COVID-19 – RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

by Elizabeth May | May 19, 2020 9:00 am

Latest Announcements

More information from the Government of Canada will be uploaded as it becomes available.

Canada Emergency Business Account: The Prime Minister announced on May 19 that eligibility will be expanded, details coming soon
Canada Emergency Student Benefit: Applications opened Friday, May 15
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for Small Businesses: Applications are now open
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Extended until the end of August
Scam Alert: Beware of COVID-19-inspired Phishing Scams
Quarantine Act: Travellers returning to Canada MUST self-quarantine for 14 days, cannot board any flights, international or domestic, if exhibiting symptoms
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): Application and eligibility details
B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers: Provides a one-time $1,000 payment to people who lost income because of COVID-19 through the B.C. government
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund: For businesses that do not qualify for other business supports, contact Western Economic Diversification Canada or Community Futures

Coronavirus General Information & Resources

Government of Canada COVID-19 information – Updates, travel advisories, prevention and risk, Canada’s response, funding and support
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund: For businesses that do not qualify for other business supports, contact Western Economic Diversification Canada
Free virtual tax clinics: If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, trained volunteers may be able to do your taxes for free
COVID-19 Counselling Support Initiative for Health Care Workers
Wellness Together Canada – Mental Health and Substance Use Support
British Columbia Psychological Association – COVID-19 Psychological First Aid
B.C. Centre for Disease Control – Information about the virus, community resources, self-isolation and testing
World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
City of Victoria – COVID-19 information
Municipality of Saanich – COVID-19 information
Town of Sidney – Information about novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Capital Regional District (CRD) – COVID-19 information
Island Health – Coronavirus information (COVID-19)
BC Covid-19 Self-assessment tool
B.C. COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information
Please contact your MLA for more information regarding provincial measures

Hotlines

Government of Canada COVID-19 Information: 1-833-784-4397
B.C. Health Information: 8-1-1
Resiliency Help Desk (A phone line launched with the Canada Chamber of Commerce to help entrepreneurs and vulnerable small businesses, including charities and non-profits, that provides the assistance of an accountant or financial advisor) – 1-866-989-1080
If you are in quarantine and are seeking to waive the one-week EI sickness benefits waiting period: 1-833-381-2725 or via teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742
Emergency and travel assistance for Canadians abroad: 1-613-996-8855 or sos@international.gc.ca
Labour Program: 1-800-641-4049 (toll-free) or via teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-926-9105
Canada Emergency Response Benefit: 1-800-959-2041 or 1-800-959-2019
Federal government-related service requests (CPP, CRA, SIN, Service Canada, Passport)

Government Response

Green Party of Canada Response

Green Party of Canada press releases

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance
Creation of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (up to $10 billion)
Originally this was going to be two separate benefits: The Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit — have been combined for simplification purposes
Benefit provides $2000 per month for the next 4 months to workers who have lost employment income because of COVID-19
Online portal opened April 6, and people can receive money within 10 days of applying by mail, or 3-5 days of applying via direct deposit
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
Eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit recently became more flexible. See here for eligibility criteria.
Canadians can apply for CERB through CRA MyAccount or My Service Canada Account or by calling 1-800-959-2041 or 1-800-959-2019

Employment Insurance

Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can provide you with up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you cannot work for medical reasons
You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week
Some employers provide their own paid sick leave or short-term disability plan. Before you apply for EI sickness benefits, check with your employer to find out if they have a plan in place
The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim
Priority EI application processing for EI sickness claims for clients under quarantine
People claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate
People who cannot complete their claim for EI sickness benefits due to quarantine may apply later and have their EI claim backdated to cover the period of delay
If you are in quarantine and are seeking to waive the one-week EI sickness benefits waiting period:
Call this hotline: 1-833-381-2725 (toll-free)
Or via teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742
EI Sickness Benefits — please visit to determine if you qualify/and to apply for EI sickness benefits
Specific COVID-19 information re: EI

