,400 micro-grant.
  • Boost Your Business Technology - SMEs that want to further improve their productivity and become more competitive in the digital marketplace can turn to Boost Your Business Technology to apply for a grant to cover 90%, up to a maximum of $15,000, of the cost of developing a digital adoption plan.

More Information
Ontario’s Safe Employers Receiving up to $1.5 Billion Rebate  
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, February 16, 2022

Ontario's safe employers are receiving a rebate of up to $1.5 billion as Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surplus funds are returned for the first time. Starting in April, this rebate will give 300,000 businesses back approximately 30 per cent of their annual premium payments.

Eligible businesses will have their credit amount displayed on their statement of account.

Eligibility/FAQ 
Applications Now Open for Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, January 18, 2022

Eligible businesses required to close or reduce capacity due to the current public health measures put in place to blunt the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can apply for the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program starting today. Through the new program, the government will provide eligible businesses with a rebate payment of up to 100 per cent for property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these restrictions.

Eligible businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. Those required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs.

Businesses will be required to submit proof of costs associated with property tax and energy bills as part of the application process. All eligible businesses must submit an application to be considered, including those that received previous COVID-19 support payments.

​To learn more, including to find a full list of eligible businesses, visit the online application portal here.

The government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by making up to $7.5 billion available through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This penalty and interest-free period started on January 1, 2022. This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.

The government is also introducing a new COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant that will give businesses subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen a $10,000 grant. The money will flow to eligible businesses in February.

The government’s new Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant will also help eligible small businesses that are subject to closures under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen by providing eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000. Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and may need to provide some additional information but will not need to apply to the new program. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks. Small businesses that qualify can expect to receive their payment beginning in February.
Peterborough Public Health: New/Updated Resources for Business, including Letter of Recommendation for Workplace Vaccine Policies
January 18, 2022

1. Dr. Piggott has updated and re-issued our Letter of Recommendation for workplace vaccine policies.
Highlights from the letter:

Plainly, three doses of an mRNA vaccine are now required to reduce hospitalization from Omicron, the way two doses were required against Delta. Ensuring that your staff receive three doses of an mNRA vaccine will be one way to prevent hospitalization due to their illness should they acquire COVID-19, and reduce staff absenteeism due to extended illness.

I continue to strongly recommend that all workplaces in the City and County of Peterborough develop or enhance their workplace policies to include a requirement that all employees receive three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and any additional boosters as may be recommended in the future, unless otherwise medically exempt.

Workplace COVID-19 vaccination policies should require, at a minimum:
  • Workers to provide proof of being fully immunized as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Health
  • Workers to provide proof of receiving a 3rd dose and/or booster doses as recommended by the Ontario Ministry of Health
  • Unvaccinated employees to provide written proof of a medical exemption from a physician or nurse practitioner that includes information on whether the reason for exemption is permanent or time-limited
  • Unvaccinated workers to complete a vaccination education course on the risks of being unvaccinated in the workplace

Employers should also identify how workers’ vaccination status information will be collected and protected in accordance with privacy legislation and should explain the level of risk posed by COVID-19 in each unique workplace setting.

Additional workplace precautions recommended to help to reduce viral spread include:  ​
This recommendation is being issued to provide clarity and direction to workplaces looking to implement or update their own policies, but are unsure about the processes to do so. The key components of a workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy are outlined in Appendix A to this letter. Tools and resources to assist with implementation of this recommendation can be found here: www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/workplacecovidvaccination.

PPH’s staff are available to support your workplace. If you have questions or concerns related to implementation, please contact our office at: (705) 743-1000.

There are lots of walk-in appointments available and you can continue to book online as well.

2. You’ve been exposed – now what? PPH resources
3. You’ve been exposed – now what? Provincial resources
  • You have symptoms and are concerned you may have COVID-19. Now what? 
  • You’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen test. Now what?
  • You’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen test and you work in a highest risk setting.* Now what?
(*Highest risk settings include paramedics, hospitals, Long-Term Care, retirement homes, health care workers providing care to immunocompromised, congregate living settings)
Federal Government Extends Loan Repayment Deadlines
The Government of Canada announced that the repayment deadline for CEBA loans to qualify for partial loan forgiveness is being extended from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023, for all eligible borrowers in good standing.

Repayment on or before the new deadline of December 31, 2023, will result in loan forgiveness of up to a third of the value of the loans (meaning up to $20,000).

Outstanding loans would subsequently convert to two-year term loans with interest of 5 per cent per annum commencing on January 1, 2024, with the loans fully due by December 31, 2025.

The government is also announcing that the repayment deadline to qualify for partial forgiveness for CEBA-equivalent lending through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund is extended to December 31, 2023.
Province Introduces Plan Including $10,000 Grant for Eligible Small Businesses and Additional Electricity-rate Relief
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, January 7, 2022

The government is announcing an Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000.

Eligible small businesses include:
  • Restaurants and bars;
  • Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms);
  • Performing arts and cinemas;
  • Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
  • Meeting or event spaces;
  • Tour and guide services;
  • Conference centres and convention centres;
  • Driving instruction for individuals; and
  • Before- and after- school programs.

Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and will not need to apply to the new program. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks. Small businesses that qualify can expect to receive their payment in February.

The Ontario government is also providing electricity-rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home while the province is in Modified Step Two. For 21 days starting at 12:01 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set 24 hours a day at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate. The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility and will benefit customers on both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.

Further, online applications for the previously-announced Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program will open on January 18. This program will provide eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity with rebate payments for up to 100 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to public health measures in response to the Omicron variant.
Eligible businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. Those required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs. A complete list of eligible businesses will be provided prior to the launch of the application portal.

The government is also providing up to $7.5 billion through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period starting January 1, 2022 for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. 
Federal Government Temporarily Expands Access to Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit 
Excerpts from Government of Canada News Release, December 22, 2021

Using regulatory authority provided in Bill C-2, the government intends to introduce new regulations that would:
  • Expand the Local Lockdown Program to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more; and reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent. Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent, depending on their degree of revenue loss. The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support.
  • Expand the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to include workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more. As announced previously, this benefit will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50 per cent or more of their income as a result.
These updated regulations will apply from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022, during which time it is expected that public health authorities will continue to implement “circuit-breaker” restrictions that limit the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across Canada.

More details on the expansion of these support measures
Ontario Launches New Supports for Businesses
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, December 22, 2021

Through the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, eligible businesses will receive rebate payments equivalent to 50 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to the current capacity limits. This will provide support to businesses that are expected to be most impacted financially by the requirement to reduce capacity to 50 per cent. Examples of businesses that will be eligible for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program include restaurants, smaller retail stores and gyms. A full list of eligible business types will be made available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.

Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022, with payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.

The province is also providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes, supporting businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place while providing the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning. The six-month period will begin January 1, 2022 and end July 1, 2022.

This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. With this help, approximately 80,000 businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes, helping them free up cash flow during these challenging times:
  • Employer Health Tax
  • Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
  • Tobacco Tax
  • Insurance Premium Tax
  • Fuel Tax
  • International Fuel Tax Agreement
  • Gas Tax
  • Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans
  • Mining Tax
  • Race Tracks Tax
Federal Targeted COVID-19 Support Measures for Business Receive Royal Assent
Excerpts from Government of Canada News Release, December 21, 2021

On Friday, December 17, 2021, the targeted COVID-19 support measures received Royal Assent. 
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced further details on these measures including current application periods:
  • Increasing the subsidy rate for the Canada Recovery Hiring Program from 20 per cent to 50 per cent. The increased rate will help organizations continue to hire back workers and create the additional jobs Canada needs for a full recovery. Applications for period 22 are now open, covering the period of October 24 to November 20, 2021.
  • The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy ended on October 23, 2021, and have been replaced by targeted support to organizations that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support will be available through two streams:
    • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which will provide support through wage and rent subsidies to, for example, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent. Eligible organizations would be required to meet the following two conditions to qualify for this program:
      • An average monthly revenue reduction of at least 40 per cent over the first 13 claim periods for the CEWS (12-month revenue decline); and
      • A current-month revenue decline of at least 40 per cent.
      • Applications for period 22 are now open, covering the period of October 24 to November 20, 2021.
    • Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which will provide support through wage and rent subsidies. It will support other organizations that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent. Eligible organizations would be required to meet the following two conditions to qualify for this program:
      • An average monthly revenue reduction of at least 50 per cent over the first 13 claim periods for the CEWS (12-month revenue decline); and
      • A current-month revenue decline of at least 50 per cent.
      • Applications for period 22 are now open, covering the period of October 24 to November 20, 2021.
  • Increasing the monthly cap on eligible rent expenses that can be claimed. To better respond to the needs of organizations, the government is increasing the aggregate monthly cap on eligible expenses that can be claimed from $300,000 to $1 million (including amounts claimed by affiliated entities) starting on October 24, 2021.
These COVID-19 programs are extended until May 7, 2022, with the authority to further extend them, through regulation, until July 2, 2022.
Ontario Extends "COVID-19 Period" and Paid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave
Excerpts from Government of Ontario Communication, December 10, 2021

This communication is to inform you about two extensions that have happened under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA):
  1. The “COVID-19 period” has been extended to July 30, 2022
  2. The availability of paid infectious disease emergency leave has been extended to July 31, 2022
 
Extensions
  1. The COVID-19 Period
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government made a regulation that changed certain ESA rules during the “COVID-19 period.” This regulation has been amended to extend the COVID-19 period to July 30, 2022.

During the COVID-19 period (March 1, 2020 to July 30, 2022):
  • A non-unionized employee is deemed to be on unpaid infectious disease emergency leave when they are not performing the duties of their position because their employer temporarily reduced or temporarily eliminated their hours of work for reasons related to COVID-19.
  • A non-unionized employee is not considered to be laid off under the ESA if their employer temporarily reduces or temporarily eliminates their hours of work or wages for reasons related to COVID-19. 
  • A non-unionized employee is not considered to be constructively dismissed under the ESA if their employer temporarily reduces or temporarily eliminates their hours of work or wages for reasons related to COVID-19.
Beginning on July 31, 2022:
  • Non-unionized employees will no longer be deemed to be on unpaid infectious disease emergency leave.
  • The ESA’s regular rules around constructive dismissal will resume. This means a significant reduction or elimination of an employee’s hours of work or wages may be considered a constructive dismissal, even if it was done for reasons related to COVID-19. 
  • The ESA’s regular rules around temporary layoff will also resume. For practical purposes, a non-unionized employee’s temporary layoff clock resets on July 31, 2022.  
Learn more about temporary changes to ESA rules due to COVID-19 and read the regulation (O. Reg. 228/20). 
​
  1. Paid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave
On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government announced the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB), which includes: 
  • up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave under the ESA for employees who take time off work because of certain reasons related to COVID-19, and
  • an employer reimbursement program.

Paid infectious disease emergency leave was originally set to end September 25, 2021 and was later extended to December 31, 2021.  It has now been extended to July 31, 2022.

Eligible employers are entitled to be reimbursed the amount of infectious disease emergency leave pay that they paid to their employees, up to $200 per employee per day taken. Eligible employers must make their application within 120 days of the date the employer paid the employee, or by November 28, 2022, whichever is earlier.

Ontario Extending COVID-19 Paid Sick Days
​Support for workers and employers will continue until July 31, 2022
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, December 7, 2021

The Ontario government is extending its Worker Income Protection Benefit program, which provides paid sick days, until July 31, 2022 to continue keeping workers safe and ensure they do not lose pay if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19. Employees can continue to access this paid leave to get tested, vaccinated, self-isolate, or care for a family member. 

In addition, the province is taking action to protect jobs and businesses by extending temporary changes to the Employment Standards Act that prevent temporary layoffs of non-unionized employees from becoming unwanted terminations, which can trigger payments and force businesses to close. This measure will now be extended until July 30, 2022.

​Quick Facts
  • With the extension of the program until July 31, 2022, employers will have 120 days after their employees are paid to submit their application to the Worker Income Protection Benefit Program.
  • Employers and workers can call the program’s dedicated hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about Ontario’s paid sick days.
Government of Canada Announces New and Extended Support for Businesses

The Government of Canada has announced new and extended support for businesses.
 
The Canada Recovery Hiring Program is extended until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent and increase the subsidy rate to 50 per cent.
 
The government is also planning to deliver targeted support for business businesses that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges through two streams:
 
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
Eligible organizations will be able to receive a subsidy of up to 75% starting Oct. 24. Examples of eligible organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry include hotels, restaurants, bars, festivals, travel agencies, tour operators, convention centres, convention and trade show organizers, and others.
 
Eligible organizations would be required to meet the following two conditions to qualify for this program:
• An average monthly revenue reduction of at least 40 percent over the first 13 qualifying periods for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (12-month revenue decline); and
• A current-month revenue loss of at least 40 percent.
 
Lockdown Support would be available at the current fixed rate of 25 percent and pro-rated based on the number of days a particular location was affected by a lockdown, as under existing rules.
 
Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program
Hard-it organizations that don’t qualify for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and that have been deeply affected since the outset of the pandemic would qualify for rent and wage support under the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, provided they meet the following two eligibility requirements:
• An average monthly revenue reduction of at least 50 percent over the first 13 qualifying periods for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (12-month revenue decline); and
• A current-month revenue loss of at least 50 percent.
 
Lockdown Support would be available at the current fixed rate of 25 percent and pro-rated based on the number of days a particular location was affected by a lockdown, as under existing rules.
 
Benefits for both programs will be reduced by 50% on March 13, 2022 and phased out altogether by May 7.
 
Applicants for these programs will use a new “two-key” eligibility system whereby they will need to demonstrate significant revenue losses over the course of 12 months of the pandemic, as well as revenue losses in the current month.
 
Lockdown Support
Businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns will be eligible for up to the maximum amount of the wage and rent subsidy programs, during the local lockdown, regardless of losses over the course of the pandemic.
 
Existing income and business support programs will end on October 23, 2021 as previously announced.
 
For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/10/targeting-covid-19-support-measures.html
Ontario Adding New Resources To Protect Workers
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, September 27, 2021

More than 100 new health and safety inspectors are graduating today and will be visiting workplaces in construction, industrial and health care settings. With the support of provincial offences officers, the inspectors will be deployed to help educate workers and businesses about the newly-launched vaccine certificate.

Over the coming weeks, in consultation with local public health units, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development inspectors and other provincial offences officers will continue conducting inspection and education campaigns to ensure businesses are following COVID-19 safety requirements.

To help businesses stay on top of health and safety guidance, the province has also launched the new Workplace Safety Plan Builder, a free interactive tool making it easier for workplaces to create and update their COVID-19 safety plans. The tool was developed specifically to support small businesses and was designed with their input.

The safety plan builder will lead employers through an easy process to create and update an online safety plan that is right for their workplace. It also allows for easy customization and employers who sign up for updates will be notified when information is changed, allowing them to stay up to date with current guidance and requirements.

Additional Resources
Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Policy Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates and Proof of Vaccine Certificates
 
On September 1, 2021, the Ontario government announced that starting September 22, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. By October 22, Ontario plans to develop and implement an enhanced digital vaccine certificate with unique QR (Quick Response) code that will verify vaccination status when scanned. A paper version of the certificate will be available for download or can be printed from the COVID-19 vaccination provincial portal.
 
The proof of vaccine regime currently applies to certain higher-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn. In addition to these settings, over the last few months many other organizations have begun to mandate vaccines for employees and service users.
 
Vaccination requirements generally permissible
While receiving a COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary, the OHRC takes the position that mandating and requiring proof of vaccination to protect people at work or when receiving services is generally permissible under the Human Rights Code (Code) as long as protections are put in place to make sure people who are unable to be vaccinated for Code-related reasons are reasonably accommodated. This applies to all organizations.
 
Upholding individual human rights while trying to collectively protect the general public has been a challenge throughout the pandemic. Organizations must attempt to balance the rights of people who have not been vaccinated due to a Code-protected ground, such as disability, while ensuring individual and collective rights to health and safety.
 
Duty to accommodate for medical reasons
Some people are not able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for medical or disability-related reasons. Under the Code, organizations have a duty to accommodate them, unless it would significantly interfere with people’s health and safety 
 
Consistent with the duty to accommodate, the provincial proof of vaccine regime says that people who are unable to receive the vaccine must provide a written document, supplied by a physician (MD) or by a registered nurse extended class [RN(EC)] or nurse practitioner (NP) stating they are exempt for a medical reason from being fully vaccinated and how long this would apply. The OHRC’s position is that exempting individuals with a documented medical inability to receive the vaccine is a reasonable accommodation within the meaning of the Code.
 
Organizations that are not included in the list of settings but wish to mandate vaccines are encouraged to use the provincial proof of vaccine certificate with the written documentation showing medical inability to receive the vaccine as their way of meeting the duty to accommodate where needed.
 
The OHRC also stresses the need to make sure digital proof of vaccine certificates are designed to be fully accessible to adaptive technology, including for smart phone users with disabilities, in accordance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act regulations.
 
COVID testing as an alternative to vaccine requirements
Many organizations are not included in the list of settings. Organizations with a proven need for COVID-related health and safety requirements might also put COVID testing in place as an alternative to mandatory vaccinations or as an option for accommodating people who are unable to receive a vaccine for medical reasons. Organizations should cover the costs of COVID testing as part of the duty to accommodate.
 
Time limited requirements, privacy protection
The provincial proof of vaccine regime does not propose to limit access to any services for people who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
 
Proof of vaccine and vaccine mandate policies, or any COVID testing alternatives that result in people being denied equal access to employment or services on Code grounds, should only be used for the shortest possible length of time. Such policies might only be justifiable during a pandemic. They should regularly be reviewed and updated to match the most current pandemic conditions, and to reflect up-to-date evidence and public health guidance.
 
Policies should also include rights-based legal safeguards for the appropriate use and handling of personal health information.
 
Barriers in accessing COVID vaccines and testing
While the vaccine may be readily available across Ontario, barriers persist in equitable vaccine access and COVID testing. Some examples of barriers to vaccine access may include:
  • Language barriers or lack of access to a compatible phone or Internet connection make it harder for some Code-protected groups to find information about vaccination or testing
  • Older people or people living with disabilities may have difficulty booking or going to their vaccine or testing appointment, or may need extra supports to be vaccinated or undergo testing (such as a caregiver, communication supports, etc.)
  • Low-wage workers with multiple jobs and caregiving responsibilities may lack the time or resources to prioritize visiting a vaccination site or taking a COVID test
  • Undocumented people and people experiencing homelessness face a variety of barriers relating to the lack of government-issued ID, fear of revealing immigration status, and mental health and addiction disabilities
  • Individuals and groups who have faced discrimination or traumatic experiences while receiving health-care services may not trust vaccines or testing.
Ensuring access to vaccines and testing for vulnerable Ontarians is a necessary element of any vaccine mandate or proof of vaccination regime.
 
Enforcement
Under the provincial regime, organizations are responsible for making sure they meet the required proofs of identification and vaccination as outlined in the regulation. Service users must make sure any information they provide to the organization to show proof of vaccination (or proof of qualifying for an exemption like a doctor’s note) and if identification is complete and accurate. There are fines for both individuals and organizations that fail to comply.
 
