The Government of Canada has economic relief supports available for individuals and businesses facing hardships as a result of the pandemic. Programs include wage subsidy, interest-free loans, and rent subsidy.

Learn more about ways that the federal government can help: Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan – Canada.ca

Previous Updates:

Rent relief

The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 percent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.

Emergency loans

An expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans—and that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemic—to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31, 2020.

Wages
1. The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021, which would continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire their workers. The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020. This measure is part of the government’s commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic.

For more information click here

2. The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:

• Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
• Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
• have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

3. The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:

• unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
• because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.

Persons with disabilities
Special one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment

A one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment of up to $600 to help Canadians with disabilities who are recipients of any of the following programs or benefits:

• holders of a valid Canada Revenue Agency Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate,
• beneficiaries as at July 1, 2020 of:
  • Canada Pension Plan Disability
  • Quebec Pension Plan Disability Pension,
  • Disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada

If you are eligible but never applied for the DTC, or your certificate expired in 2019, you must do so by December 31, 2020 to determine your edibility for the spring 2021 one-time payment.

Seniors who are eligible for the one-time payment for persons with disabilities would receive a total of $600 in special payments. The one-time payment to persons with disabilities would be adjusted to provide a top-up for eligible seniors.

SMALL BUSINESS

• Small and medium-sized businesses unable to access other support measures
• Small Business Hotline
• Work Sharing program

LARGE BUSINESS

• Gas Tax Fund
• Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility

INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES

• Relief measures for Indigenous Businesses

INDIVIDUALS

• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
• Disability Tax Credit
• Boost for essential wage workers
• Worker Emergency Bridge Fund
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Case 2 – Eligible for only Period 3
• Canada Emergency Response Benefit

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

• Emergency Community Support Fund
• Non-profit and Charitable

YOUTH

• Support for students
• Canada Emergency Student Benefit
• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
• Student Work Placement Program
• Mitacs and the Business/Higher Education Roundtable
• Students and New Grads
• Young Entrepreneurs

Small Business Impact Grant 
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/small-business-impact-grant/

Eligible businesses include:

• restaurants offering in-person dining service
• bars or licensed drinking establishments
• fitness, recreational and leisure facilities
• independent retailers with a physical location
• personal services businesses like hair and nail salons and spas (excluding pet care)
• organizations offering live performing arts

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/small-business-real-property-tax-rebate/

To be eligible for the program, a business must:

• be registered to do business in Nova Scotia
• not be a corporate store of a franchise network with establishments located outside Atlantic Canada
• be primarily engaged in one of these business activities in Nova Scotia:
  • restaurants offering in-person dining service
  • bars or licensed drinking establishments
  • fitness, recreational and leisure facilities
  • independent retailers with a physical location
  • personal services businesses like hair and nail salons and spas (excluding pet care)
  • live performing arts
• have either:
  • received benefits under the Nova Scotia Small Business Impact Grant (Part 1 or 2) or the Small Business Reopening and Support Program
  • experienced a year-over-year decline in revenues of at least 30% in any of the three months of April, May or June 2020
  • started business operations in Nova Scotia on or after 1 June 2019 and expect at least a 30% decrease in revenues in March, April or expected in May 2021 compared with monthly revenue for any month between March 2020 and April 2021
• conduct eligible business activities primarily from business premises in Nova Scotia that are assessed at a commercial tax rate
• have not received rebates through the Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program

Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/tourism-accommodations-real-property-tax-rebate-program/

To be eligible, an operator must:

• operate a qualified roofed accommodation that is either:
  • owned by the operator
  • leased by the operator under a lease that requires the operator to pay the real property taxes on the portion of the real property they are leasing
• for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 October 2020, have incurred a year-over-year revenue loss for room accommodation revenue of at least 30% compared to the same time period in the previous year
• be registered as a host under the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act
• not be in arrears on property taxes or property tax installment payments

New accommodations operators who were not in business before 30 March 2020 may still be entitled to a rebate if they can demonstrate lower than 50% occupancy rate since opening their business.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for people with disabilities
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/support-people-with-disabilities/

