• The government of Ontario announced that all emergency orders have been extended until May 29, 2020. This emergency order extension includes the closure of bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery only, as well as restrictions of social gatherings of more than five people.
• The Ontario government announced that elementary and secondary schools will remain closed for the remainder of this school year, with at-home learning to continue. The emergency child care support will continue to operate and provide support for health care and other frontline workers. A gradual reopening of child care is expected to begin when the province is ready to transition to Stage 2 based on public health criteria; the gradual reopening of summer day camps is subject to the continuing progress in trends of key public health indicators.
• The Ontario government is working with Medical Innovation Xchange (MIX), Canada's first industry-led hub for med-tech start-ups, to provide non-medical manufacturing companies free support as they retool to provide essential supplies and equipment to health care facilities during COVID-19. Non-medical manufacturing companies that have received funding through the Ontario Together Fund, or a Purchase Order with the Province of Ontario, can access MIX members' medical advisory services, including assistance navigating regulatory hurdles and increasing efficiencies. By taking advantage of these opportunities, companies can accelerate the delivery of much needed medical supplies and products to the front lines.
• Stage 1 of Ontario’s Framework for Reopening our Province has begun. Please see the Detailed List of Stage 1 Openings for more information on businesses that can reopen. The government and health and safety associations have released more than 90 safety guidance documents to assist employers in multiple sectors, including construction, retail, facilities maintenance and manufacturing. The Ministry of Health has also released a Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces.
• The Ontario government has launched a website, the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory, to provide businesses with a list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply PPE to businesses.
• For questions about what businesses will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

• The Prime Minister announced that the application portal for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) will open on May 25, 2020. The Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation’s CECRA website has been updated with more information for small businesses and landlords, including FAQs, the application process, what information is needed to apply, who is eligible to apply, and which small businesses are eligible. Please visit this website for more information. 
• On May 19, the Prime Minister announced that the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be expanded to include more owner-operated small businesses. The program will now be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll. To qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:
• a business operating account at a participating financial institution
• a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
• eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million. Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

• On Friday, it was announced that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended until August 29, 2020. The Government will consult with key business and labour representatives over the next month on potential adjustments to the program, including the 30 per cent revenue decline threshold. In addition to the extension, the government made regulatory changes to extend eligibility for CEWS to additional groups including Indigenous government-owned businesses, registered Canadian amateur athletic associations, registered journalism organizations, and non-public educational and training institutions. You can find more information about these changes HERE.