As with any regulatory regime requiring enforcement, providing law enforcement or any organization with discretionary powers to assess proof of identification and vaccination may result in disproportionate application and impact on members of marginalized and vulnerable communities. Any regime that requires service users to present government-issued documents may also create barriers for people experiencing homelessness or who are undocumented.
 
The OHRC urges governments and organizations to take proactive steps to make sure any enforcement of vaccine mandates or proof of vaccination policies does not disproportionately target or criminalize Indigenous peoples, Black and other racialized communities, people who are experiencing homelessness, or with mental health disabilities and/or addictions.
 
Personal preferences and singular beliefs not protected
The OHRC and relevant human rights laws recognize the importance of balancing people’s right to non-discrimination and civil liberties with public health and safety, including the need to address evidence-based risks associated with COVID-19.
 
Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary. At the same time, the OHRC’s position is that a person who chooses not to be vaccinated based on personal preference does not have the right to accommodation under the Code. The OHRC is not aware of any tribunal or court decision that found a singular belief against vaccinations or masks amounted to a creed within the meaning of the Code.
While the Code prohibits discrimination based on creed, personal preferences or singular beliefs do not amount to a creed for the purposes of the Code.
 
Even if a person could show they were denied a service or employment because of a creed-based belief against vaccinations, the duty to accommodate does not necessarily require they be exempted from vaccine mandates, certification or COVID testing requirements. The duty to accommodate can be limited if it would significantly compromise health and safety amounting to undue hardship – such as during a pandemic.
 
Read the OHRCs Policy on preventing discrimination based on creed for full explanation of creed-based discrimination and the duty to accommodate.
Workplace Vaccine Policies Strongly Recommended by Peterborough Public Health
Online Toolkit Launched by PPH to Help Local Workplaces Develop Their Own Policies and Request On-site Vaccination Clinics
Excerpts from Peterborough Public Health News Release, September 9, 2021
​
Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is formally recommending that all workplaces in the City and County of Peterborough develop (or enhance) their workplace policies to require all employees to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless otherwise medically exempt.

​To support this effort, PPH launched a workplace toolkit today available at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca. This online toolkit provides guidance on developing a workplace vaccination policy. It notes that workplace policies should explain its purpose, specific actions workers must take including providing proof of vaccination status or a medical exemption, and timelines. To access the toolkit directly, visit https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-workplace-vaccination/.

Dr. Salvaterra noted that provincial labour laws require employers to use every reasonable precaution to protect the health and wellbeing of their employees. This includes workplace hazards posed by infectious diseases. Peterborough Public Health strongly recommend that workplace vaccination policies require at a minimum:
  • Workers to provide proof of their vaccination series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization. (All residents who have been vaccinated in Ontario, or who have provided proof of their vaccination to their local public health unit, are able to access proof of their vaccination through the provincial vaccination system.)
  • Unvaccinated employees to provide written proof of a medical reason from a physician or nurse practitioner that includes whether the reason is permanent or time-limited
  • Unvaccinated workers to complete a vaccination education course on the risks of being unvaccinated in the workplace
  • Employers should also identify how workers’ vaccination status information will be collected and protected in accordance with privacy legislation and explain the level of risk posed by COVID-19 in each unique workplace setting.
  • Additional workplace precautions recommended to help reduce virus spread include:
  • COVID-19 testing (Available at no cost to businesses through the Peterborough Chamber)
  • Strict adherence to physical distancing and other public health measures
  • Wearing personal protective equipment as needed/required
  • Ensuring that appropriate ventilation is in place

The online resources launched today will also allow businesses in the area served by Peterborough Public Health to apply to host an on-site vaccination clinic. Peterborough Public Health will follow-up with applicants to discuss eligibility for an onsite clinic.

Locally, workplace outbreaks continue to occur, where staff who have not been vaccinated acquire COVID-19 and spread it to others who are unvaccinated. Workplaces with a high number of unvaccinated staff risk having to shut down in the event of an outbreak. Fully vaccinated staff however will only have to self-monitor, not self-isolate in the event of an exposure; self-isolation of staff could result in staffing shortages.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information for Employers
FREE Rapid Antigen Screening Kits Available to Businesses in Peterborough City & County

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ontario and Canadian governments, has launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative.  Businesses (including non-chamber members) with 150 employees or less can access free screening kits as an additional tool to help keep workplaces safe.  

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism have partnered with MPP Dave Smith to provide these kits to businesses in the City and County of Peterborough.
 
Register your business and order your kits 
Government of Canada Announces Details of the New Canada Recovery Hiring Program and Extension of Business Support Programs
Excerpts from Government of Canada News Release, June 2, 2021

The new Canada Recovery Hiring Program will be available retroactively to June 6, 2021.

The proposed Canada Recovery Hiring Program would help hard hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen. The program would provide a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of eligible salary or wages. It would be available to eligible employers who have experienced qualifying revenue declines so they can hire more workers, increase workers’ hours, or increase wages. This support would afford businesses with certainty that they can take on the extra costs needed to rehire and be ready to return to growth. Like with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, businesses would be able to access the program through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Support would be available retroactively to this Sunday, June 6, 2021, and businesses would be able to hire workers as their local economy reopens, or as they are ready.

The government also detailed the proposed extension of business support programs, including the proposed extension of the Wage Subsidy, Rent Subsidy, and Lockdown Support until September 25, 2021. These programs are currently set to expire this month. Both the Hiring Program and proposed extensions are part of Bill C-30, the Budget Implementation Act, which is currently before Parliament.

The Hiring Program is designed to interact with the Wage Subsidy. The programs overlap so that, as Wage Subsidy rates gradually decline, eligible employers would still be able to receive the maximum support from the Hiring Program this summer if they hire more workers or increase workers’ hours or wages. This will make it easy for businesses to quickly hire new workers and do so at a pace that works best for them, as different jurisdictions reopen their economies at different paces.

The government also announced that the Business Credit Availability Program and Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program are being extended to December 31, 2021. Both programs were set to expire on June 30, 2021.

