Marit Stiles MPP for Davenport

Government of Ontario
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Small Business Supports

The closures forced by the latest lockdown will hurt small businesses badly. My office is advocating daily for increased supports for business owners and workers who will bear the brunt of these latest measures. We are calling for direct small business grants to all impacted small Ontario businesses to put money directly in the pockets of those who need it now. We are also calling for more provincial supports for workers losing income.

In meantime, below are some links to available federal and provincial programs to help businesses and their workers. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.

Last Updated: January 5, 2022

General Information: Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan  

  • Wage and Rent Supports
  • As a business, charity, or non-profit in Canada that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for one or more subsidies to cover part of your wage and rent expenses.

    • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP)
      • Targeted wage and rent support for eligible businesses, charities, and non-profits in the tourism or hospitality sector or those affected by a qualifying public health restriction
      • More Information 

    • Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (HHBRP)
      • Targeted wage and rent support for hard-hit eligible businesses, charities, and non-profits outside of tourism or hospitality that have been deeply affected since the start of the pandemic
      • More Information

    • Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP)
      • Support for increasing wages to existing employees and wages paid to new hires as business resumes and the economy recovers
      • More Information

    • Local Lockdown Program
      • The Local Lockdown Program is a way businesses, charities, and non-profits affected by a qualifying public health restriction can be eligible for wage and rent support through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP). You do not have to be in the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, or recreation sectors to be eligible for this support.
      • More Information

    • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
      • Wage subsidy for eligible employers from March 15, 2020, to October 23, 2021. You may continue to apply for claim periods that are still open.
      • More Information

    • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
      • Rent subsidy for eligible businesses, charities, and non-profits from September 27, 2020, to October 23, 2021. You may continue to apply for claim periods that are still open.
      • More Information

General Information: COVID-19 Benefits and Services

  • Benefits to help individuals facing hardship as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak

    • Employment Insurance (EI)
      • Temporary changes have been made to the EI program to better support Canadians in need of financial assistance
      • If you are not eligible for EI or have recieved the maximum number of weeks of EI regular benefits, you may be eligible for other benefits below
      • More Infomration on EI

    • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)
      • Income support for employed or self-employed workers unable to work due to a designated regional COVID-19 lockdown.
      • More Information

    • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
      • Up to 6 weeks of support if you are sick or must self-isolate due to COVID-19.
      • More Information

    • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
      • Income support if you must stop work to care for dependents due to closures, high risk and caregiver availability.
      • More Information

General Information: Help for COVID-19 Costs

  • Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program
    • Eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these measures. Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs, while businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. A full list of eligible business types will be available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
    • Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022. Payments to eligible businesses will be retroactive to December 19, 2021
    • Call 1-866-668-8297 if you have questions

  • Pausing Commercial Evictions
    • Temporary stop or reversal of evictions of commercial tenants and protection from being locked out or having their assets seized during COVID-19
    • This applies to businesses that were eligible for the previous Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses program or who have been approved for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS).
    • More Information 

  • Tax Relief
    • Support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes.
    • Six-month period will begin on January 1, 2022 and end on July 1, 2022. This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. Businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes:
      • Employer Health Tax
      • Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes
      • Tobacco TaxInsurance Premium Tax
      • Fuel Tax
      • International Fuel Tax Agreement
      • Gas Tax
      • Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans
      • Mining Tax
      • Race Tracks Tax
  • Provincial Antigen Screening Program
    • Your business may be eligible for free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to be distributed to enhance routine screening measures
    • NOTE: The province is experiencing a high demand for RATs. There may be delays in accessing free RATs through early January
    • More Information

  • Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
  • Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit
    • Paid infectious disease emergency leave is available for certain reasons related to COVID-19 including 
      • Going for a COVID-19 test
      • Staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
      • Being sick with COVID-19
      • Getting individual medical treatment for mental health reasons related to COVID-19
      • Going to get vaccinated
      • Experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination
      • Having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other specified authority
      • Providing care or support to certain relatives for COVID-19 related reasons, such as when they are: 
        • Sick with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
        • Self-isolating due to COVID-19 on the advice of a medical practitioner or other specified authority
        • providing care or support to their child who is getting vaccinated against COVID-19 or is experiencing side effects from the vaccine
    • Employers are generally required to pay employees the wages they would have earned had they not taken the leave, up to $200 a day for up to three days
      • Eligible employers are entitled to be reimbursed the amount of infectious disease emergency leave pay that they paid to their employees, up to $200 per employee per day taken.
    • More information
    • Reimbursement Application for Business Owners

General Information: COVID-19 Businesses and Organizations - Resources

  • COVID-19 Workplace Reporting Tool
    • In accordance with the Toronto Medical Officer of Health’s Letter of Instruction, employers must immediately notify Toronto Public Health when they become aware of two or more people who test positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period in their workplace.
    • Reporting Link

  • Guidelines for Businesses and Community Organizations
    • Find out information about Toronto Public Health guidance and both provincial and City recommendations and requirements
    • More Information

  • One-on-One Business Support
    • The BusinessTO Support Centre provides one-on-one virtual support to help businesses understand and acess recent government funding applications and guidance with applications. Advisors can also provide information about City progrmas and offer general business advice
    • More Information

  • Digital Transformation Resources
    • Help for businesses accessing and adopting digital tools, technologies and services
    • More Information

  • Operational Support and Guidelines
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