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YOUR VALUABLE INPUT REQUESTED: CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHES URGENT NATIONAL SURVEY
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt economies around the world, it is essential to have current data to fully understand the extent of the impact on businesses in Canada, and for making informed decisions in the weeks and months ahead. As the national chamber, the Canadian Chamber's focus is to coordinate on a Canada-wide survey of the business community to inform the federal government’s next steps. 
As valued Manitoba Chambers of Commerce members, please help us represent our province's needs by participating in this urgent survey designed and delivered by Statistics Canada: Canadian Survey on Business Conditions (CSBC) .
FEDERAL UPDATES - CERB PORTAL NOW OPEN
 
NEW! 1) The application process for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) opened today, and more than 1/4 of a million people have already applied. I f you have stopped working because of COVID-19, you should apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, whether or not are eligible for Employment Insurance. The Benefit is available for the period from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020. T he benefit will be available to workers:
  • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
  • Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits;
  • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
  • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment or self-employment income.

NOTE: If you applied for EI regular or sickness benefits on March 15, 2020 or later, your claim will be automatically processed through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.



NEW! 2) Today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced there will be adjustments to the CERB program in the coming days to include people such as gig workers, contractors, and volunteer firefighters who work 10 or fewer hours per week. He also said there would be support for those who continue to work but are making less than they would through CERB, such as home care workers or people caring for vulnerable seniors in long-term care facilities.

3) The Canada Revenue Agency has extended tax filing and payment deadlines (for individuals, the self-employed, corporations, charities), including deferring GST payment/remittances until the end of June 2020. For info on changes to Canadian taxes and benefits: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update.html

4) The Government of Canada introduced a wage subsidy for business up to 75% .

5) The federal government has extended the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 to 76 weeks. To view work-sharing program information, click here .
PROVINCE OF MANITOBA - PUBLIC HEALTH INFO

As of the April 5 media conference, public health officials advise the number of lab-confirmed positive and probable cases in Manitoba is at 203.

NEW 1) I solation centres will be established to meet the need of Manitobans who may require some additional support as they self-isolate. This support will be offered as part of the public health investigation process to individuals who are COVID-19 positive or who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive case and require a dedicated space where they can self-isolate. The first centre has been set up in a Winnipeg hotel and began accepting individuals this weekend.

NEW 2) The Province of Manitoba's COVID-19 website landing page has been re-arranged graphically to more easily provide access to information you may be seeking, from testing clinic locations, to affected flights, and helpful tips and resources. Click here to view.

3) The following public health order is in effect:
  • limiting public gatherings to no more than 10 people at any indoor or outdoor place or premises
  • restricting the activities of non-critical businesses to limit social contact. To access info about this order and how it affects your business, click here.

4) Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen has announced an indefinite extension to the school closures for all Manitoba K to 12 schools . For details: https://manitoba.ca/covid19/infomanitobans/eduministerletter.html

To access all Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Active Living COVID-19 news bulletins:   https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html
PROVINCE OF MANITOBA - SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS & INDIVIDUALS
On Friday, April 3, Premier Pallister announced $100 million in COVID-19 funding:

1) Faster Health Equipment Procurement: If you are a manufacturer who can rapidly scale up production or re-tool lines to develop products made in Manitoba to help in the fight against COVID-19, OR, if you're a supplier of PPE and have available equipment, click here to fill out the form .

2) Cash Flow Tax Relief: As part of the Manitoba Protection Plan, the province is providing protections for the next six months (until Oct. 1) related to Crown Corporation interest and penalties, as well as deferrals for income tax. Click here to access a backgrounder with complete details.

3) Expanded Shelter Capacity: The Manitoba government will invest $1.2 million to add more than 140 new shelter beds in Winnipeg to support people affected by homelessness and allow for social distancing protocols.

To view the April 3 announcement, click here .
Are you an Early Child Educator or Child Care Assistant? Or maybe you’re a local Chamber of Commerce seeking information about government programs to support members in your local community… The Temporary Child Care Services Grant is a new program of the Government of Manitoba, developed in response to COVID-19, and designed to ensure dedicated child care spaces are available for critical front-line workers. The grant, valued at $3,000, is available to eligible Early Childhood Educators (ECE) II or III and Child Care Assistants interested in providing private care services.

To access information about this grant and how to apply, click here .
INGENUITY IN A CRISIS - GOOD NEWS STORIES
Very special nod to Farmery Brewery for shifting gears and delivering on a successful production run of their brand-new hand sanitizer. Their well-coordinated process leveraged a Maxim Truck & Trailer location to serve as a pick-up drive-thru over the weekend. The Farmery team is now working on processing and scheduling delivery of all previous online orders, but have temporarily suspended new online orders due to overwhelming demand!
On April 2, Emergent BioSolutions , a global life sciences company with a product development and manufacturing facility located in Winnipeg, announced they would be partnering with the U.S. government for a comprehensive response to expedite the development of Plasma-Derived Therapy for COVID-19.
Researchers in Winnipeg, led by University of Manitoba researcher and critical-care physician, Dr. Anand Kumar , say they may have found a way for health-care workers to reuse N95 masks up to 10 times while treating patients with COVID-19. Started in mid-March, the work looked at different ways of sterilizing used masks, and according to a release from the U of M, the results show several of the decontamination methods can be used repeatedly without degrading the masks’ effectiveness.
Chuck Davidson, President & CEO
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
t: 204-948-0107
e: cdavidson@mbchamber.mb.ca