COVID Update

Premier Sponsors

Government of Canada to Introduce Rent Subsidy and Enhanced Business Account

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced further targeted supports to help businesses struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These supports include:

The announcement of the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. This benefit will be provided directly to businesses through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For businesses who have seen a revenue drop, the new rent subsidy can support up to 65% of eligible expenses and up to 90% for businesses temporarily shut down by a mandatory second wave public health order.
The enhancement of the Canada Emergency Business Account. Those already eligible for this benefit will be able to obtain an additional $20,000 loan, of which $10,000 is forgivable. The deadline to apply has been extended to December 31, 2020.
The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to June 2021. The subsidy will freeze at the current rate of up to 65% of eligible wages until December 19, 2020, and will not decrease on the sliding scale as previously planned.

Program details are expected to be revealed in the coming days.

Ontario Implementing Additional Public Health Measures in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel

Today, the Ontario government announced additional targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto public health unit regions. These modified Stage 2 restrictions are effective Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 12:01 am and will be for a minimum of 28 days and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Measures under a modified Stage 2 include:

Reducing limits for all social gatherings and organized public events to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained. The two limits may not be combined for an indoor-outdoor event;
Prohibiting indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and food court areas in malls;
Closing of:
Indoor gyms and fitness centres (i.e., exercise classes and weight and exercise rooms);
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments;
Indoor cinemas;
Performing arts centres and venues;
Spectator areas in racing venues;
Interactive exhibits or exhibits with high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, etc.;
Prohibiting personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (e.g. makeup application, beard trimming);
Reducing the capacity limits for:
Tour and guide services to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
Real estate open houses to 10 people indoors, where physical distancing can be maintained;
In-person teaching and instruction (e.g. cooking class) to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, with exemptions for schools, child care centres, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, private career colleges, the Ontario Police College, etc.;
Meeting and event spaces to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, and
Limiting team sports to training sessions (no games or scrimmages).

Schools, child care centres, and places of worship will remain open in these communities and must continue to follow the public health measures in place. Before-school and after-school programs will also be exempt from these new restrictions.

Read the full announcement.

Please Respond to this 3-Minute Survey

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce are looking for your insight on what matters to business amidst the pandemic. The interactive results from the first round are LIVE! Click here to see the preliminary results.

This survey will take a deeper dive on business confidence as well as other pressing issues. Tell us how confident you are in Ontario’s economy and recovery, and what your organization’s outlook is for 2021.