​Quick facts
  • The proposed Canada Recovery Hiring Program would be available to support active employees from June 6, 2021 to November 20, 2021. This will allow eligible employers to use the program at a pace that works for them.
    • As with the Wage Subsidy, eligible employers would receive support after each four week period of the program.
    • Support would be available retroactively once Bill C-30 receives Royal Assent.
    • Eligible employers would be able to access support through the CRA and the application portal would be available after Royal Assent.
    • The program is estimated to cost $595 million in 2021-22.
  • The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is currently set to expire in June 2021.
    • To give workers and employers certainty and stability over the coming months, the recent federal budget proposed to extend the Wage Subsidy until September 25, 2021.
    • This extension would see a gradual decrease of the Wage Subsidy rate, beginning July 4, 2021, in order to ensure an orderly phase-out of the program as the economy reopens.
    • Employers would be able to shift to the Canada Recovery Hiring Program as they transition to recovery and hire new workers.
  • The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support program is currently set to expire in June 2021.
    • To bridge Canadians through to recovery, the recent federal budget proposed to extend the Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until September 25, 2021.
    • This extension would see a gradual decrease of the Rent Subsidy rate, beginning July 4, 2021, in order to ensure an orderly phase-out of this program as the economy reopens.
  • The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) loan guarantee and co-lending programs provide credit of up to $6.25 million and $12.5 million respectively. BCAP also provides support for mid-sized businesses including loans of up to $60 million per company, and guarantees of up to $80 million.  
  • Through the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program(HASCAP), BDC partners with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to businesses across the country, with repayment periods of up to 10 years, in all sectors that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service.
  • For additional information on BCAP or HASCAP or to apply, businesses should contact their primary financial institution with whom they have a pre-existing relationship.​
Ontario Continues to Expand Access to Rapid Testing for Workplaces
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, May 12, 2021

The Ontario government has launched a new rapid testing portal to make it easier for all essential businesses to access free rapid testing to help keep employees and their families safe.

Businesses are encouraged to participate in the program by registering at ontario.ca/testingonsite. It provides free rapid antigen screening kits to help screen for asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 that might otherwise be missed. It is one more way that businesses can help workers and their families stay safe and keep the virus out of workplaces. Program eligibility was recently expanded to include any business that is allowed to be open and requires staff to work on-site.

As the results of positive PCR tests are already reported to local public health units (PHUs) through the provincial lab network, the Ministry of Health is updating program requirements so organizations providing rapid antigen screening will no longer have to report preliminary positive results to PHUs, nor will they be required to report results of confirmatory lab-based PCR tests to the province. These changes will help encourage greater use of rapid testing by reducing the administrative burden and implementation barriers for all organizations and workplaces, while still maintaining strong public health and safety measures.

​Quick Facts
  • A COVID-19 rapid screening test can be performed anywhere (e.g., on-site, at the place of employment) and does not require shipping a specimen to a lab for processing. It takes about 15 minutes to yield a result.
  • Rapid antigen point-of-care testing does not replace public health measures, such as symptom screening, physical distancing, masking and hand hygiene. Any positive results from a rapid antigen point-of-care test must be confirmed with laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
  • Organizations participating in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program can now search for a service provider offering point-of-care rapid testing services through a directory on the Ontario Together website. Service providers offering point-of-care COVID-19 testing services can also apply to be listed.

Learn more about the rapid testing portal
Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit
Learn about the Ontario Government’s plan to offer paid leave for COVID-19

On April 29, 2021, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to require employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid leave for reasons related to COVID-19.

Paid leave is available for certain reasons related to COVID-19, including:
  • going for a COVID-19 test
  • staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
  • being sick with COVID-19
  • going to get vaccinated
  • experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination
  • having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other authority
  • taking care of a dependent who is:
    • sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19
    • self-isolating due to COVID-19

The government will continue to update this page with current information. For more information please call the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Information Centre 1-888-999-2248 ( TTY: 1-866-567-8893).

Employers will be required to pay employees up to $200 a day for up to three days. The three days would not need to be taken consecutively.

Eligibility
The three days of paid leave would only be available to employees who:
Doctor’s note not required
Employers cannot require an employee to provide a certificate from a doctor or nurse as evidence.

Employer reimbursement for paid leave
Eligible employers would be able to apply for a reimbursement of up to $200 per employee day taken, from the Ontario government. If the employee’s regular rate of pay is less than $200 day, the employer will only be eligible for a reimbursement of the employee’s regular rate of pay.

Eligible employers would need to make their application for reimbursement within 120 days of the paid leave. More information on how employers can apply will be available on this page soon.

Effective Period
This program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021, the date the CRSB will expire.

Example
Sofia works in a grocery store stocking shelves. She normally makes $16 an hour and works 8-hour shifts, which is $128 per day. Her employer does not already offer paid leave. If Sofia is feeling unwell and takes a day off work to go for a COVID-19 test, her employer would be required to pay her regular rate of pay for that day and could apply for a reimbursement of $128 from the Ontario government for the wages she was paid while off work, if the legislation is passed.

Financial support for longer term absences
If an eligible worker learns that they must isolate for longer than 50 per cent of the time they would have otherwise worked for the week, whether because of a positive COVID-19 test or risk of exposure, they may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if they haven’t taken a paid leave day under this proposal.

The Ontario government continues to work with the federal government to further support vulnerable workers by doubling payments made through the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit program. If this change is accepted, it would provide an additional $500 per week to eligible individuals for a total of $1,000 per week. 
​
Employers and their workers can call a dedicated COVID-19 Sick Days Information Centre hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about the proposed Ontario COVID-19 paid leave days.
​
The province continues to visit workplaces to ensure they are adhering to COVID-19 safety requirements.
Budget 2021 Support for Small Business
Excerpts from Government of Canada 2021 Budget Backgrounder

​Extension of Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support Beyond June 2021
The wage subsidy, the rent subsidy, and Lockdown Support programs are currently set to expire in June 2021. In order to bridge Canadians through the rest of this crisis to recovery, continued support is needed. To give workers and employers certainty and stability over the coming months:
  • Budget 2021 proposes to extend the wage subsidy, the rent subsidy, and Lockdown Support until September 25, 2021. It also proposes to gradually decrease the rates for the wage subsidy and rent subsidy, beginning July 4, 2021, in order to ensure an orderly phase-out of the programs as vaccinations are completed and the economy reopens.
Extending this support will mean that millions of jobs will continue to be protected.
Further details on these measures can be found in Annex 6 of the budget.

Extending the Canada Emergency Business Account
The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) has provided interest-free, partially forgivable loans to more than 850,000 Canadian small businesses. In December 2020, the government increased the value of the loan from $40,000 to $60,000 to help small businesses bridge to recovery. If a business repays their loans by December 31, 2022, up to a third of the value of their loans (meaning up to $20,000) will be forgiven. In further recognition of the ongoing pandemic, the government recently extended the application deadline for CEBA to June 30, 2021.

