COVID-19 Business Support

Need PPE to reopen?

Visit or PPE Micro Procurement Portal and fill in the form for ‘need PPE’. We can match you to a supplier.

Road to Recovery Toolkits:

• Town of Milton
• Halton Region
• Government of Ontario: COVID-19 information for Ontarians
• Government of Ontario: MULTILINGUAL Fact Sheets about COVID-19
• Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention: COVID-19 Resources
• World Health Organization (WHO): COVID-19 Updates
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Pandemic Preparedness for Business Guide
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Crisis Communication Plan
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Business Continuity and Recovery Plan
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce: Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit for Ontario Businesses
• Calgary Chamber of Commerce: Emergency Preparedness Kit
• Business Development Bank of Canada: Business Continuity Plan and Templates for Entrepreneurs
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services: Business Pandemic Preparedness Checklist
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Business Continuity Guide

COVID Conversations- Commercial Leases – advice on rent forgiveness presented by Katherine Jensen, Jensen Consulting

COVID Conversations: Supporting Canadians Through COVID-19: The Latest Government Measures

COVID Conversations – Practical Strategies and Implementation for Successful Remote Working

Milton Chamber: COVID-19 Small Business Webinar: What the latest Federal and Ontario support packages mean for your business? Presented by Grant Thornton LLP

COVID Conversations – Emerging from the COVID-19 Shutdown. Employment Law FAQ for Businesses

COVID Conversations: Let’s Connect – Mental Health

COVID Conversations: Bring About What You Think About

COVID Conversations: Engaging Your Workforce for Stellar Customer Service

COVID Conversations: Cyber Security: What It All Means And How To Protect Yourself

COVID Conversations: Re-Opening After Covid-19:  Health & Safety Considerations and PPE Sourcing

COVID Conversations: Conestoga: Building Success Through Collaboration

Dare to Care – How Paramount Fine Foods Changed to survive the pandemic and to help the community 

Milton Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Business Forums (Q & A)

BDC: How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business

As of May 20, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced the commercial rent program application portal opens May 25th. To apply for commercial rent program, go to http://cmhc.ca

AS OF May 19, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced CEBA (emergency business loan of $40,000) will soon be extended, some details have been provided.

The program will be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll.

To qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:

• a business operating account at a participating financial institution
• a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
• eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million. Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

Expenses will be subject to verification and audit by the Government of Canada. Funding will be delivered in partnership with financial institutions. More details, including the launch date for applications under the new criteria, will follow in the days to come.

AS OF May 19, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced CEBA (emergency business loan of $40,000) will soon be extended to cover sole owner-operators, businesses who rely on contractors, and family-owned businesses who pay employees through dividends. Minister Mary Ng is ‘working on potential solutions’ for business owners without a business account and new businesses that haven’t filed tax returns yet. No details on timeline. Further details to come.

AS OF May 15, 2020: The Federal government confirmed the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended by 3 months to the end of August 2020.

AS OF May 14, 2020: Ontario Announces Additional Workplaces that Can Reopen.

Ontario’s first stage of reopening will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will include:

• Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand or on the spot.
• Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing.
• Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.
• Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.
• Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.
• Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling and scheduled surgeries based on the ability to meet pre-specified conditions as outlined in A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as resuming professional services such as shifting Children’s Treatment Centres from virtual to in-person.

As soon as 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020:

• Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out.
• Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
• Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
• Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal.

The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory has an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment for their workers.

AS OF May 13, 2020: Building on the measures already in place, the Government of Canada has set up a new Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to be delivered by the regional development agencies (RDAs). The aim of this Fund is to help more businesses and organizations in various sectors such as tourism and manufacturing access the support they need during these difficult times.

The RDA for southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario will work with key partners such as the Community Futures Development Corporations across the region to help southern Ontario businesses during these difficult times. A total of $252.4 million will be available for southern Ontario businesses.

Businesses that are unable to access existing relief measures, can apply for funding under this new initiative.

Businesses and organizations that have applied but not qualified for existing federal COVID-19 relief programs are encouraged to review the RRRF eligibility requirements or to contact their local RDA for more information.

