Daily COVID-19 Update: May 20, 2020
Supports for Business
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Application Documents Now Available
The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) application process will open on May 25 to provide forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners, who in turn will give a rent reduction of at least 75 per cent for April and May (retroactive), and June, to their small business tenants. Applications will be accepted through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website beginning on May 25, and application documents can now be accessed.
Quick Facts
- CECRA will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners, whether they have a mortgage on their property or not. The loans will cover 50 per cent 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 qualifying property owner agrees to reduce the small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent under a rent reduction 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 per cent of the rent.
- Impacted small business tenants are businesses that are paying less than $50,000 per month in gross rent in a given location, with annual revenues of less than $20 million (at the ultimate parent level), and who have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues
- Property owners with up to 10 eligible tenants should apply on Mondays and all other applications should be submitted on Thursdays and Fridays.
Applications for Large Employer Support Program Now Open
The government announced the opening of the application process for the government’s Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF). The program will support Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing.
The government’s support for large employers through LEEFF will be delivered by a subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV), in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Department of Finance. Additional information on the application process is available on the CDEV website. Broader sectoral dynamics for LEEFF applicants will be considered through processes led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Supports for Individuals
Screening Protocols for Travellers
As part of its relaunch strategy, the Alberta government is enacting the strongest public health measures in the country for international travellers to prevent the spread of travel-related COVID-19 cases. Travellers arriving at the Edmonton and Calgary airports from outside Canada will have to pass a provincial checkpoint, have their temperature taken using an infrared camera and complete an Alberta isolation questionnaire that details how they will follow mandatory isolation requirements. Provincial officials will follow up with arriving travellers within three days to ensure they are following public health orders and have the information and support they need. If required, provincial officials will help travellers access support to meet isolation requirements.
The Calgary and Edmonton airports are also implementing enhanced cleaning protocols for arrival lounges and high-touch surfaces, placing hand sanitizer stations at every kiosk and touch screen machine.
Phase two will involve establishing a similar provincial checkpoint at the Alberta-U.S. border crossing at Coutts. The checkpoint will help welcome people to the province while ensuring travellers are aware of Alberta’s COVID-19 protocols. Essential economic travel will not be disrupted.
All travellers are also encouraged to download the ABTraceTogether app when they arrive in Alberta. The app enhances the current manual tracing process and helps protect people and their loved ones.
Read today’s news release for more.
Community Supports and Resources
Increased Funding Announced for School Maintenance
Capital funding for school divisions has been increased by $250 million to help boost the economy, while also accelerating important maintenance to existing schools. This funding will support hundreds of projects in all school divisions across the province. The province will work with school divisions to invest dollars in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Specific projects will be confirmed by the start of June. The majority of projects are anticipated to be completed by October.
This initiative is an acceleration of investment in school maintenance and renewal projects, and is separate from funding for new schools or modernizations. Approved projects must align with the requirements of Alberta Education’s Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal program and fall into one of the following categories:
- building envelope (e.g., roofs, doors, windows, exterior finishes)
- mechanical (e.g., plumbing, heating and ventilation)
- electrical (e.g., lighting upgrades)
- structural (e.g., foundations)
- site improvements (e.g., parking lot repair, regrading for drainage)
- interior upgrades
Staged Resumption of Court Operations
The Provincial Court of Alberta has updated its plan for the staged resumption of court operations. The changes involve family mediation; the rescheduling and adjournment of provincial tickets, bylaws and other matters; and criminal adult out-of-custody criminal trials and preliminary inquiries. More information
Advocacy
Chamber Chief Economist Comments On LEEFF Program
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist and VP of Policy, Trevin Stratton, explains in The Logic that Canadian business should seek "to the greatest extent possible" private financing before considering borrowing from the government LEEFF program. Read more.
Webinars
Strategies For How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19
Join us on May 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a webinar with Canadian Western Bank (CWB) on tips and tricks for how to take care of your employees and gain insight into how CWB is able to offer its support to businesses and clients as they navigate the crisis and beyond. Register Now.
Business Resiliency Taskforce webinar
Please join the Grande Prairie Business Resiliency Taskforce on Friday, May 22 at noon for information on the Regional Relief Recovery Fund and the Community Futures Emergency Loan Fund. Register online.
New Resources
Safety Resources for COVID-19
F & S Safety Buzz is providing some free resources to assist with building safety steps during COVID 19. You can contact Cory 403-529-7741 or email cory@fssafetybuzz.ca to get your free COVID safety table topper delivered or to get a quick complimentary safety assessment to ensure you are taking the correct safety measures to protect you, your team and your customers. They have a recorded webinar you can view about COVID-19 compliance with OHS and hazard assessments and you can check out the hazard assessment template they have created for you.
ATB Nexus
ATB Nexus is an Alberta based procurement solution, supported by ATB Financial and can help create RFP packages and find supply chain opportunities for your business. Check out the latest products and services here.
CBRN Launches National Guide For Business Reopening
As businesses prepare to reopen or revamp their operations amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are numerous issues and challenges to consider. This toolkit prepared by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Canadian Business Resilience Network is designed to provide guidance, or access to guidance, for business owners and senior managers responsible for re-establishing their operations while ensuring the health and safety of their staff, customers, suppliers and the general public is at the forefront.
