COVID-19 and your Golf Business

British Columbia Bulletin #6 - March 26, 2020

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR ONLINE RESOURCE PAGE

The NGCOA Canada continues to support your business and the decisions you make as an operator. We are here if you have questions. Please make sure to access our resources as we are updating them daily. Let’s start with THE FACTS from the Government of BC that are relevant to your business: Social distancing is a mandatory order for everyone in BC Outdoor exercise is okay but individuals must maintain a 2 meter distance from others Gatherings larger than 50 people are banned Self-isolate if you are sick, even if it is not COVID-19 Restaurants can only be open for pick-up/delivery service Restaurants may now sell liquor products with meals for pick-up/delivery using staff with Serving-It-Right certification Unlike other provinces, golf courses in BC have not been mandated to close and therefore it does remain an individual decision. A difficult one we are sure but an individual decision none-the-less. As you determine what is best for your operation, we strongly recommend that you follow the government directives and implement strict safety protocols ensuring that health and safety of individuals is your number one consideration.

For Your Business

Assistance to Avoid Layoffs

Temporary Wage Subsidies Providing eligible small businesses a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to take immediate advantage of this support measure by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on employees' remuneration. The subsidy is available to corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as not-for-profit and charitable organizations. For more details, please click here . Work-Sharing Program Enhancing the existing Work-Sharing program to support employers and their workers who are experiencing a downturn in business. The Program will be extended by an additional 38 weeks for a total of 76 weeks and the mandatory waiting period to apply has been waived. For more details, please click here . Supplementary Unemployment Benefit Plan A supplementary unemployment benefit plan (SUBP) is a plan established by an employer or group of participating employers to top up employees' employment insurance (EI) benefits during a period of unemployment due to a temporary or indefinite layoff for health, sickness, temporary stoppage of work, etc. For more details, please click here or to download forms, click here.

Access to Credit

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) BCAP provides more than $10 billion in support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses, through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC). For more details, please click here .

Other Measures

BC Hydro Assistance BC Hydro is providing customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call BC Hydro's customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss bill payment options. For more details, please click here . Payment Deferrals Payment for the following  BC business taxes  are deferred until after Sept 30: Employer health tax (EHT), provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax, carbon tax. Scheduled April 1 increases to provincial carbon tax and PST are delayed. For more details, please click here . Government of Canada - More Time to Pay Taxes Deferred payment of any income tax amounts that become owing until September 2020. This applies to tax balances due, as well as installments under Part I of the Income Tax Act. For more details, please click here .

Additional Items to Consider Contact your financial institution to request a mortgage payment deferral; Contact your insurance company to reduce certain coverage in the event of a temporary closure period; Check with your municipality if there is a deferral of your next tax payments without penalty or interest; Contact your various suppliers to request payment accommodations, Consult the online resources page on the association's website.

For Your Employees

Government of Canada - Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) The Government has announced for Canadians who do not have paid sick leave (or similar work arrangements) and who are sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for their children, the government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to . The portal for accessing the CERB would be available in early April with the start of payments within 10 days of application. The CERB would be paid every four weeks and be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020. For more information, click here to visit the Government of Canada website. Government of Canada - EI Sickness Benefits Service Canada has made it easier for employees to access EI Sickness Benefits by waiving the 1 week waiting period, establishing a new toll-free number for EI Sickness Benefits, and removing the requirement for a doctor note. You are encouraged to visit the Government of Canada website for the most up-to-date information available. BC Emergency Benefit Provides a tax-free $1,000 one-time payment to British Columbians whose ability to work has been affected by COVID-19. Available to those who are on EI or CERB. For more details, please click here .

Additional Suggestions/Information for Employees If you have a mortgage or loan, contact your financial institution to request a payment holiday. Many Canadian banks and institutions are offering a payment deferral options. If you are a student, the Government of Canada has announced a plan to suspend the repayment of Canada student loans until September 30, 2020. If you are a student, British Columbia Government is offering a six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment of student loans effective April 2020. The date for filing your taxes has been postponed without penalty to June 1, 2020 and any payments due are postponed to September 1, 2020. BC Hydro is providing customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call BC Hydro's customer team at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) to discuss bill payment options. For more details, please click here.

Your Association continues to monitor this fluid situation and will continue to keep you apprised of the latest developments.   Please do not hesitate to contact us at ngcoa@ngcoa.ca should you have any questions. Your NGCOA Canada Team