COVID-19 Response Update 16

Canadian Survey On Business Conditions

We've partnered up with Statistics Canada to launch the  Canadian Survey on Business Conditions . This comprehensive survey will measure the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian businesses and help the Government of Canada devise strategies and mechanisms to foster the survival and continuity of businesses in Canada.

The survey will examine:
  • Changes that businesses have made to adapt to the ongoing situation.
  • Challenges businesses continue to face and challenges they expect to face as the recovery begins.
  • Trends within the business community.
Canadian Business Resilience Network

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce launched the  Canadian Business Resilience Network  campaign yesterday –  watch the Prime Minister’s announcement  – in partnership with the Government of Canada and with Canada's leading business and industry associations, including the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

A key element of the campaign is a  microsite dedicated to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery.
FAQ For Business

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has prepared an FAQ, which we update daily, with answers to the questions our members are asking us about the government supports for business. Access it  here .

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Province of Nova Scotia - Department of Business

WORKER EMERGENCY BRIDGE FUND AND SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT GRANT
Applications for the two programs announced Thursday, April 2, will be available online by April 10th, at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/#support .

The Department of Business is committed to getting money into the hands of our small businesses and workers as quickly as possible. Dalhousie University has agreed to help us with that. All funds will be dispersed by the end of April.
 
 
COVID-19 IN THE WORKPLACE
All positive cases of COVID-19 are reported to Public Health through the lab testing processes. Anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be contacted by Public Health and they will work to determine who their close contacts are. If co-workers are identified as close contacts, Public Health will follow up with those individuals, typically within 24 hours, with instructions to self isolate. All other employees should continue to practice good hand hygiene and use cough and sneeze etiquette. Physical distance of 2 metres, or six feet, must be maintained in the workplace.

There is no requirement for businesses to close if an employee has tested positive.

Businesses that are open must take the following steps to keep employees and customers healthy:
  • Maintain a two-metre, or six-foot, distance among employees and customers
  • Clean and disinfect workplaces a minimum of twice a day, or as required
  • Employees must follow proper hand-washing and other hygiene guidelines

To clean and disinfect workspaces, wash with soapy water first. Then disinfect using household cleaning products, following the directions on the label, or a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Disinfect phones, remotes, computers, and other handheld devices with 70% alcohol or wipes.

PRODUCTIVITY INNOVATION VOUCHER PROGRAM
NSBI is taking applications for the Productivity Innovation Program. The program helps small and medium sized companies access direct assistance to help make their business more productive and innovative.

The program helps businesses find expertise within post-secondary institutions to:
  • Improve productivity
  • Develop a new product, service, or process; and
  • Create growth

More information on the program and how to apply is available online at  https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/export/programs-services/productivity-and-innovation-voucher-program

EMPLOYER ASSESSMENT TOOL
The Employer Assessment tool has proved to be a popular resource for businesses looking to find out if they are complying with the Public Health order. Since it was posted online on March 30, it has been visited 8,316 times, with 7,116, or 86.73% of respondents completing the assessment. 
Respondents included 2,618 businesses exempt from the Public Health order, 2,491 businesses who are permitted to operate if they are able to practice the social distancing measures, 769 employers who chose “other”, 390 from the food service industry, 279 from regulated health professions, 202 from unregulated health professions.
Employer Assessment Tool is located here:  https://covid19-employer-assessment.novascotia.ca/en

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS NAVIGATORS
Our Business Navigators are available to help you with any questions you may have. Find out more about the service at  https://novascotia.ca/regulatoryopportunity/business-navigators.asp
They can be reached Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm at  1-844-628-7347  ,  902-424-4475

USEFUL RESOURCES 
Provincial website:  https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
Government of Canada:  https://canada.ca/coronavirus
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397

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Funding Search Tool updated for COVID-19
Through NSBI’s website, the  Funding Search Tool  now enables businesses to keyword search any funding tools locally and across the country specific to the current COVID challenges to business – just use the keyword COVID-19 

Business Support from Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre
In response to COVID-19, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre is offering  free virtual one-on-one strategy sessions to Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs . The sessions aim to provide support, insight, and additional resources to help entrepreneurs overcome current challenges.
More information can be found at  https://smuec.ca/

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Canada Business App
Download the  Canada Business App , from the Government of Canada, to see how easy it is to navigate government services, get recommendations tailored to your business, set up personalized notifications and find the answers you need to start up, scale up and access new markets.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook to see what we are doing to support our Doctors and Health Care Professionals with our H is for Hero campaign. Be sure to add the frame to your profile picture to show your support.

We have posters that you can hang up in your business, email Rebecca to get yours at rebecca@yarmouthchamberofcommerce.com
Links

Nova Scotians can find accurate, up-to-date information, handwashing posters and fact sheets at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus  .