The toolkit provides key information on government regulations, childcare availability, sourcing PPE, government financial supports and communicating to staff, customers and suppliers. The guide also includes links to a wide range of additional toolkits and resources prepared by members of the CBRN. Key sections of the guide will be regularly updated online to provide the most recent information available. Access the toolkit.
Retail Council of Canada Tool for Matching Talent with Jobs
COVID-19 has created an unprecedented worker supply and demand mismatch. While some sectors are forced to shut their doors, furloughing and laying off workers, other sectors are faced with unprecedented demand that current hiring processes cannot meet. The RCC is co-sponsoring the Eightfold Talent Exchange, a talent marketplace built and hosted by Eightfold.ai. The online portal will help companies identify the talent they have furloughed and make connections with companies that are hiring. This is a free platform for retailers until December 2020. More information
#YXH2Gether
Share your stories and resources with us and on the YXH Business Support Group and connect with us for any questions you have.
Recognize your heroes by using the hashtag #YXHheroes.
Honour your everyday heroes through the Alberta Northern Lights Volunteer Awards program. Nominations can be submitted online.
"Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice.” - Heather Ash Amara
For more resources visit our COVID-19 page
On Demand Webinars
Alberta Bits & Pieces Webinar. Watch Now.
Canadian Business Resilience Network Video Content
13 Ways COVID-19 and Your Business Part 1: Watch Now.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Explained: Watch Now.
Conflict Escalation & What to Do About It. Watch Now.
Destination Canada: The Visitor Economy: Watch Now.
BDC Economic Pulse (April 20): Watch Now.
How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business. Watch Now.
How to Navigate Government Programs with KPMG. Watch Now.
The Importance of Human Resources & Being Strategic When Your Business is Being Temporarily Impacted. Watch Now.
Keeping Your Company and Employees Secure When Working Remotely. Watch Now.
Leading During a Crisis and Switching to Remote Work. Watch Now.
Maintaining Sales in the face of COVID-19. Watch Now.
Rent Relief in a World of the Coronavirus: Watch Now.
Shopify E-Commerce Tools. Watch Now.
Social Media in Crisis. Watch Now.
Understanding, Accessing and Optimizing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Watch Now.
What To Feel When Stressors Collide, With Canada Life. Watch Now.
Working From Home During COVID-19. Watch Now.
Webinar Series
AMHSA, CSSE, Howatt HR, AUMA Mental Health Webinar Series. Click here.
APEX Alberta Webinars: Watch the recorded series
BDC Webinar Series. Click here.
BusinessLink: View upcoming events.
Buyandsell.gc.ca: Learn how to find bid opportunities. Register now.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Watch Now.
CPA Small Business Webinar Series. Click here.
CPHR Alberta: HR Pandemic Essentials. Click here.
Conference Board of Canada Webinar Series: Mental Health and COVID-19. Click here.
Constant Contact Webinar Series: View the line up of sessions and register.
D2L Webinar Series: Digital Transformation for Associations. Watch Now.
Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) Wednesday weekly: Business & Economic Recovery During the COVID-19 Crisis
Free Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)® IDS™ sessions. Register here.
International Economic Development Council Webinar series. Watch now.
Retail Council of Canada
StartUp Canada Women Entrepreneur Webinar Series: Click here.
Travel Alberta Webinar Series. Watch Now.
Upcoming Webinars
May 21: COVID-19: Get financing and support for your business (Q&A with EDC & BDC). Register here.
May 21: 13 Ways Easing Into The New Normal. Register here.
May 21: Recovery & Overcoming Adversity with Business Link: an Online Panel. Register here.
May 21: Research and Insights to Help Guide Alberta’s Tourism Recovery. Register Now.
May 22: How To Create A Brand For The Digital Era. Register here.
May 22: BDC Planning for recovery: How to restart your business in the wake of COVID-19. Register here.
May 22: Valuing Nature: Value Balancing Alliance – Impact Measurement And Green Accounting. Register now.
May 22: Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce - Business Resiliency Taskforce webinar. Register now.
May 26 & June 2: Rock My Business Plan. Register here.
May 26: CWB Financial Webinar | Putting People First: How to Win During a Crisis. Register now.
May 26: Travel Alberta “Worth the Wait” summer marketing campaign.
May 26: CWB | Strategies For How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19. Register now.
May 27: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Workplace. Register here.
May 27: Digital Strategy in a Time of Crisis. Register here.
May 27: Marketing Your Business Re-Opening. Register here.
May 28: Work-Life Wellness for Entrepreneurs: During & Beyond the COVID-19 Crisis. Register here.
May 28: Succession Planning Webinar. Register here.
May 28: Alberta Tourism Town Hall. Register now.
May 28: Alberta’s Economy in a COVID-19 World, hosted by Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist at ATB Financial
June 3: APEX Alberta: Personality Dimensions – Sales and Customer Service. Register here.
June 4: Cash Flow Management in Times of Uncertainty Webinar. Register here.
June 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
Don’t forget Joe Social Media – Free Social Media training from May 1 – June 30 (times vary). Register here. Use promocode: Resilience
Check out more events on our Pandemic Training Calendar