Please note, there will be no updates over the Easter weekend (Good Friday and Easter Monday), unless material information arises from the Provincial or Federal governments.
Small Business Help
from Community Members
Are you an Essential Business?
Please send us your information so we can include you in our directory of Kensington and Area Essential Businesses that are OPEN to serve you. Click HERE for a definition of Essential vs. Non-Essential Services.
Do you have a service to offer to others?
Please let us know! EMAIL HERE
We are sharing information that has been provided to us.
Atlantic Mobi Marketing
As the impact of the coronavirus is felt by more businesses around the world, restaurants and other local businesses are particularly affected by the crisis. The need for social distancing has meant that many have already had to close their dining rooms and limit access to their businesses. However, local governments are still allowing restaurants and businesses to continue operating in a take-away or delivery capacity.

We have developed many online ordering systems for restaurants and other businesses locally and in the region for contactless ordering.

We can provide local restaurants or food preparation services a basic online ordering system that their customers could order online for pick up or delivery. Also basic e-commerce ordering for other types of business. They can add this system to their existing website or on their Facebook page. We can provide a micro website if they don't have a website. 
 
We will offer this basic service free with no set up fee for the next 2 months, which hopefully will be closer to the end of this situation. This is for a basic menu of perhaps most popular items to make it easy for customers to select items. (Online payment is available as an option).
For More Information: Email Don at Atlantic Mobi Marketing
Island Small Business Mentors Program
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI - Today it was announced that a number of retired Chartered Professional Accountants from Prince Edward Island have come together to form a volunteer group, Island Small Business Mentors, to help Small Businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

The idea was formed during a conversation between Bill Thompson of Summerside and Stephen Murphy of Charlottetown. The group has now grown to eight. Other members in the group include Steve Loggie, David Arsenault, Lori Pendleton, Stan MacPherson, Michael Murphy and Alan Montgomery. 

There are many issues that small businesses will be facing over the next few months as they navigate their way through the shutdown, review the various Federal and Provincial programs announced for small business and position their companies for recovery.

The group, through one-on-one mentoring , feels that they can help those small businesses that may need assistance at this time. 

The goal of the group is to assist those small businesses caught in a crisis and not to replace any of the services offered by their regular accountant or bookkeeper. 

To ensure the safety of all concerned and in keeping with social distancing recommendations, all advice will be provided through emails, telephone calls and video conferencing. 

If you are a small business owner and would like to reach out for guidance, or if you would like to volunteer for the group please contact Stephen Murphy .
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MOST UP TO DATE PEI COVID-19 INFORMATION
The Power Of Our Network
Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, the Hon. Perrin Beatty, was joined by Tabatha Bull, President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, Dennis A. Darby, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, and Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in writing to the President of the Treasury Board, the Hon. Jean Yves-Duclos.

The letter urges all levels of government to listen to the more than 60 industry associations that have called for the postponement of all non-essential new regulations and unnecessary consultations that would detract from our members’ ability to manage the COVID-19 crisis. Read it HERE
UPDATES from Provincial Government
Need to renew your vehicle registration? Here is HOW!
UPDATES from Federal Government
National Modelling
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, released a  statement  today regarding national modelling of the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada.
  • The government recognizes the challenges faced by businesses and non-profits, and in order to qualify for support programs, businesses now need only show a 15% drop in revenue in March, rather than 30%, and can compare their revenues to previous months rather than the previous year

  • Prime Minister announced temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to help create up to 70,000 jobs for youth between 15 to 30 years of age:

1) Increase to the wage subsidy to help cover the cost of student hiring

2) Extension to the end date for employment to 28 Feb 2021

3) Allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to
support essential services

4) Allowing employers to hire part-time staff

  • Air Canada plans to rehire over 16,000 laid-off workers after the federal government confirmed it would qualify for the wage subsidy program

  • The car insurance industry is promising rebates and relief for customers struggling to keep up with their bills amid the COVID-19 pandemic

  • The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it will add up to $600 million worth of rebates and discounts, while other major insurance companies, including Allstate, La Capitale and Desjardins, have also released their own relief programs