The GPRC is focused on continuing to build the resiliency of our business community through the challenges posed by COVID-19.
|
Right now we know you have many questions, we have created a list of questions and have supplied the answers we can to each of them.
"Where do I begin?"
- The Federal and Provincial governments have put together a checklist for business continuity plans. Consider how you will:
- protect employees
- limit spread in workplaces
- ensure continuity of critical services if staff are ill or self-isolating
- explore alternate working arrangements, such as:
- working from home or remotely
- doing work that doesn't require contact with other people
- Talk to your banker and accountant
- Talk to your insurance provider and health benefit provider
- Talk to your staff
"How do I keep my employees?"
- We know you worked hard to attract top talent, and that there are significant costs in recruiting, obtaining, training and retaining employees, so you want to keep them.
- There is a temporary wage subsidy for a period of 3 months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during the period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,373 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
- Businesses will benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. Employers benefiting from this measure include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations & charities. Click to find information about this subsidy.
"What do I do if I have to lay off employees?"
- You are still required to adhere to the notice periods required by the Government of Alberta and issue Record of Employment (ROE).
- When the employee is sick or quarantined, use code D (Illness or injury) as the reason for separation (block 16). Do not add comments.
- When the employee is no longer working due to a shortage of work because the business has closed or decreased operations due to coronavirus (COVID-19), use code A (Shortage of work). Do not add comments.
- When the employee refuses to come to work but is not sick or quarantined, use code E (Quit) or code N (Leave of absence), as appropriate. Avoid adding comments unless absolutely necessary.
Tips:
- Avoid adding comments as this will mean that they are flagged to be looked at and will take longer to process.
- Use Internet Explorer if you are facing difficulties.
- Due to the high volume, wait time is longer than normal.
|
"What if I am self-employed or a contractor?"
- Provincially: Business owners and those who are self-employed who need to enter self-isolation before April 1 can apply for the provincial benefit.
- APPLY HERE: https://account.alberta.ca/
- Federally: the Emergency Care Benefit will provide up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. To apply for the Benefit:
- Access it on CRA My Account secure portal;
- Access it from secure My Service Canada Account; or
- Call toll free number equipped with an automated application process 1-833-381-2725.
- The Emergency Support Benefit will provide up to $5.0 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
- The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) will work together with financial institutions to fill gaps in market access and leverage additional lending by private sector institutions.
- Businesses seeking support through BCAP should contact the financial institutions with whom they have a pre-existing relationship, so that the financial institutions may assess the client’s financial request. If the needs of the client exceed the level of support the financial institution is able to provide, the financial institution will work alongside BDC or EDC to access additional resources the Government has made available under BCAP.
"How do I defer my utility bill?"
- Residential customers can defer electricity + natural gas bill payments for the next 90 days to ensure no one will be cut off, regardless of the service provider. Your local municipalities may have also made provisions around local utilities & property taxes, please visit the individual pages at the top of this email.
- This program is available to Albertans who are experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19. Contact your utility provider below directly to arrange for a 90-day deferral on payments.
"What is WCB Payment Deferral?"
- Small, medium and large private sector employers can defer WCB premium payments until 2021. Invoices for 2020 premiums have been stopped for the remainder of the year. Payments already made towards 2020 premiums will be automatically refunded to employers. You do not need to call in to request reimbursement. For more information, see the WCB employer fact sheet.
"Do I qualify for EI and how do I access it?"
- If you are laid off due to work closures apply for regular EI benefits. To qualify you will need 700 hours worked in the last year and an Record of Employment saying you've been laid off from your employer to get benefits. There is a 1-week wait period. You can find more info and apply online or call 1-800-206-7218.
- If you are unable to work due to self-quarantine apply for EI Sickness Benefits . You will need 600 work hours in the last year and do not need an ROE or sick note to qualify. The 1 week wait period is waived. Find more info and apply online or call 1-833-381-2725.
- If you are laid off and ineligible for EI apply for the Emergency Support Benefit. $5 billion dollars has been allocated to this program with more details to come and applications will be available in April. Make sure you have a CRA My Account to apply for this benefit. A toll free number is yet to be released.
- If you are self-quarantined and ineligible for EI apply for the Emergency Care Benefit , including the self-employed, who are sick with COVID-19, quarantined, or taking care of a family member with COVID-19. This benefit allows up to 15 weeks of benefits up to $900 bi-weekly. Applications will begin in April . Make sure you have a CRA My Account to apply for this benefit. A toll free number is yet to be released.
- If you are a parent that is unable to work because of school closures you can apply for the Emergency Care Benefit . This benefit allows up to 15 weeks of benefits up to $900 bi-weekly. Applications will begin in April . Make sure you have a CRA My Account to apply for this benefit. A toll free number is yet to be released.
Find more information on the federal government's
"What are my rights as an employee?"
- Full and part-time employees are entitled to take 14 days of job-protected leave if they are:
- required to self-isolate
- caring for a child or dependent adult that is required to self-isolate
- The leave does not apply to self-employed individuals or contractors.