International Travel Information

Information for Businesses

Canada Emergency Business Account: The Prime Minister announced expanded eligibility on May 19, details coming soon
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund: Offered through Western Economic Diversification Canada. If you are not eligible for other programs, you may try to pursue support through this program
Letter from Elizabeth May: Resources for the Business Community
Resiliency Help Desk (A phone line launched with the Canada Chamber of Commerce to help entrepreneurs and vulnerable small businesses, including charities and non-profits, that provides the assistance of an accountant or financial advisor) – 1-866-989-1080
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program
Work-Sharing Program: Temporary special measures for the downturn in business due to COVID-19 and for the forestry and steel and aluminum sector
Flexibility for Businesses Filing Taxes
Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) – Ensuring Businesses Have Access to Credit Supporting Financial Market Liquidity
Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe
Business Development Bank of Canada
Small Business BC: COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses
BC Economic Development Association: Coronavirus
YYJ Locals for Locals: Group of community-minded tech and marketing professionals offering pro-bono assistance to local small businesses, restaurants, and bars in Victoria, B.C.
Douglas Magazine: A Victoria-based magazine with resources, advice, and information for small- and medium-sized businesses
Tiny Victoria Small Business Relief Fund: Tech company Tiny is offering small, 0% non-recourse loans to Victoria-based small businesses
Help for small businesses: $962 million for regional development agencies and the Community Futures Network

Refugees, Temporary Foreign Workers, International Students, Permanent Resident Applicants

UNHCR Canada: Key Information for Asylum Seekers
How COVID-19 is affecting business at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
University of Victoria COVID-19 Emergency Bursary: Available to all students—domestic or international, undergraduate or graduate—who are experiencing emergency financial need as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic

Essential workers

A new wage boost for essential workers
More information coming soon

Community organizations

Emergency Community Support Fund: $350 million to improve the ability of community organizations to serve vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 crisis

Child care

1Up Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre: Services for single parents in Victoria area
Child care Canada: COVID-19 resources and information
Canada child benefit (CCB) increase

Seniors and Pensioners

Please note that if you are a senior or pensioner, the money you receive from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Old Age Security (OAS) does not count as employment income, and you may therefore be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
If you are struggling to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) online, please call either 1-800-959-2041 or 1-800-959-2019
The government reduced the required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) by 25 per cent for 2020
If you receive OAS, you will receive a one-time $300 extra payment
Seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement will also get an extra $200

Students

Canada Emergency Student Benefit: Backgrounder
Canada Student Service Grant: Backgrounder
All student loan borrowers will automatically have their loan repayments and interest suspended until September 30, 2020 – federally and in B.C.
Lighthouse Labs COVID-19 Scholarship Fund: Software Company offering scholarships for full- and part-time courses to teach people how to code
University of Victoria COVID-19 Emergency Bursary: Available to all students—domestic or international, undergraduate or graduate—who are experiencing emergency financial need as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Camosun College COVID-19 Emergency Student Bursaries: The BC Government and Camosun College have established a COVID-19 Emergency bursary fund to provide one-time $200 funding to support current registered students impacted by this crisis.
Changes to Canada Summer Jobs program: to help businesses and young Canadians affected by COVID-19
Government is creating 76,000 jobs for young people, in addition to the Canada Summer Jobs Program, via the Canada Job Bank
Specific support for Indigenous students — $75 million
Grad students and student researchers — $291 million to extend grants, scholarships, and fellowships
Student grant funding provided by federal government doubled for the 2020-2021 school year

Farmers, Producers, and Harvesters

Farm Credit Canada lending capacity increases by $5B to alleviate industry financial pressure
Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
$252 million to food producers and processors, consisting of:
-$77 million to food processors
-$125 million for AgriRecovery program to pork and beef producers
-$50 million for Surplus Food Purchase Program to prevent food waste
-Extending credit line of the Canadian Dairy Commission to $200 million
$470 million to fish harvesters:
-Fish Harvesters’ Benefit: If you’re expecting a 25% drop in income this season, you’ll get support cover 75% of your losses, up to $10,000
-Non-repayable grants available for fish harvesters who own their own business, up to $10,000
-Employment insurance rules being shifted for workers in the fish harvesting industry: Can apply for benefits based on past years’ income
Agriculture and Food Business Solutions Fund: $100 million through Farm Credit Canada
700 new youth jobs announced in the food processing industry

Artists and Creators

CBC Creative Relief Fund: In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CBC has launched THE CBC CREATIVE RELIEF FUND to provide immediate, urgent support to Canadian creators. The unprecedented new Fund will provide $2 million in development and production funding for a diverse range of innovative, original Canadian storytelling, including scripted comedies and dramas, unscripted entertainment, kids and young adult programming, podcasts, play adaptations and short documentaries.
BC Arts Council: COVID-19 information
Showcase B.C.: Funding for artists who wish to livestream their shows and performances

Financial Support Chart: Federal Support Program

Source URL: http://elizabethmaymp.ca/issues/2020/05/19/coronavirus-covid-19/