Anyone who has travelled outside of Canada or has been in close contact with someone who has travelled and are experiencing fever (above 38 C) and/or new cough should complete the online questionnaire before calling 811. The online questionnaire can be found at:  https://811.novascotia.ca/

Government of Canada:  https://canada.ca/coronavirus
 
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397 Nova Scotia Public Health offices: http://www.nshealth.ca/public-health-offices


 
Department of Finance: Details on Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy/Ministère des Finances : Détails sur la subvention salariale d’urgence
 
Canada Emergency Response Benefit / Prestation canadienne d’urgence

Canada Revenue Agency – Income tax filing and payment dates: CRA and COVID-19 / Agence du revenu du Canada – Dates de production et de paiement : l'Agence et la COVID-19:
 
Canada Self-Assessment Tool and App / Outil et application d'autoévaluation du Canada

Health Canada—COVID-19 / Santé Canada—COVID-19
 
CBSA information line/Service téléphonique de l’ASFC
The Border Information Service (BIS) is an automated telephone service that provides general information in English or French on CBSA programs, services and initiatives. Officers are available 24 hours per day 7 days per week.  Toll-free: 1-800-461-9999  
Le Service d'information sur la frontière (SIF) est un service téléphonique automatisé qui offre des renseignements généraux sur les programmes, les services et les initiatives de l'ASFC. Les agents sont disponibles 7 jours sur 7, 24 heures par jour.  Sans frais : 1-800-461-9999
 
COVID-19: Statement from the FCAC Commissioner / COVID-19 : déclaration de la commissaire de l'ACFC

External Links:
 
Food & Consumer Products of Canada – COVID-19 Operations Best Practices for Industry:
 
Canada’s Premiers—Provinces and territories: Taking action on COVID-19

Key Information Tools / Outils: 
 
Small Business BC
RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) : https://smallbusinessbc.ca/article/resources-for-small-businesses-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19/
 
BC Economic Development Association: #COVID19 Resources for BC Businesses
 
City of Mississauga’s Economic Development Office (EDO): COVID-19 Response
 
Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Pandemic Preparedness
 
Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses: Small Business Resources for Dealing with COVID-19
 
Business Credit Availability Program/ Programme de credit pour les entreprises
 
Resources for Canadian businesses: COVID-19 / Ressources pour les enterprises Canadiennes: COVID-19

Call to Action: Canadian manufacturers needed to help combat COVID-19 / Appel fournisseurs canadiens: Aidez a combattre la COVID-19
 
Prime Minister announces more support for workers and businesses through Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan / Le premier ministre annonce un soutien supplémentaire aux travailleurs et aux entreprises grâce au Plan d'intervention économique du Canada pour répondre à la COVID-19
 
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan / Plan d'intervention économique du Canada pour répondre à la COVID-19
 
Stay Connected
A dedicated COVID-19 tile has been added to the Canada Business App, providing links to government announcements and information for businesses. More information about the App can be found at www.canada.ca/business-app  .
ISED’s social media team remains available to support and to amplify regional content as appropriate. They can be contacted at  ic.scmssocialmedia-mediassociauxscsm.ic@canada.ca
 
COVID-19 subscription for Public Health Updates:
 
Business Supports
 
Department of Finance - Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses / Plan d'intervention économique du Canada pour répondre à la COVID-19
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses / Maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) : Ressources pour les entreprises canadiennes
 
Work-Sharing Program - Temporary special measures / Programme de travail partagé - Mesures spéciales temporaires:
Canada Revenue Agency - Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic / l’Agence du revenu du Canada - Aider les Canadiens avec l'impact économique de la pandémie de COVID-19
 
What Canada’s Regional Development Agencies are doing to help business during the COVID-19 pandemic/ Ce que font les agences de développement régional (ADR) du Canada pour aider les entreprises pendant la pandémie de COVID-19: 
English :  HTML  -  PDF version
French:  HTML  -  Version PDF
 
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Employment and Social Development Canada

Export Development Canada COVID-19:
 
Business Development Bank of Canada – Support for Entrepreneurs impacted by coronavirus  :

Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Pandemic Preparedness for Business
 
World Health Organization COVID-19 - Business and Employees
 
Council of Canadian Innovators – COVID-19 Slack Channel (you must create an account)
 
Facebook
English: Business Resource Hub:  https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/resource
 
Canadian Federation of Independent Business - keeping you and your employees safe
 
Uber Eats

Innovative Medicines Canada
 
Innovative Medicines Canada: Statement on Canada’s Drug Supply / Déclaration portant sur l’approvisionnement en médicaments

Mastercard Canada—Understanding Intercharge / Comprendre l’interchange
EN :  https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/about-mastercard/what-we-do/interchange.html                            

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