A small number of businesses have faced challenges accessing the program, including Indigenous and rural businesses. To make sure these businesses are not left behind, the government provides similar support through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund and Indigenous Business Initiative. To make sure these businesses can continue to access support:
  • Budget 2021 proposes to extend the application deadline for similar support under the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund and the Indigenous Business Initiative until June 30, 2021.
  • Budget 2021 proposes to provide up to $80 million in 2021-22, on a cash basis, for the Community Futures Network of Canada and regional development agencies, and to shift remaining funds under the Indigenous Business Initiative into 2021-22, to support an extended application deadline for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund and Indigenous Business Initiative until June 30, 2021. This would support small businesses in rural communities so they can continue to serve local populations.

Helping Hard-hit Businesses Hire More Workers
For businesses that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, hiring the workers they need to grow is a cost they may worry about taking on. The government wants these businesses to be able to recover and grow by hiring more people so that workers are at the forefront of our recovery: 
  • Budget 2021 proposes to introduce the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program for eligible employers that continue to experience qualifying declines in revenues relative to before the pandemic. The proposed subsidy would offset a portion of the extra costs employers take on as they reopen, either by increasing wages or hours worked, or hiring more staff. This support would only be available for active employees and will be available from June 6 to November 20, 2021. Eligible employers would claim the higher of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the new proposed subsidy. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for businesses to hire new workers as the economy reopens.
As the rates for both the wage subsidy and the hiring program will slowly ramp down over time, employers will have a strong incentive to begin hiring as soon as possible and maximize their benefit.

Helping Small and Medium-sized Businesses Move into the Digital Age
The pandemic has hastened the economy's digital transformation as companies, workers, and consumers conduct more and more business online. Canadian businesses need to adopt new technologies and digitize to meet customer needs and stay competitive.

To fuel the recovery, jobs, and growth, the government is launching the Canada Digital Adoption Program, which will create thousands of jobs for young Canadians and help as many as 160,000 small- and medium-sized businesses adopt new digital technologies.

This program will provide businesses with two streams of support. Eligible businesses will receive micro-grants to help offset the costs of going digital—and provide support to digital trainers from a network of up to 28,000 well trained young Canadians.
  • Budget 2021 proposes to provide $1.4 billion over four years, starting in 2021-22, to:
    • Work with organizations across Canada to provide access to skills, training, and advisory services for all businesses accessing this program.
    • Provide micro-grants to smaller, main street businesses to support costs associated with technology adoption.
    • Create training and work opportunities for as many as 28,000 young people to help small- and medium-sized businesses across Canada adopt new technology.
  • Budget 2021 proposes to provide $2.6 billion over four years, on a cash basis, starting in 2021-22, to the Business Development Bank of Canada to help small- and medium-sized businesses finance technology adoption.

Supporting Business Investments
For Canada's economic recovery to take root, businesses will need to invest in new technologies and move forward with capital projects. Building on the significant tax incentives introduced in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, additional support is needed to further boost business investments that will create jobs today and in the future.
  • Budget 2021 proposes to allow immediate expensing of up to $1.5 million of eligible investments by Canadian-controlled private corporations made on or after Budget Day, and before 2024. Eligible investments will cover over 60 per cent of capital investments typically made by Canadian-controlled private corporations.
This incentive targets short- and medium-term capital investments that can accelerate our recovery. This includes investments in a broad range of assets, including, but not limited to, digital assets and intellectual property, helping to further incentivize businesses to transition to a more productive, knowledge-intensive economy and will include digital assets and intellectual property. These larger deductions will help businesses—particularly small- and medium-sized businesses—by making it more attractive to invest in assets that drive growth. Larger deductions will also free up capital that businesses can use to create more good middle class jobs.

Enhancing the Canada Small Business Financing Program
Small businesses need access to financing in order to invest in people and innovation, and to have the space to operate and grow. To make sure small business and independent entrepreneurs can access the capital they need to recover, innovate, and grow in the long-term: 
  • Budget 2021 proposes to improve the Canada Small Business Financing Program through amendments to the Canada Small Business Financing Act and its regulations. These proposed amendments are projected to increase annual financing by $560 million, supporting approximately 2,900 additional small businesses. Proposed amendments include:
    • Expanding loan class eligibility to include lending against intellectual property and start-up assets and expenses.
    • Increasing the maximum loan amount from $350,000 to $500,000 and extending the loan coverage period from 10 to 15 years for equipment and leasehold improvements.
    • Expanding borrower eligibility to include non-profit and charitable social enterprises.
    • Introducing a new line of credit product to help with liquidity and cover short-term working capital needs.

Lowering the Cost of Doing Business by Reducing Credit Card Transaction Fees
The pandemic has brought about a rapid and significant increase in electronic payments and online transactions. Small- and medium-sized businesses, which have been hard hit by COVID-19, incur fees for these transactions, also known as interchange fees, which are amongst the highest in the world.
The government will engage with key stakeholders to work towards three objectives:
  • Lower the average overall cost of interchange fees for merchants.
  • Ensure that small businesses benefit from pricing that is similar to large businesses.
  • Protect existing rewards points of consumers.
Following consultations with stakeholders, detailed next steps will be outlined as part of the 2021 Fall Economic Statement, including legislative amendments to the Payment Card Networks Act that would provide authority to regulate interchange fees, if necessary.

Removing Barriers to Internal Trade
For too long, trade barriers within our own country have held back Canadian businesses from reaching the full force of the Canadian market. Removing barriers to trade between provinces and territories will help build a more prosperous economy—creating jobs, fueling business expansion, expanding consumer choice of Canadian goods and services, and helping regional economies grow. 
  • Budget 2021 proposes to allocate $21 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to:
    • Work with provincial and territorial partners to enhance the capacity of the Internal Trade Secretariat that supports the Canadian Free Trade Agreement in order to accelerate the reduction of trade barriers within Canada.
    • Advance work with willing partners towards creating a repository of open and accessible pan-Canadian internal trade data to identify barriers, including licensing and professional certification requirements, that we can work together to reduce them.
    • Pursue internal trade objectives through new or renewed discretionary federal transfers to provinces and territories.

Supporting Jobs and Growth in All Communities
As Canada builds back better, no community will be left behind. From the outset of the pandemic, regional development agencies have been on the ground across Canada, helping businesses weather the effects of the pandemic. Through the $2 billion Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, they have been providing liquidity to businesses, helping bridge them to the recovery, and preserving more than 125,000 jobs. To ensure businesses in every corner of Canada have the support they need to get through the pandemic and that they are brought along in our economic recovery:
  • Budget 2021 proposes to provide $700 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, for the regional development agencies to support business financing. This would position local economies for long-term growth by transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs in every corner of the country.
  • Budget 2021 proposes to create a new agency for British Columbia and to provide $553.1 million over five years, starting in 2021 22, and $110.6 million ongoing, to support the new agency and ensure businesses in B.C. can grow and create good jobs for British Columbians. Existing core program funding from Western Economic Diversification will remain to support the Prairies, making additional support available for businesses in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
  • Furthermore, the federal government will work to make FedNor a standalone regional development agency and strengthen the economic development of Northern Ontario.

