COVID-19 and your Golf Business
Ontario Bulletin #7 - March 26, 2020
Today's Bulletin includes the latest resources and information from the Provincial and Federal Governments as of noon 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
Clarification of part #13 for essential workplaces
The Government of Ontario has provided written confirmation that turf maintenance teams are able to maintain their properties over the next 14 days. 

Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario - Alcohol Delivery
Licensed restaurants and bars in Ontario may sell alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 pm. All active liquor licensees may immediately begin offering this service if they choose and there is no application process or fee required. For more details, please click here.

Reduced Hydro Rates
Electricity prices have been set at off-peak price, 24 hours a day for 45 days to address concerns about time-of-use metering for small business, residential and farm customers.

Government of Ontario - Payment Deferrals
  • Providing five months of interest and penalty relief for businesses to file and make payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes.
  • Deferral of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments by employers for up to 6 months.

Click here for more details.

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 Steps You Can Take During the Temporary Closure
  • Contact your financial institution to request a mortgage payment deferral;
  • Contact your insurance company to reduce certain coverage during the 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 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 Ontario Government has announced six months of Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) loan and interest accrual relief for students.
  • 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.
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