- Employers are not required to pay sick leave if you are not required to self-isolate. Your employer will have their own policies. Contact them to receive information specific to your position.
|
Important changes to tax-filing and payment deadlines
|
Individuals
The deadline to file your income tax and benefit return will be deferred until June 1, 2020.
The deadline to pay any balance due for your individual income tax and benefit return for 2019 has been extended from April 30, 2020, to September 1, 2020. This means you will not be assessed any penalties or interest if your balance due is paid by September 1, 2020.
Self-employed and their spouse or common law partner
For self-employed individuals or those who have spouses or common-law partners that are self-employed, the deadline to pay any balance due for your individual income tax and benefit return has been extended from April 30, 2020, to September 1, 2020.
Businesses
The deadline for businesses to pay any income tax amounts that become owing or due after March 18, 2020 and before September 1, 2020 has been extended to September 1, 2020. This means you will not be assessed any penalties or interest if your balance due is paid by September 1, 2020.
Trusts
For trusts with a taxation year end of December 31, 2019, the filing due date of March 31, 2020, will be deferred to May 1, 2020.
Furthermore, all trusts that have an upcoming income tax balance due date or an income tax installment payment due date before September 1, 2020, will have their payment due date effectively extended to September 1, 2020.
Penalty and interest implications for upcoming trust tax obligations not covered by the relief described above will be considered by the CRA on a case-by-case basis.
Charities
The Charities Directorate is extending the filing deadline to December 31, 2020, for all charities with a Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return due between March 18, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
|
Electronic Signatures
–
Effective immediately, in order to reduce the necessity for taxpayers and tax preparers to meet in person during this difficult time, and to reduce administrative burden, the CRA will recognize electronic signatures as having met the signature requirements of the Income Tax Act, as a temporary administrative measure.
|
|
Economic Developers Alberta COVID-19 Webinar Series
EDA has created a series of
FREE
virtual seminars designed to connect us with community leaders from Alberta, across Canada and around the world. These weekly webinars will not only provide information to help mitigate the economic impacts of this pandemic disaster; they'll also give participants some relief from the social isolation this pandemic is causing.
CRE Radio & TV founder and host, Howard Kline, is set to host a
FREE
webinar on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 11:00 am Pacific/2:00pm Eastern to discuss landlord and tenant strategies for negotiating tenant rent relief, all with an eye towards an economic recovery after the dust settles on COVID-19.
Click here for more info and to register
|
|
With the support of Parkland County, City of Spruce Grove, Town of Stony Plain, and Village of Wabamun, the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce has launched a shop local social media contest called #DoingMyPartGPR
|
|
During this time of social distancing let’s remember our local businesses economy - snap a pic and win one of two $1,000 prizes to spend at local businesses! The Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce (GPRC) is rolling out a #DoingMyPartGPR Contest through social media. Local businesses, run by our friends and neighbours, are open and need our help too. Local businesses are the first to step up and support our communities, our local sports and our local events. So, let’s all get out there and shop local because if we all support our friends and neighbours – together, we’ll come through these uncertain times and be stronger because of it!
If you are working from the comfort of your home, or still out and about, here’s how to enter: from March 23, 2020 to April 30, 2020 we want you to post how you are supporting local business with an Instagram or Facebook post using #DoingMyPartGPR and tagging the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber (@GPRChamber).
- For those who are not up for going out in public, this could be a picture of the food or items you had delivered or the item you purchased locally online, via phone, or taken up the offer for doorstep delivery.
- For those times when you have to venture out to pick up your items, take a pic of your click and collect haul, curbside pick up (that many of our local shops are offering), or drive-thru purchase.
|
|
If you haven't already, you can still fill out our survey! The Chamber wants to know what we can do for our members at this time. To best serve you, we have created a
short survey so that we can better understand the impacts COVID-19 are having on Greater Parkland Regional businesses. Please take five minutes and
fill out this survey.
|
|
Resources shared by our Members!
|
|
|
|
We would like to thank our member, Tober Hembling & Associates LLP,for providing the below document regarding the key points announced by the government up to March 18, 2020. This may be useful to individuals and small businesses in the area.
|
|
|
|
Member, McLennan Ross LLP have created a designated page on their website to monitor new developments to keep clients up to date. Click the button below to check it out.
|
|
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Online Screening
|
|
|
Alberta Government - COVID-19 Info for Albertans
|
|
|
Canadian Chamber - Pandemic Preparedness for Businesses
|
|
|
Alberta Government - Cancelling Large Events
|
|
|
CDC - Keeping the Workplace Safe
|
|
|
Alberta Health Services - Latest Updates
|
|
|
Alberta Government - Self Isolation Information Sheet
|
|
|
This e-Blast is from: Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Name: Kendra Wambold
Title: Communications & Media Specialist
Company: GPRC
Contact: kwambold@gprchamber.ca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