Canada Community Revitalization Fund
Main streets, farmers' markets, and other gathering places underpin local economies. In many communities, the most vibrant spaces in our communities have laid dormant as Canadians took precautions to stay safe. Recognizing that economic recovery is tightly linked to the vitality of our local communities:
  • Budget 2021 proposes to provide $500 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to the regional development agencies for community infrastructure. These projects will stimulate local economies, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
  • Budget 2021 includes $101.4 billion over three years in proposed investments as part of the Government of Canada’s growth plan that will create good jobs and support a resilient and inclusive recovery. Key measures include:
    • Establishing a Canada-wide early learning and child care system, in partnership with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners, which will help all families access affordable, high-quality, and flexible child care no matter where they live, and no longer shoulder the burden of high child care costs. The budget proposes new investments totalling almost $30 billion over the next five years and $8.3 billion ongoing to support this vision.
    • Extending emergency supports to bridge Canadians and Canadian businesses through to recovery, including:
      • Extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until September 25, 2021.
      • Extending the number of weeks available for important income support for Canadians such as the Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.
    • Enhancing Employment Insurance sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks.
    • Supporting small and medium-sized businesses through several transformative programs, such as:
      • A new Canada Digital Adoption Program that will assist over 160,000 businesses with the cost of new technology. And it will provide them with the advice they need to get the most of new technology with the help of 28,000 young Canadians who will be trained to work with them.
      • Allowing Canadian small businesses to fully expense up to $1.5 million in capital investments in a broad range of assets, including digital technology and intellectual property. This represents an additional $2.2 billion investment in the growth of Canada’s entrepreneurs over the next five years.
    • Revitalizing Canada’s tourism sector through $1 billion to help tourism businesses recover and support festivals and cultural events that provide jobs and growth in many of our cities and communities.
    • Supporting women, Black Canadians, and other underrepresented entrepreneurs who face barriers to launching and owning businesses through $300 million to enhance initiatives like the Black Entrepreneurship Program and the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

Read the full Backgrounder
2021 Ontario Budget: Highlights for Business
From Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy

Doubling the Ontario Small Business Support Grant
  • Providing a second round of Ontario Small Business Support Grant payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible recipients. Small businesses who are confirmed eligible recipients of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant will be automatically entitled to a second payment in an amount equal to the first payment they received. They will not need to apply again to receive this additional funding.

Enhancing the Digital Main Street Program
  • In June 2020, Ontario, in partnership with the federal government, announced the Digital Main Street platform, a $57 million program designed to help up to 22,900 Ontario businesses create and enhance their online presence. 
  • Ontario is investing an additional $10 million in the Digital Main Street program in 2021–22 to help more small businesses achieve a digital transformation and serve customers effectively online. The program will continue to provide digital transformation grants, an online learning platform, training programs, and Digital Service Squads offering technical support to small business owners.

Introducing the Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant
  • This grant will provide an estimated $100 million in one‑time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small businesses.
  • Examples of Eligible Businesses for the Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant
    • Hotels
    • Motels
    • Travel Agencies
    • Amusement and Water Parks
    • Hunting and Fishing Camps
    • Recreational and Vacation Camps (e.g., children’s overnight summer camps)
  • Businesses must demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20 per cent revenue decline and have less than 100 employees to qualify. Any small businesses that received the Ontario Small Business Support Grant will not be eligible for this new grant.
  • Applying online will be easy.
  • Further details can be obtained at Ontario.ca/COVIDsupport.

Introducing the Ontario Tourism Recovery Program
  • A new $100 million initiative for 2021–22 to help tourism operators, anchor businesses and attractions recover from the impacts of COVID‑19. This initiative will provide support for historically successful businesses that have helped to drive employment and visitation in their regions by assisting with costs related to restructuring, safe reopening, recalibrated marketing activities and partnership development.

Encouraging Residents to Vacation within Ontario when it is Safe
  • The government has set aside $150 million and intends to introduce legislation for a tax credit to encourage residents to explore Ontario when public health experts advise that it is safe to travel.

Supporting Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations
  • Ontario is committing to supporting tourism across the province through increased funding of up to $15 million for the Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) in 2021–22. 

Standing Behind Ontario’s Arts Community
  • The government is increasing its investment in Ontario’s arts community by $10 million in 2021–22. With support from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), this increased investment will assist with significant costs incurred when preparing for activities and events that could not go forward in 2020–21. It will also help with financial impacts that occurred from the loss of box office revenue and venue rental income, as well as new costs related to health and safety, and digital or virtual programming. It will also support jobs at the local level for musicians, writers, painters, actors, dancers, stagehands and many others who support Ontario’s arts and culture industry.

Providing More Opportunities to Enjoy Ontario Parks
  • Ontario is encouraging visits to provincial parks by offering free day‑use entry on Mondays through Thursdays, from May 1 to September 2 this year. 
  • Ontario will also invest an estimated $3.9 million over three years to enhance the provincial park experience by using technology to better connect the people of Ontario with a one‑stop shop to help them find recreational opportunities that fit their location and interests. The province and local businesses will collaborate to develop ideas to bolster Ontario’s tourism economy and create new ways to enjoy provincial parks.

Providing Financial Relief for Resource‑Based Tourism Businesses
  • Eligible Commercial Outpost Camps and hunting and fishing outfitters would receive another year of relief from certain rents and fees, providing approximately $1.3 million in financial assistance. This relief will help with the recovery of the sector by supporting businesses that employ residents and contribute to local communities.

Investing in Sport and Community Infrastructure
  • Ontario is investing around $200 million to provide infrastructure funding to larger, strategic projects and to sports facilities through the newly established Strategic Priorities and Infrastructure Fund. This fund will help address some of the unmet demand under the Community, Culture and Recreation stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which received more applications than could be funded under that program. The fund will also support the sport and recreation sector, which was one of the hardest hit sectors during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
  • The Strategic Priorities and Infrastructure Fund is delivered through two streams. The Priority Local Infrastructure stream will support new build multi‑purpose facilities for community, culture and recreation purposes.
  • The Sport and Community Renewal stream provides funding to support the renovation and rehabilitation of sport and community infrastructure.

