In this challenging and constantly changing business environment, the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce want to support our Members by providing relevant and up-to-date information. This includes government announcements and support programs, resources, webinars, surveys, and other important updates.
This is a collaborative email to share information that applies to our memberships at large, sent on behalf of the Grimsby Chamber, Lincoln Chamber, and West Lincoln Chamber.
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From the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce |
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June 2 marked the end of the provincial-wide stay-at-home order, but with many businesses still closed, we are all looking forward to the launch of Phase 1 on June 13.
Phase 1 will include:
- Resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower
- Allowing outdoor gatherings of up to ten people
- Allowing outdoor dining with up to four people per table
- Allowing non-essential retail at 15 percent capacity
The province will stay in Phase 1 for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health indicators. At the end of the 21 days, if positive trends have been noted, and 60 percent of adults have received one dose of a COVID vaccine, the province will move on to Phase 2.
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The West Niagara Chambers of Commerce are dedicated to supporting local businesses during the pandemic through advocacy, connecting you to information and resources, offering a space to develop a support system of Chamber peers, and more. Please reach out to Rebecca Shelley (Grimsby), Lindsey Hendriks (Lincoln), or Denise Potter (West Lincoln) if there is anything our Chambers can do to assist your organization during these difficult times.
We're with you!
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In other news, we hope everyone enjoys their weekend! It's going to be a sunny one so break out that sunscreen and soak up those rays! |
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Niagara Chamber Partnership:
Niagara's Road to Recovery Series
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created immense challenges for multiple industries across Niagara.
That's why the Niagara Chamber Partnership has created the Road to Recovery Series: a five-part segment that will run every Tuesday until June 29.
Click HERE to watch the first session from June 1 that focused on the agriculture/winery industry!
The next installment is coming up on Tuesday, June 8 and will delve into the tourism industry. You don't want to miss it!
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Ontario won't reopen schools for in-person
learning this spring
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced at a news conference on June 2 that Ontario students will not return to in-class learning before September.
Ford said that some experts believed students should be back in class, but they could not promise that in-class learning would not lead to thousands of new COVID cases.
The province says schools will continue to remain open until the end of June for special education students who cannot be accommodated through remote learning.
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COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB) |
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On May 27, 2021, the Ontario government launched the COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit (WIPB) which includes:
- Up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) for employees who have to take time off work because of certain reasons related to COVID-19
- An employer reimbursement program
In order to apply for a reimbursement of leave paid to your employees, you must do so within 120 days of paying your employee, and to support your claim you will need to provide:
- Employee Name, Employee #, and SIN
- Employee Contact Information: Address, Phone #, Email
- Date(s) of Sick leave / Nature of Claim Confirmation: No active WSIB claim relating to same days off work
- Proof of Payment: e.g. Pay Stub
- General Attestation
Employers will also need to provide:
- Employer Name, Address, Phone #
- Specific Worksite, and address (vs corporate address above)
- Main Contact, Phone # & Email
- Business Identifier: WSIB #, CRA # / BN9
- Industry Classification: NAICS Code
- Details of your existing sick leave program (# of days, $ per day)
Once you have submitted your claim, you will receive a claim confirmation number with which you can check your claim status. Payments will begin at the end of June and happen on a bi-weekly basis thereafter. The WSIB is aiming to process a claim within two weeks of approval, with payment depending on the complexity of the claim.
For more general information on eligibility criteria, how to apply, and program rules, click HERE or call the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Information Centre 1-888-999-2248 (TTY: 1-866-567-8893).
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Increase to the number of weeks for the Canada Recovery Benefits and Employment Insurance regular benefits |
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Recent EI legislative and regulatory amendments allow for an increase to the number of weeks of benefits available under the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and EI regular benefits.
As of March 17, 2021, the following changes have come into effect:
- An increase to the number of weeks available under the CRB and the CRCB by 12 weeks, extending the maximum duration of the benefits from the current 26 weeks, to up to 38 weeks;
- An increase to the number of weeks available under the CRSB from the current 2 weeks to 4 weeks; and
- An increase to the number of weeks of EI regular benefits available by up to 24 weeks, to a maximum of 50 weeks, for claims that are made between September 27, 2020, and September 25, 2021.
In addition to increasing the maximum number of weeks available to workers under the EI program, self-employed workers who have opted-in to the EI program to access special benefits, are able to use a 2020 earnings threshold of $5,000, compared to the previous threshold of $7,555. This change is retroactive to claims established as of January 3, 2021, and applies until September 25, 2021.
To ensure employees in the federally regulated private sector can access the additional weeks of CRCB and CRSB without the risk of losing their jobs, the maximum length of leave related to COVID-19 under the Canada Labour Code (the Code) has also been extended. Job-protected leave under the Code has increased complementary to the additional weeks available under the CRCB and CRSB, from 26 weeks to a maximum of 38 weeks of leave for caregiving-related reasons due to COVID-19, and from 2 weeks to a maximum of 4 weeks of leave for sickness- related reasons due to COVID-19.
Additional changes that were included under the legislation with respect to EI eligibility for international travellers have also come into effect.
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Tax Form Buster: Which tax forms do you think should be eliminated or digitized by the CRA? |
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Everyone has an opinion on taxes. Have yours be heard.
Please provide your input on specific suggestions for tax forms to be digitized, consolidated, or eliminated through the Tax Form Buster found below.
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Niagara Official Plan:
June Virtual Public Information Centres
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A series of virtual public information centres have been scheduled to discuss key draft policy directives and core policy content that is intended to be part of the Niagara Official Plan. Updates on other key sections of the official plan will also be provided.
All public information centres are at 6 p.m.
Click HERE to learn more and register.
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Share YOUR Message
Want to place your communication in our collaborative newsletter? For just $150 + HST, we’ll send your message to our collective 1000+ contacts!
Limited to one paid spot per bi-weekly newsletter edition, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Content to be approved by all three Chambers ahead of time. Must be a member (associate or full) of all three Chambers.
Contact your home Chamber for more details and to reserve your spot:
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Contact Your Local Chamber |
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Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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West Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
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This email was sent by on behalf of the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce, which consists of the Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and the West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. You have received this email because you subscribed to our newsletters; your email address will not be shared and will be used only for these updates.
You may unsubscribe from receiving these emails at any time.
Please contact your local Chamber if you have any questions or concerns.
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