AS OF May 11, 2020: The federal government announced a new loan program aimed at providing financing access to large employers impacted by COVID-19.

The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will allow companies to access additional liquidity to keep their operations going, retain workers on payroll, and avoid bankruptcy.

The federal government is offering companies across almost all sectors that have larger financing needs access to loans of up to $60 million per company, and guarantees of up to $80 million.

The new program comes with a series of terms and conditions.

• Eligible companies must have annual revenues of at least $300 million
• Businesses in the financial sector are not eligible, nor are any firms convicted of tax evasion in the past.
• LEEFF applicants must have “significant operations or workforce in Canada”
• Successful applicants will have to report annually on its climate and sustainability initiatives
• The federal government intends to implement strict limits on executive pay and share buybacks, and will expect firms to respect all collective bargaining agreements and pensions.

AS OF May 6, 2020: Ontario is keeping lower TOU electricity prices in place until May 31 and extending all state-of-emergency orders to May 19.

The AGCO also announced an extension of the temporary permission for bars and restaurants to sell alcohol with food for takeout and delivery until December 31, 2020 and reduced the minimum price of spirits sold by licensed establishments with food takeout and delivery orders by 33 percent.

The Ontario government is allowing all retail stores with a street entrance to provide curbside pickup and delivery, as of May 11.

The Ontario government is allowing in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries as of May 8, and hardware stores and safety supply stores as of May 9.

AS OF May 1, 2020: The Ontario government is allowing certain businesses and workplaces to reopen as long as they comply with strict public health measures and operate safely during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those permitted to start up include seasonal businesses and some essential construction projects.

By following the proper health and safety guidelines these businesses will be permitted to begin operations on Monday, May 4 at 12:01 a.m.:

• Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
• Lawn care and landscaping;
• Additional essential construction projects that include:
  • shipping and logistics;
  • broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
  • any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
  • municipal projects;
  • colleges and universities;
  • child care centres;
  • schools; and
  • site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
• Automatic and self-serve car washes;
• Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
• Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
• Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.

AS OF April 30, 2020: Ontario is releasing safety guidelines to protect workers, customers and the general public from COVID-19 as it prepares for a gradual reopening of the provincial economy.

These resources are available for different sectors. They will help employers and workers better understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Click here to read the available guidelines.

As new sectors of the economy begin to reopen, additional COVID-19 workplace safety resources will be added.

AS OF April 27, 2020: Ontario government released A Framework for Reopening our Province, which outlines the criteria Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will use to advise the government on the loosening of emergency measures.

The government is planning a stage-by-stage approach to reopening the economy to ensure there are appropriate measures in place so workplaces can open safely. Public health officials will carefully monitor each stage for two to four weeks, as they assess the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak to determine if it is necessary to change course to maintain public health.

Stage 1: For businesses that were ordered to close or restrict operations, opening select workplaces that can immediately modify operations to meet public health guidance. Opening some outdoor spaces like parks and allowing for a greater number of individuals to attend some events. Hospitals would also begin to offer some non-urgent and scheduled surgeries, and other health care services.

Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.

Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.

AS OF April 24, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced details of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses.

The federal government has reached an agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the CECRA for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75% for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

• The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50% of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.
• The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75% for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25% of the rent.
• Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70% drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues.
• This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will administer and deliver the CECRA, a collaboration between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.

Provinces and territories have agreed to cost share total costs and facilitate implementation of the program.

It is expected that CECRA will be operational by mid-May, with commercial property owners lowering the rents of their small business tenant’s payable for the months of April and May, retroactively, and for June.

Further details on CECRA will be shared in the near future once final terms and conditions are available.

Under a rent forgiveness agreement, which includes a moratorium on eviction, the mortgaged commercial property owner would reduce the small business tenant’s monthly rent by at least 75 per cent. The tenant would be responsible for covering 25 per cent, the property owner 25 per cent, while the federal government and provinces would share the remaining 50 per cent. The forgivable loans would be disbursed directly to the mortgage lender.

AS OF April 21, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced funding for charities through the Emergency Community Support Fund.

