ACC COVID-19 daily update
March 27, 2020
What's new
Prime Minister announces support for small businesses facing impacts of COVID-19

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced expanded supports for small businesses, including:
  • a 75 per cent wage subsidy for qualifying businesses for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020,
  • allowing businesses, including self-employed individuals, to defer all GST/HST payments until June, as well as customs duties owed for imports,
  • launching the new Canada Emergency Business Account, and
  • launching the new Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Loan and Guarantee program that will enable up to $40 billion in lending.

Read the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's response: Government delivers what SMEs need to protect jobs.

Additional restrictions to stop spread of COVID-19

Today, the provincial government announced additional measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
  • People are prohibited from attending gatherings of more than 15 and must observe two-metre social distancing.
  • Restrictions on close contact businesses, dine-in restaurants, and non-essential retail services.

Tax relief for tourism industry

Today, the Alberta Government announced that hotels and other lodging providers can delay paying the tourism levy until August 31 for amounts that become due to government on or after today.

Increased security for Alberta renters

As part of a $7.7-billion package in supports and deferrals, the provincial government today announced new measures around residential rent payments.

Entire food supply chain must be declared essential, Alberta agriculture minister says

Alberta does not have a food supply shortage, but the entire national supply chain should be declared an essential service, Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen said Thursday.

AUMA guide

AUMA has compiled a guide to the financial supports available to municipalities, employers, employees, and the self-employed.

EY global tax policy tracker

EY has created a regularly updated global tax policy tracker that helps you monitor rapidly emerging government policy and stimulus responses to COVID-19.

Free mental fitness webinar

The Alberta Municipality Health and Safety Association (AMHSA), Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) and Howatt HR are putting out a free weekly webinar series on maintaining mental fitness during this time. Register online.

Negotiating rent relief webinar recording

If you missed this week's free webinar on negotiating rent relief in a coronavirus world, put on by Howard F. Kline and guests, you can now access the recording on demand.
In an effort to keep these bulletins focused on new daily developments, we have moved key COVID-19 resources to our website . This list is updated daily as new information becomes available.

On behalf of all of the ACC executive and staff, we thank you for all that you do. Please know we are here for you and wish you and yours good health and a quick end to the current situation. Please contact office@abchamber.ca with any questions or concerns.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a federation of 124 community-based chambers of commerce representing more than 25,000 job creators.

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