This email is sponsored by 6P Marketing
Join us for a free webinar this week, Wednesday, April 22, from 2 to 3 PM. We'll host two local financial services experts to answer your questions about COVID-19 support for businesses as part of the federal Economic Response Plan. Willy Fogang with Export Development Canada and Michael Selci from BDC will share a brief overview of their organization's services for business and take your questions. If you would like to submit a question in advance, email us at info@mbchamber.mb.ca or ask your question live during the webinar.

To register for this event, click here .
Willy Fogang is a Senior Account Manager at Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s export credit agency, specializing in helping Manitoban companies go, grow and succeed internationally. Prior to joining the EDC Winnipeg team, Willy worked at the EDC head office in the Risk Management Office, at Public Safety Canada, Industry Canada, and Canadian Foundation for Innovation. Willy is a Certified International Trade Professional and holds an MBA with a focus on Global Leadership.
Michael Selci, Senior Vice President, Prairies, oversees BDC’s lending and consulting activities in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Michael joined BDC in 2011 and has almost 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has a degree in Business Administration and several designations in the Canadian Securities Industry (Certified Financial Planner, Financial Management Advisor, a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and a former Securities Industry Manager and Broker.)

LOOKING FOR INFO ABOUT AVAILABLE SUPPORT? CONSULT MCC'S FEDERAL & PROVINCIAL FUNDING MEASURES GUIDE

Government support for individuals and businesses amid COVID-19 is ever-evolving and complex. MCC has created a detailed guide to capture the range of available special funds, tax deferrals, and employer programs, as well as information about who is eligible, how to apply, and where to find more information on the government websites.

Please note this is a living document and we are updating it multiple times daily - we recommend that you do NOT print it off but rather always refer to the version on our website.


UPDATES - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1) NEW! The Government of Canada is providing nearly $1B in support to affected businesses and communities through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund . This initiative will be implemented by the six regional development agencies which are familiar with their regions' economic realities and are often the first point of contact for people at the local level. (Details yet to come, but prairie provinces work with Western Economic Diversification Canada ).

  • $675 million to support regional economies, businesses, organizations and communities in regions all across Canada;
  • $287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country through the Community Futures Network.

2) Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA): This program offers interest-free loans up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.

  • To qualify, organizations need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019 (through CRA filings). The Prime Minister announced this change to the thresholds today, which were previously set at $50,000 to $1 million.

  • We have requested clarification from the federal government on the definition of "payroll" - ie, ONLY what's shown on a T4 Summary, or can it be comprised of other types of remuneration, for instance, fees paid to contract/gig workers, freelancers, construction contracts, etc.
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3) T he Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses 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 requires a partnership between the federal government and provincial/territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to increase rent support for businesses. More details will be available soon.

4) Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): Eligibility criteria have been expanded to include part-time workers, frontline health care workers who earn less than $2,500 per month working in long-term care facilities, volunteer firefighters, etc. When submitting your first claim, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of your claim. When submitting subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim.

UPDATES - PROVINCE OF MANITOBA

As of Monday, April 20, public health officials advised the number of lab-confirmed positive and probable cases in Manitoba is at 254, and there have now been six COVID-19 related deaths.

1) The Province of Manitoba encourages all MB business leaders to re gister their business online NOW to request guidance with accessing emergency federal funding. 24/7 InTouch has been engaged to help Manitoba business assess and apply for COVID-19 funding streams . Sign up now, and a contact centre representative will follow-up with you directly as soon as the team is operationally ready. https://manitoba.ca/covid19/business/index.html#supports

2) The province has partnered with MWG Apparel Corp. a well-established Manitoba company to retool its production lines to supply Level 1 isolation gowns for Manitoba front-line health-care workers. MWG has been contracted to provide up to 200,000 gowns to the Manitoba government on a priority basis.
3) Last week, the chief provincial public health officer updated public health orders that will be in effect until May 1, 2020. Anyone entering Manitoba, regardless of from another country or another province, must self-isolate for 14 days. In addition, travel to northern Manitoba (north of the 53rd parallel) is prohibited with some exceptions, including:
  • residents of northern and remote communities may continue to move within the north;
  • delivery of goods and services; and
  • those who travel to the north for employment, medical treatment or to facilitate child custody agreements.

4) The non-essential business closures order under the Public Health Act has been extended until April 28, 2020. Additional clarifications include:

  • a clarification that businesses not listed as critical may operate, and have customers attend to pick up ordered items, providing social distancing measures are in place;
  • a provision to allow farmers markets to operate (social distancing measures in place);
  • hotels may operate, but must close common areas (pools, hot tubs, game rooms;
  • campgrounds can provide accommodation to recreational vehicles that act as a primary residence;
  • garden centres and greenhouses can operate (social distancing measures in place);
  • appliance, electronic and furniture stores are excluded, and should not be open to the public, except where orders are placed remotely and orders are delivered or picked up with social distancing measures in place.
5) Manitoba Protection Plan: For information about recently announced provincial supports for business (relaxed interest measures, tax deferrals, manufacturing and supplier opportunities), as well as links to federal funding programs, partner sites, pandemic planning resources, and more, click here .
TOOLS & RESOURCES from MCC PARTNERS


  • The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Canada have announced the launch of the Canadian Business Resilience Network. This website provides Canadian business owners with tools and resources to build resilience and help drive economic recovery.

  • Safety Services Manitoba: Last week, SSM announced the development of their remote learning program with all courses to be delivered live by webinar starting next week, April 20. Courses include WHMIS, Fall Protection, Confined Space, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, and many more. Click here to see the calendar.

GOOD NEWS STORY!

Congratulations to Ironmen Industries of Winkler for their ingenuity. This custom metal fabrication and manufacturing company was profiled in PembinaValleyOnline.com for their Hot Hand Wash Mobile Sanitation units which are already generating valuable attention -- and orders! Built to withstand almost any weather, even down to -25 degrees, the portable handwashing stations will be shipped to construction sites and retail stores. The unit holds 100 gallons of freshwater and supplies 650 uses before needing to be emptied and refilled.

To read the article, click here .

Chuck Davidson, President & CEO
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
t: 204-948-0107
e: cdavidson@mbchamber.mb.ca