The Prime Minister also provided an update on the CEWS. Today, the CRA is providing an online calculator for businesses to allow them to anticipate what they will qualify for under the program. Applications for the wage subsidy open Monday, April 27th, 2020.

Minister Duclos provided further details on the wage subsidy:

• The government expects 90% of CEWS applications will be process by May 5th and funds will flow quickly thereafter

AS OF April 17, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced funding for businesses that aren’t qualifying for CEBA or the wage subsidy:

• $962 million for regional development agencies
• $270 million for Futurpreneur and the Industrial Research Assistance Program
• $500 million for Heritage Canada to support arts, culture and sports sectors

AS OF April 16, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada Emergency Business Account is expanding its criteria for eligibility. Businesses with payrolls in 2019 between $20,000 and $1.5 million will be eligible for the $40K loan for businesses, interest free. Speak to your bank to access.

The Prime Minister also announced the introduction of the Canada Emergency Rent Assistance initiative to assist businesses with commercial rent. This program will provide support to help small businesses with their rent for the months of April, May, and June. More details to come.

AS OF April 15, 2020: Prime Minister Trudeau announced that those who earn $1000 or less a month will now be eligible for CERB. Moreover, those who have run out of employment insurance since January 1st, 2020 can now access the CERB. Seasonal workers will also be eligible for CERB.

AS OF April 11, 2020: The House of Commons sat for an emergency session to pass the government’s revised legislation, Bill C-14, A Second Act Respecting Certain Measures in Response to COVID-19. Minister of Finance Bill Morneau was present to introduce the $73-billion Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) legislation representing a subsidy covering up to 75 per cent of employee wages for businesses that have lost income amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of Additional Details on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy were released. These include:

• The pre-crisis remuneration for a given employee would be based on the average weekly remuneration paid between January 1 and March 15 inclusively, excluding any seven-day periods in respect of which the employee did not receive remuneration.
• Eligible remuneration may include salary, wages, and other remuneration like taxable benefits. These are amounts for which employers would generally be required to withhold or deduct amounts to remit to the Receiver General on account of the employee’s income tax obligation. However, it does not include severance pay, or items such as stock option benefits or the personal use of a corporate vehicle.
• In general, an employee will be considered to be on leave with pay throughout a week if that employee is remunerated by the employer for that week but does not perform any work for the employer in that week.
• On April 8, 2020, the Government proposed to expand the CEWS by introducing a new 100 per cent refund for certain employer-paid contributions to Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. For greater certainty, employers would be required to continue to collect and remit employer and employee contributions to each program as usual. Eligible employers would apply for a refund, as described above, at the same time that they apply for the CEWS.
• Employers that engage in artificial transactions to reduce revenue for the purpose of claiming the CEWS would be subject to a penalty equal to 25 per cent of the value of the subsidy claimed, in addition to the requirement to repay in full the subsidy that was improperly claimed.
• The usual treatment of tax credits and other benefits provided by the government would apply. As a consequence, the wage subsidy received by an employer would be considered government assistance and be included in the employer’s taxable income.

AS OF April 3, 2020: Following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government announced it is reducing the list of businesses classified as essential and ordering more workplaces to close.

The government is ordering all businesses not covered by the updated Emergency Order to close effective as of Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. This closure will be in effect for 14 days, with the possibility of an extension as the situation evolves. Teleworking, online commerce and other innovative ways of working remotely are permitted at all times and are strongly encouraged for all businesses. All supply chains necessary for the production of vital food and healthcare supplies are being protected and remain intact.

Private sector industrial, commercial and institutional projects will be affected, while public sector infrastructure work and some residential construction will be allowed to continue.

Projects related to the health-care sector, including any work necessary to ensure the production of critical equipment and medical devices, as well those required to maintain the operations of petrochemical plants and refineries, will be exempted from the shut down.The updated essential businesses list can be found here.

AS OF April 1, 2020: the latest updates on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) can be found below.

To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers 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 benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration.
• This subsidy continues to exist.

The Federal government announced further, increased wage subsidies to any business, big or small, along with charities and not-for-profit organizations, so long as they are not publicly-funded, and meet the criteria below.