 

 

 

PREVIOUS UPDATES:

• INNOVATION EQUITY TAX CREDITBusiness investment in innovation creates jobs, grows exports and drives the provincial economy. The Innovation Equity Tax Credit (Innovation ETC) is a non-refundable personal and corporate income tax credit available to eligible investors who invest in approved corporations. It is one way government is encouraging investors to make equity capital investments in eligible Nova Scotia small and medium businesses engaged in innovative activities.The tax credit focuses on innovation-driven entrepreneurship and since its launch has encouraged greater investment in the province’s businesses, including oceans technology and life sciences sectors.The credit for individuals is 35% of an eligible investment made in an approved corporation and increases to 45% for investments in approved oceans technology and life sciences sectors. The maximum annual investment amount for an individual is $250,000. The credit for an eligible investor that is a corporation is equal to 15% of an eligible investment made in an approved corporation. The maximum annual investment amount for a corporation is $500,000.For more information visit https://www.novascotia.ca/finance/en/home/taxation/tax101/personalincometax/innovationequitytaxcredit.aspx
• ICYMI – Business Tax ReductionsEffective April 1, 2020, Nova Scotia reduced tax rates for businesses. The corporate income tax rate was reduced to 14 per cent, bringing Nova Scotia in line with New Brunswick for the lowest rate in Atlantic Canada, and the small business tax rate was reduced to 2.5 per cent to support small business owners.The changes were announced as part of Budget 2020-21 https://novascotia.ca/budget/#two .
• Bonus for healthcare workers
• Covid-19 Restriction Update
• Business Navigators
• Work Safe for Life
• Worker Emergency Bridge Fund
• Employer Assessment Tool
  
• Procurement Opportunity
• Red Cross Fundraiser
• Update to the Tenancy Act: Landlords are not permitted to change locks or seize property of businesses who cannot pay rent, if the business closed directly because of COVID-19 public health orders.
• NSCC: Business Support during COVID-19
• Mental Health Well-Being Support
• Volunteer Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Consultant Directory
• Construction Safety Nova Scotia: Covid-19 Safe Work Practices Toolkit

• DIGITAL ADOPTION PROGRAM OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

  Nova Scotia Business Inc.’s (NSBI) Digital Adoption Program has re-opened.  Applications will be accepted online and via the Regional Business Development team until Dec. 1, 2020.

  The Digital Adoption Program supports Nova Scotia businesses to rapidly adopt digital tools and innovation. The program will provide financial incentives to Nova Scotia small businesses to:

  • Build or improve their online presence to retain and create new sales opportunities and improve firm resilience and flexibility to keep pace with the changing nature of business;
  • Adopt digital tools and implement process improvements related to e-commerce solutions and to support remote working; and
  • Implement machinery and equipment upgrades, including control software and control hardware, industrial automation and monitoring, and digital supply chain implementations.

   

  The program contributes up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $10,000 CAD. Minimum project cost is $2,000 CAD. New eligibility requirements have been implemented, shifting focus towards exporters.

  More information on application requirements is available here nsbi.ca/dap

   

• COVID-19 Standardized Screening with Kinduct
• TPH: Small Business Reopen Checklist
• Rogers: Keeping your business connected
• Virtual Strategy Sessions with SMU Entrepreneurship
• NSBI Workshops
• Irving Oil: Safety update
• Deloitte: COVID-19 Information Centre
• BDO: COVID-19 Hub
• Insurance Bureau of Canada: Business Interruption Insurance
• Commissionaires: Threat Risk Assessments

Final Survey Results Report – Oct. 27th, 2020

Impacts of COVID-19 on Annapolis Valley Region Businesses – April 20, 2020

 

We’ve compiled a list of FAQs for businesses, entrepreneurs, and employers. Please click here.

The Valley Regional Enterprise Network (Valley REN), through the Regional Economic Recovery Taskforce has implemented an Act Local campaign to encourage everyone to support their communities through a series of actions and to spread awareness of the benefits of supporting local businesses during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of this initiative is a local business directory which you can find here: http://www.valleyren.ca/actlocal/