COVID-19 and your Golf Business
Saskatchewan Bulletin #6 - March 26, 2020
Today's Bulletin includes the latest resources and information from the Provincial and Federal Governments as of 1:30 pm on March 26.
For Your Business
Assistance to Avoid Layoffs
Temporary Wage Subsidies
Providing eligible small businesses a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to take immediate advantage of this support measure by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on employees' remuneration. The subsidy is available to corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as not-for-profit and charitable organizations. For more details, please click here .

Work-Sharing Program
Enhancing the existing Work-Sharing program to support employers and their workers who are experiencing a downturn in business. The Program will be extended by an additional 38 weeks for a total of 76 weeks and the mandatory waiting period to apply has been waived. For more details, please click here .

Supplementary Unemployment Benefit Plan
A supplementary unemployment benefit plan (SUBP) is a plan established by an employer or group of participating employers to top up employees' employment insurance (EI) benefits during a period of unemployment due to a temporary or indefinite layoff for health, sickness, temporary stoppage of work, etc. For more details, please click here or to download forms, click here.
Access to Credit
Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
BCAP provides more than $10 billion in support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses, through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC). For more details, please click here .
Other Measures
Employment Standards Webinar
Employment Standards will be hosting webinars to provide Saskatchewan businesses with information about recently announced provisions. For more details, please click here .

Provincial Sales Tax Relief
Businesses who are unable to remit their PST due to cash flow concerns will have three-month relief from penalty and interest charges. Businesses that are unable to file provincial tax return(s) by the due date may submit a request for relief from penalty and interest charges on the return(s) affected. For more details, please click here .

Utility Payment Deferrals
All Crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for customers whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.

Government of Canada - More Time to Pay Taxes
Deferred payment of any income tax amounts that become owing until September 2020. This applies to tax balances due, as well as installments under Part I of the Income Tax Act. For more details, please click here .
Additional Items to Consider
  • Contact your financial institution to request a mortgage payment deferral;
  • Contact your insurance company to reduce certain coverage in the event of a temporary closure period;
  • Check with your municipality if there is a deferral of your next tax payments without penalty or interest;
  • Contact your various suppliers to request payment accommodations,
  • Consult the online resources page on the association's website.
For Your Employees
Government of Saskatchewan - Job Protected Leave
Amendments to The Saskatchewan Employment Act  to ensure that employees can access unpaid public health emergency leave. Ammendments include the removal of the requirement of 13 consecutive weeks of employment with an employer prior to accessing sick leave and removal of the provision requiring a doctor's note or certificate. for more information, please click here .

Government of Canada - Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
The Government has announced for Canadians who do not have paid sick leave (or similar work arrangements) and who are sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for their children, the government will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to .

The portal for accessing the CERB would be available in early April with the start of payments within 10 days of application. The CERB would be paid every four weeks and be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020. For more information, click here to visit the Government of Canada website.

Government of Canada - EI Sickness Benefits
Service Canada has made it easier for employees to access EI Sickness Benefits by waiving the 1 week waiting period, establishing a new toll-free number for EI Sickness Benefits, and removing the requirement for a doctor note. You are encouraged to visit the Government of Canada website for the most up-to-date information available.
Additional Suggestions/Information for Employees
  • If you have a mortgage or loan, contact your financial institution to request a payment holiday. Many Canadian banks and institutions are offering a payment deferral options.
  • If you are a student, the Government of Canada has announced a plan to suspend the repayment of Canada student loans until September 30, 2020.
  • If you are a student, the Saskatchewan Government has announced a six-month student loan repayment moratorium.
  • The date for filing your taxes has been postponed without penalty to June 1, 2020 and any payments due are postponed to September 1, 2020.
  • Crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for customers whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Your Association continues to monitor this fluid situation and will continue to keep you apprised of the latest developments.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us at ngcoa@ngcoa.ca should you have any questions.

Your NGCOA Canada Team