• A 75% wage subsidy is available, up to 3 months. This subsidy will be backdated to March 15th, 2020.
• To qualify, gross businesses revenues must have decreased by at least 30%, this will be reviewed and verified after the fact.
• Revenues will be compared to the respective month in from last year (2019) in March, April or May.
• Details for businesses who do not have revenue data from last year will come soon.
• Companies will be required to show pre-crisis income of an employee. Business will then get 75% of the wages they paid out returned to them through the CRA.
• Companies will need to apply for the subsidy each month. 
• This subsidy applies to any business, big or small, including the hospitality sector (bars, restaurants).
• The number of employees in your organization won’t determine if you qualify.
• The subsidy will cover 75% of a salary on the first $58,700 earned.
• Program will provide up to $847 per week for each worker.
• Your business does not need to be open to receive the subsidy.
• The remaining 25% of wages is not required to qualify for the subsidy. However, employers will need to attest that they are doing everything they can to pay the remaining 25%of people’s wages.
• Any one who fraudulently accesses these subsidies will face serious penalties.
• Businesses will apply through the CRA website.
• The portal will open shortly; the funds will be available in 6 weeks (as of April 1st)
• Further details of how and where to access the subsidy to come

AS OF March 30, 2020: the Federal government provided further details on wage subsidies for businesses.

• The Federal government announced increased wage subsidies for SME business and not-for-profits. The wage subsidy is increasing from 10% to 75%, for 3 months. This subsidy will be backdated to March 15th, 2020.
• To qualify, businesses revenues must have decreased by at least 30%, this will be reviewed and verified after the fact
• The number of employees in your organization won’t determine if you qualify
• The subsidy will cover 75% of a salary on the first $58,700 earned
• Program will provide up to $847 per week for each worker
• Your business does not need to be open to receive the subsidy
• The remaining 25% of wages is recommended, but not required to qualify to for the subsidy
• Further details of how and where to access the subsidy to come

AS OF March 27, 2020: the Federal government announced the Canada Emergency Business Account, which will offer government guaranteed loans of up to $40,000 for SME businesses and not-for-profits, which will be interest-free for the first year. Some qualifying businesses will have $10k forgiven in debt.

• To qualify, organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019.
• Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

The Federal government announced increased wage subsidies for SME business. The wage subsidy is increasing from 10% to 75% for 3 months. This subsidy will be backdated to March 15th, 2020.

The Federal government announced GST and HST taxes and duties on imports deferred will be deferred until June.

AS OF March 26, 2020: Effective immediately, the AGCO announced that 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. Liquor may be sold for takeout or delivery through a third party, such as a food delivery service or ordering platform, provided they are acting on behalf of the licensee.

• The holder of the liquor sales licence is accountable for the responsible sale and delivery of alcohol. This includes making sure the person to whom the order is delivered is at least 19 and is not intoxicated. The licensee or its staff involved in the delivery of alcohol must have successfully completed Smart Serve training. In instances where the delivery is being carried out by a third party on behalf of the licensee, Smart Serve certification is required by April 25, 2020.

AS OF March 25, 2020: the provincial government released Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, with a number of measures for businesses, including:

• Five months of interest and penalty relief for businesses to file and make payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes.
  • Beginning April 1, 2020, up until August 31, 2020, the Province will not apply any penalty or interest on any late-filed returns or incomplete or late tax payments under select provincially administered taxes, such as the Employer Health Tax, Tobacco Tax and Gas Tax.
• Deferring the upcoming June 30 quarterly municipal remittance of education property tax to school boards by 90 days, which will provide municipalities the flexibility to, in turn, provide property tax deferrals to residents and businesses.
• Allowing employers to defer payments for Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for up to six months.
  • All employers covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the financial relief package.
  • Schedule 1 employers with premiums owed to the WSIB will be allowed to defer reporting and payments until August 31, 2020. The deferral will also apply to Schedule 2 businesses that pay WSIB for the cost related to their workplace injury and illness claims.
  • In addition, no interest will be accrued on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this six-month deferral period.
• Cutting taxes by $355 million for about 57,000 employers through a proposed temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption.
  • a temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption from $490,000 to $1 million for 2020.