Supporting Local Alcohol Producers
  • To support the recovery and sustainability of Ontario’s wine and agri‑tourism industry, the government is providing a one‑time $10 million grant in 2021 to help wineries and cideries impacted by lockdown measures, and help ensure that agricultural production and local jobs are maintained in Ontario’s rural communities.
  • The government is also increasing funding for the Small Distillery Support Program by an additional $1.2 million in 2021–22 to help small distillers recover from the impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
  • In addition, the government is extending the funding to 2022–23 for the following programs:
    • VQA Wine Support Program ($7.5 million);
    • Small Cidery ($1.8 million) and Small Distillery Support Programs ($0.8 million); and
    • Marketing, Tourism and Export Development; Performance Measurement and Research and Innovation Development Initiatives ($5.3 million).

Protecting and Supporting the Agri-Food Sector
  • The Province is investing $10 million in 2021–22 for a one-year extension to the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program announced in June 2020. This will support the implementation of measures to prevent and control COVID‑19 and to address unforeseen worker health and safety issues.

Accelerating Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan
  • Investing $2.8 billion to connect homes, businesses and communities to broadband — which COVID‑19 has demonstrated is a necessity, not a luxury — bringing the Province’s total investment to nearly $4 billion over six years beginning 2019–20. 
Ontario Announces New Grant Program for Non-Profit Tourism, Culture, Sport and Recreation Organizations
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, March 16, 2021

The Community Building Fund will be administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two program streams: 
  • The $55-million operating funding stream will provide community non-profits with the support they need to help sustain their operations and create new experiences and events - such as trail systems, heritage attractions, winter activities and local sport and recreation programming - that are critical to the economic and social well-being of their communities. 
  • The $50-million capital funding stream will go to municipalities and non-profit organizations to carry out sport- and recreation-facility infrastructure repairs, including retrofits and rehabilitation to meet COVID-19 public health protocol requirements and local community needs. 

The operating stream of the Community Building Fund will open for applications on March 31, 2021, while the fund's capital stream will open later in 2021. 
​
  • Arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation non-profit organizations, and Indigenous communities are eligible to apply for the Community Building Fund streams. For more information, eligibility requirements and deadlines, see here.
  • For organizations interested in applying for the Community Building Fund, OTF will provide support via webinars and information sessions, as well as one-on-on coaching calls.
Support for the Arts Sector
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, March 2, 2021

The Ontario government is supporting the arts sector with a one-time investment of $25 million to help artists and arts organizations survive the COVID-19 pandemic, remain solvent and prepare for a time when they can fully re-open their facilities, resume full programming and welcome back their visitors and audiences.

​Arts organizations ($24 million total): Applications are now closed.  See the list of approved organizations. 

Artists & creators ($1 million total): More information on this, including eligibility requirements and application deadlines, will be available soon on the Ontario Arts Council website.
​Ontario Launches Education Campaign to Help Workplaces Reopen Safely
Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, February 19, 2021

The Ontario government is launching new health and safety education campaigns, with a particular focus on helping small businesses across the province reopen safely. The on-the-ground assistance includes a comprehensive suite of resources business owners can access at no cost to ensure they are helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

​The full suite of government educational supports available includes:
  • Provincial Employment Standards Call Centre (webes@ontario.ca) and Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre (webohs@ontario.ca) to answer small business health and safety questions.

For more information on these tools, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-help-businesses-ontario.

Other safety resources:
New ​Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Opens February 1
Excerpts from Government of Canada News Release, January 26, 2021

Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of up to $1 million. Hard-hit businesses, like a chain of hotels or restaurants with multiple locations under one related entity, could be eligible for up to $6.25 million. HASCAP will help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity.

HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service.

To be eligible for HASCAP, businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50% in three months, within the eight months prior to their application. They must also be able to show their financial institutions that they have previously applied for either the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy.
​
Eligible businesses can start applying as early as February 1 at principal financial institutions and more widely by February 15. Interested businesses should contact their primary lender to get more information and to apply.
Learn more about the credit
REVISED Benefit Amounts & Eligibility Criteria for ​COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program - Small Business (CEAP-SB)

The Ontario Energy Board updated the eligibility criteria on January 14, 2021, so that more customers may qualify for CEAP-SB. Small business and registered charity electricity or natural gas customers are now eligible for CEAP-SB if they meet all of the following criteria:
  • The customer has an active account with an electricity distributor, a USMP or a natural gas distributor. 
  • The customer’s account falls within the following class:
    • For customers of an electricity distributor, the General Service less than 50 kW rate class
    • For customers of a USMP, the relevant commercial class that uses less than 150,000 kWh of electricity annually
    • For customers of a natural gas distributor, is a non-residential customer that uses less than 50,000 cubic meters of gas annually
    • Customers can find information about their class on their bill, or they can contact their utility or USMP.  
  • The customer has a registered business number or charitable registration number for the small business or registered charity operating out of the premises.
  • The customer has overdue amounts owing from one or more electricity or gas bills since March 17, 2020. 

Customers who previously applied but were denied will have their original applications reviewed by utilities and will be contacted directly if they meet the new eligibility criteria. Customers who previously applied and received an on-bill credit will be notified by their utilities that the funding limits have been increased, and that they can file a new application for additional credits under the new funding limits, to be applied against any current overdue amounts. No customer can receive total CEAP-SB funding that exceeds the new funding limit of $1,500.
​
Eligible small business and registered charity customers may qualify for a one-time CEAP-SB credit for the electricity or natural gas charges that are overdue on the date of their application for CEAP-SB, up to a maximum of $1,500.

More Information about CEAP-SB and How to Apply
Peterborough PPE Retail Hub
This is a list of local businesses offering various PPE products from masks to plexi-glass shields to cleaning services and more. 
Support Local Campaigns - #LoveLocalPtbo

​#LoveLocalPtbo
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is continuing with its support local campaign - #LoveLocalPtbo.  The message is even more relevant as businesses start the recovery process.  Use the hashtag on your social media and let us know how you #LoveLocalPtbo.  
Learn more

#CanadaUnited
The movement, led by RBC and in partnership with Chambers of Commerce and business organizations from across the county, starts with a Canada United Small Business Relief Campaign where we ask Canadians to complete ‘micro-actions’ (views, likes, shares, follows, etc.) in support small and local businesses.

Every micro-action will result in a micro-donation by RBC towards small business recovery grant funding, which will be managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national chamber network. The movement culminates with a new nationwide Canada United Weekend in late August. The event promotes shopping at small and local businesses, while we help those same businesses prepare and promote their participation in the event. The weekend includes unveiling of the total raised for small business recovery grant funding from the Canada United Small Business Relief Campaign.
Learn more

Thank you to our 5 Star Leadership Members

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175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
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