Dear Members, Partners and the Community at large,
These last few weeks have brought so many new changes to the way we live, work, and communicate. At the Chamber, we’re trying to cope by finding things we can do to make this journey just a little easier for our community. In our Newsletter you can find resources to help you with the actual situation and be more prepared for the time ahead and stay positive and engaged through this challenging time. Please note that both the Federal and Provincial Governments are working on new programs and changes happen on a daily basis. So please check and update frequently on the correspondent online links.
During the past few weeks we have asked you to take quite a few surveys, first from TIAO at the Provincial level and now we would appreciate your collaboration in taking the following Canadian Survey On Business Conditions, for the Federal Government, the deadline for participation has been extended to this Wednesday, April 22. Just a few minutes of your time will help shape the public policies needed to facilitate Canada’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. These surveys are essential to know firsthand the information from the front line.
Thank you
Stay healthy,
The team at Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism NOTL
Road Map to Recovery
In the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic, it is difficult for Canadians, their families, businesses and governments to look beyond confronting the immediate effects of COVID-19. While Canadians continue to focus on supporting each other today, we must also start looking over the horizon to the post-COVID-19 world to start planning how our country and economy can emerge stronger.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of people across the province. Passed during a special sitting of the Ontario legislature and with the full cooperation of all parties, the Declaration of Emergency has been extended until May 12.
To assist the education sector, municipalities, and students during the COVID-19 emergency, Ontario has passed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Protection Act in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, amending the Education Act, Planning Act, Development Charges Act, Police Services Act and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act.
WEBINAR RECORDING:
UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING COVID-19 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES
Tourism Toronto held a webinar last week to help businesses understand and access government support. More than 200 businesses joined the webinar to hear from Tourism Toronto and Government Relations partners, Sussex Strategy Group, about government programs that have been created to support businesses with a focus on programs most relevant to the tourism and hospitality industry. These include federal programs for wage subsidies and employment benefits, as well as provincial tax deferrals and grant programs.
A full archive recording of the webinar can be viewedhere.You can also download the slide deck and find additional linkshere.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAMS OF SUPPORT FOR SME'S
The Prime Minister has announced new measures to support businesses. We are currently reviewing the details of these announcements, but we welcome their intent to ensure SME's receive assistance for rent payments and the lowering of the payroll floor for support to SME's. It's important that the provinces now work with the PM to help forgive or vastly reduced commercial rents during this period to avoid SME's taking on insurmountable debt.
The measures announced today:
Expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. This new range will replace the previous one of between $50,000 and $1 million, and will help address the challenges faced by small businesses to cover non-deferrable operating costs. Since the launch of the CEBA on April 9, 2020, more than 195,000 loans have been approved by financial institutions, extending more than $7.5 billion in credit to small businesses.
Announcing its intent to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses, the program will seek to provide loans, including forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May, and June. Implementation of the program will require a partnership between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. We are working with the provinces and territories to increase rent support for businesses that are most impacted by the pandemic and we will have more details to share soon.
Deadline Extended: Canadian Survey On Business Conditions
The deadline for participation has been extended to this Wednesday, April 22. Just a few minutes of your time will help shape the public policies needed to facilitate Canada’s COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Next week please join us at 10 am Tuesday and Thursday for a conference call style chat with fellow members of our Niagara-on-the-lake business community.
This will give you an opportunity to speak with others and share your stories and experiences during this challenging time.
Business Community Chat
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
NOTL Transit drivers offering free delivery service
A team of Niagara-On-The-Lake transit drivers are launching a free temporary contactless delivery service. Starting on Monday, Community Transport Group Canada will begin offering deliveries of essential supplies while NOTL transit services are...
The American Alliance of Museums presents a free webinar in order to help museum leaders navigate the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists include: Lesley Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Science Centre (from 1998-2014), Jennifer Martin, former Vice President of Visitor Experience, Ontario Science Centre and Julie Bowen, former Associate Director of Development and Design, Ontario Science Centre. They will share their experiences and strategies for reopening the museum, supporting team members, reassuring visitors and potential visitors and financial recovery. To register and learn more click here.
Check out our website for an updated list of restaurants offering takeout, curbside pickup or delivery.
Updated Daily
The federal government has announced changes to CERB to include support for those earning less than $1k a month, seasonal workers and students who earned $5k last year and those who have recently exhausted EI and have been unable to find work.
'Smile' stones spread positivity around NOTL neighbourhood
Smile, love and stay calm - those are just a few of the messages circulating in one Niagara-on-the-Lake neighbourhood after someone started leaving out stones with notes of positivity. The mystery rock painter has inspired a bunch of kids from...
Government Provides Funding To Ag Sector For Temporary Foreign Workers’ Quarantine
On April 13, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $50 million ($1,500 per TFW) to help farmers, fish harvesters and all food production and processing employers put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad.
The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the mandatory 14-day isolation protocols or any other public health order. This program will be available as long as the Quarantine Act is in force and the isolation protocol is followed.