AS OF March 25, 2020: The federal government introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): This benefit provides support for up to 16 weeks for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants will receive $2,000 a month, for up to 4 months. This benefit replaces the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit.

• The CERB covers Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking careof someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school closures.
• Workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB. Canadians who are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB.
• Who is a “worker” under CERB program?: A worker is defined as a person who is at least 15 years of age, is a resident in Canada and who in 2019 (or in the 12 months before applying) had an income of at least $5,000 from (a) employment (b) self-employment (c) certain EI benefits.
• A worker is eligible for an income support payment if
  (a) the worker, whether employed or self-employed, ceases working for reasons related to COVID-19 for at least 14 consecutive days within the four-week period in respect of which they apply for the payment; and
  (b) they do not receive income in respect of the consecutive days on which they have ceased working

The portal for accessing the CERB will be available in early April.

AS OF March 25, 2020: The Provincial Government launched a toll-free line 1-888-444-3659 to support Ontario businesses who have questions about the province’s emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. Full details here.

AS OF March 24, 2020: Milton Mayor Gord Krantz Declares State of Emergency for Town Amid COVID-19. Mayor Gordon Krantz, with the support of Milton Council and the Town’s Crisis Management Team has officially declared a State of Emergency in the Town of Milton. This declaration supports Halton Region and the Province of Ontario’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and on-going measures to “flatten the curve”. Full details here.

The Provincial Government announced immediate electricity rate relief

• For a 45-day period, the government is holding electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 10.1 ¢/kWh no matter what time of day the electricity is consumed
• Time-of-use customers will see rate reductions of over 50 per cent compared to on-peak rates
• The pricing applies automatically – no customer action is required.
• Some customers may receive a bill before their utility or unit sub-meter provider is able to implement the price change, in which case they will receive a credit on the following bill.

AS OF March 23, 2020: the provincial government announced it is ordering the closure of all non-essential businesses in the province to help deal with the spread of COVID-19.

• The order will be effective Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. and will be in place for at least 14 days.
• The province will release the list of businesses that will be allowed to stay open on Tuesday.
• Businesses that can continue operations with employees working remotely, or through other contingency measures, are being given approximately 36 hours to prepare and adapt. Essential services may continue their operations to maintain supply chains and ensure the people of Ontario have access to necessities, including groceries, medicines and other essential products.
• A 1-800 number and website will be made available on Wednesday for any inquiries.

AS OF March 21, 2020: the provincial government set up a website for businesses that can help Ontario during this crisis. Please visit ontario.ca/OntarioTogether.

AS OF March 18, 2020: The Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses. Full details here.

AS OF March 18, 2020: Canada’s big six banks announced they will allow mortgage payment deferrals for up to six months as part of extraordinary measures to help customers struggling with the financial impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Effective immediately, Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank have made a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19. Full details here.

AS OF March 17, 2020: the Government of Ontario announced that it is declaring an emergency effective immediately. As a result of this declaration, the following establishments are legally required to close immediately:

• All facilities providing indoor recreational programs;
• All public libraries;
• All private schools as defined in the Education Act;
• All licensed child care centres;
• All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery;
• All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies; and
• Concert venues

Further, all organized public events of over 50 people are also prohibited, including parades and events and communal services within places of worship. Continued operation of workplaces that employ more than 50 people is not prohibited.

These orders will remain in place until March 31, 2020, at which point they will be reassessed and considered for extension, unless this order is terminated earlier.

AS OF March 16, 2020: only four Canadian airports will accept international travelers: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Please note that these restrictions will not apply to trade or commerce. Canadians who are overseas have been asked to return home while commercial travel is still available. All travelers returning to Canada must self-isolate for 14 days. Canadians are also advised to avoid non-essential travel.

During this period of uncertainty, we ask you to consider supporting our local restaurants. Whether this is ordering a meal or purchasing gift cards to be used at a later date, your help is truly appreciated.

Click here for a list of local restaurants, hours, and how to get food from them.