Welcome to Our New Board History was made for the 90th Annual General Meeting of the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce held on Thursday, May 14, 2020, as it was held entirely via electronic means. Because of COVID-19, we used Zoom - an online meeting platform to conduct the business of the Chamber. All motions were carried and none were defeated. One Bylaw change relating to electronic meetings of members has now been sent to Corporations Canada for approval and signature of the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology (as required by the Boards of Trade Act, Part II.) Once received, our updated Bylaws will be posted on our website.

At the AGM, we were happy to have Chuck Davidson, President & CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce conduct the swearing in of our newly elected Board, as well as provide an update on Manitoba Business. Welcome to our returning Board members including for a 2nd term as Chair, Adam Kilfoyle. Introducing our 2020/21 Board: click here

Restoring Safe Services Phase 2 Back to Business Toolkit Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, Restoring Safe Services Phase 2 Back to Business Toolki t (May 2020) Around the world, governments have taken different approaches to try to bend and flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission — from complete lockdowns to quarantines and varying physical distancing orders. From the outset, the Province of Manitoba has been transparent and evidence-based in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Our progress is a direct result of the sacrifices and decisions that we have all made. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way businesses operate, and as a result, Manitoba’s economy has suffered. But to protect seniors and at-risk populations, while ensuring that our health care system can respond to this dangerous virus, we all have to keep doing our part – at home, in the community and at work. Read More >>

Accessing PPE Through the B2B Manitoba Program The provincial government along with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Manitoba and Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce, and North Forge Technology Exchange launched B2B Manitoba, an online marketplace where local businesses can buy and sell non-medical grade PPE.  If you have extra PPE you're looking to offload to businesses in need, of if you are sourcing some for your staff, you can check it out at  https://b2bmanitoba.ca/ .

Additional Funding for Health, Economic, and Social Support for Indigenous Peoples On Friday, May 29th, the Prime Minister announced additional funding for health, economic, and social support for Indigenous peoples and communities. This funding builds on the $305 million Indigenous Community Support Fund, and the additional support provided for communities and organizations working with Indigenous peoples living in urban areas and off-reserve. COVID-19 has further highlighted the unique challenges that already exist for Indigenous peoples and communities and the Canadian government is working to ensure that they have the support they need to get through this crisis.

Your Feedback about CEWS is Requested - Deadline is this Friday! The Canadian government is looking for feedback from employers of all sizes on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. The deadline to submit feedback is this Friday, June 5th.  This consultation will help inform potential changes to the program with the intent of maximizing employment while meeting the needs of businesses and workers. You can share your experience by taking  a short survey or provide in-depth feedback on the guiding questions by  email .

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Now Accepting Applications On Monday, May 25th the  Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance began accepting applications . This program will provide relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 by reducing their rent by 75%. Landlords can apply here.

5 Minutes for Business: Business as Usual Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 5 Minutes for Business: Business as Usual (May 2020) Business as usual was a thing we used to hear people say. However, to better understand just how unusual business has now become, we partnered with Statistics Canada to launch the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions (CSBC) in April. As the first comprehensive view into how businesses are experiencing COVID-19, the survey data paints a stark picture of the economic costs of fighting the virus. The survey found that over 80% of businesses have experienced a medium to high drop in demand for services or products. Nearly one-third of businesses reported Q1 revenues down by 40% or more from the same time last year. Sadly, 27% of businesses have had to layoff half or more of their employees, with 10% of companies laying off their entire staff. This unprecedented drop in demand and resulting layoffs represents millions of Canadians who have lost their jobs in the last two months. Read More >>

Pictured to the right: The Certificate of Formation of The St. James Board of Trade. Application was made on March 19, 1930 and was officially recorded on June 18, 1930. Although we wanted to celebrate our anniversary with the community on June 18th, we have postponed any celebration until the fall - if all works out well with continued social distancing efforts in Manitoba.

Hiring a summer student this summer? Employers are eligible to receive a reimbursement of $7 per hour up to a maximum of $5,000 per student employed between May 1 and September 4, 2020. Employers can be subsidized to hire up to five students. Payment will be made as a lump sum at the end of the employment period, upon proof of payment of student wages. Read More >>

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