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Just a reminder to register for our FREE Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace program.  

1 in 5 Canadians struggle with mental health and The Chamber wants to ensure local businesses the tools they need to properly support all of their employees and customers.
 
The first virtual training session is just around the corner on March 9th at 8:30am. For more information, visit our website.

This FREE program has two parts:
  1. Virtual Training: Mental Health Response and Recognition. This is a two session training course. REGISTER NOW
  2. Advisory Services: Psychological Health and Safety Advisors will perform one-on-one assessments of your policies and procedures to ensure you have a plan for optimal compliance to CSA Standards. APPLY NOW

SPACES FOR BOTH THE TRAINING AND ADVISORY SERVICES ARE LIMITED SO REGISTER TODAY.
Registration and applications close on Feb 28.
National Update

Grant Opportunity
Canada United recently reopened with a focus on helping businesses recover. The grant provides up to $5000 to local small businesses to accommodate re-opening guidelines or develop online capabilities. Get more information here.  
 
Federal Budget 2021
This year’s federal budget comes at a critical juncture for the Canadian economy as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic.  Consequently, it is crucial Budget 2021 presents a fiscal framework that both buttresses our immediate response to the pandemic and lays the groundwork for a longer-term economic recovery.  The Chamber Networks recommendations focus on the key measures that will enhance the competitiveness of Canadian businesses, which in turn will provide well-paying jobs for Canadians and strengthen the economy as a whole. Read The Chamber Networks Pre-Budget Submission
 
Temporary Wage Subsidy Support
In response to the pandemic, the Canadian government introduced the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy (TWS) as a source of financial relief for small business owners. 
 
If your business took advantage of the TWS in 2020, you have a new tax form to complete — Form PD27. This form lets the Canada Revenue Agency properly document the reduction in Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and employment insurance (EI) remittances on your payroll program account and lowers your chances of receiving a discrepancy notice at the end of the year.  
 
Wagepoint - a fellow Canadian Chamber member has a helpful guide that walks you through how to properly complete and submit the new form. View the guide here. 
Central Food Network is working on a cookbook and we would LOVE to include your best recipes! Partly a fundraiser and also a way to celebrate food & our community, we want this cookbook to include a collection of recipes that reflect the Highlands East region and the people that live, work and play here!

We know you've got a favourite recipe (or five!) that everyone asks after. Let us share it!

We are particularly looking for recipes that:
  • use ingredients that are easy to find in this community; and
  • are from local residents & seasonal residents; and/or
  • highlight a local business (for example, if you have a restaurant, please consider attaching your business name to the recipe); and/or
  • highlight local groups, such as local lake associations recreational clubs (for example, send in a favourite trail mix snack recipe from your hiking club)
Gather up your recipes (we'd love up to 5 per person) and send to: recipes@centralfoodnetwork.org
OR
use this form to submit https://forms.gle/CouhE2i8XdGNes5q8

If emailing, be sure to include your name (and any business or group info, if applicable) as you want it to appear in the cookbook, and the recipe(s) either in the body of the email or attached as a Word document.
Have questions?
Please email recipes@centralfoodnetwork.org or call 705-448-2285.
 If you have any questions about these or other resources, don't hesitate to reach out,

Amanda Conn
Executive Director
Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce