Daily COVID-19 Update: June 3, 2020
Supports for Business
Cooperative Investment Program
Travel Alberta acknowledges the extraordinary circumstances and challenges that tourism businesses are dealing with in our province. The Cooperative Investment Program is to assist tourism operators and regions across Alberta to RESTART consumer marketing activities and aid in the development of traveler products, experiences, and packaging in a COVID-19 travel environment. Main intent with the revised program is to assist businesses in developing and delivering experiences in a COVID-19 travel environment, stimulate revenue to tourism businesses, get Albertans back to work and inspire pride of place in local communities and the province.
The program opened on June 1 to support partners with product/experience development and partnership marketing. Revised guidelines posted on the Industry Hub. New program highlights for the 2020-2021 fiscal year include:
- There will be two intake dates: June 1-30, 2020 and September 1-30, 2020
- The program will not require partners to match funds
- Capital costs related to COVID-19 for product development will be eligible up to $5,000
- Support for e-commerce, on-line booking/ticketing platforms are eligible for funding
- Development and delivery of virtual experiences are eligible
Survey Deadline Tomorrow: Deferral Of Payments Of Duties And Taxes
On March 27, the federal government announced the deferral of payments of duties and taxes on imports through to the end of June. The government is seeking information from members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and IE Canada to understand how the deferral has worked in practice in the context of the relationship importers have with their customs brokers. All responses are being collected anonymously. Take the survey
Reminder: Contribute To The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Consultation
The Government of Canada is reviewing the CEWS program, and input from businesses is required to inform potential changes to the program to best meet the needs of businesses and their staff. You can participate via a short online survey or by email. The deadline to participate is June 5, 2020. Complete the survey.
Minister Garneau announces new measures for the use of face coverings in the Canadian transportation sector
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced he is expanding the requirements for the use of face coverings by workers and others involved in the transportation system, to reduce the risk of COVID-19. More information.
Supports for Individuals
Online Booking for Expanded COVID-19 testing
All Albertans are now eligible for testing for COVID-19, whether they are symptomatic or not. Testing can be easily booked online by visiting www.ahs.ca/covid. If using the Internet is not an option, 811 can book an appointment online for individuals who want to be tested. Although testing can only determine whether a person has COVID-19 at the time of testing, and cannot determine whether someone has previously had COVID-19, or assess immunity to COVID-19, uptake of the expanded testing is important. It will provide a clearer picture of how well our public health measures are working to contain COVID-19, and help guide further progress in Alberta’s re-launch. Download the poster.
Community Supports and Resources
Help keep seniors safe
Albertans are encouraged to reach out to seniors in their community and offer to run errands, provide companionship and support them in whatever way possible. People can share their experiences with supporting seniors through #AlbertaCares.
Advocacy
Benefits Of Immigration And Inclusive Growth For Post-Pandemic Recovery
In this episode, our President and CEO the Hon. Perrin Beatty and the Hon. Marco Mendicino, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, discuss the need for inclusive growth while recovering from the pandemic, as well as the economic benefits of immigration, international students and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada. Watch now.
ICC Shapes The Business Response To COVID-19
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) provides a voice for businesses at the UN. As Canada’s national committee to the ICC, we have the opportunity to connect our members with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Action Labs, which enable participants to place their views on the radars of key decision-makers. This year, the virtual Action Labs will focus on supply chain resilience, business and human rights, digital transition and sustainability. Please let Mark Agnew know if you are interested in learning more.
New Resources
Travel Alberta Learning Portal
Connecting Alberta’s tourism businesses with insights, expertise, and best practices to help guide marketing and business activities. Learn more.
Innovation Series
APEX wants to highlight innovations our business community has implemented to ensure the safety of employees as they return to work and to entice consumers and shoppers to return to our stores to shop locally and safely. The innovation does not need to encompass new technology (which is what APEX normally focuses on), it can be any type of innovation, a pool noodle hat to encourage physical distancing, a wireless Point of Sale (POS) system to protect employees from getting too close to patrons, or how about a Quick Response (QR) Code that you scan with your smart phone so you can instantly see the touchless menu.If you have implemented any type of innovation to make your business safer for your employees and your customers, please contact Sandra Milne at (403) 528-2824. Read more.
Featured Webinars
Travel Insurance In The World Of COVID-19, With Johnson Insurance
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected our ability to travel. Yet as restrictions are slowly lifted and lockdown measures decrease, travel constraints will ease up. Once travel is allowed, people will have questions about travel insurance. What am I covered for? Is my current travel insurance policy sufficient? Where can I go if I have further travel insurance questions? Join us on June 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET to find out! Register now.
Take Control of Your Business: 3 Simple Tools to Help Your Business Survive and Thrive with Bradshaw & Associates
A free 1-hour webinar where business leaders will learn 3 simple and essential tools that will help them get more control of their business right now. Register now.
How to Build an Effective Advertising Strategy with Facebook
You're ready to advertise but need a strategy and a plan. We'll walk through how to define your advertising goals and objectives, reach your target audience at the right time and place, and learn to measure a successful advertising campaign. Register now.
#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.
"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it." – Marianne Williamson
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.
Crowdfunding through COVID-19. 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.
Relaunching Your Business. Watch now.
Rent Relief in a World of the Coronavirus: Watch Now.
Shopify E-Commerce Tools. Watch Now.
Social Media in Crisis. Watch Now.
Strategies for How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19. 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
June 4: Essential Business Service Cyber Security Webinar with Field Effect. Register here.
June 4: Travel Alberta - How to Use Your Story to Connect Deeply with Your Partners. Register here.
June 4: Cash Flow Management in Times of Uncertainty Webinar. Register here.
June 4: Resiliency - Challenges Across Generations. Register now.
June 8: Social media marketing essentials for small business. Register now.
June 9: Getting Creative With Your Mobile Phone, With Facebook. Register now.
June 9: Getting started with email marketing to grow your small business. Register now.
June 9: Restarting and Thriving After COVID-19 and Beyond, presented by PwC. Register here.
June 10: Post-COVID Employee Benefits. Register here.
June 10: Bow Valley College - Intermediate Facebook marketing. Register now.
June 10: Understanding Travel Insurance in the World of COVID-19 with Johnson Insurance. Register now.
June 15: Getting found online - tools/tactics to help your website show up higher in search engines. Register now.
June 15: How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal. Register now.
June 16: Google Ads – what you need to know to start driving traffic to your website. Register now.
June 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
June 22: Take Control of Your Business: 3 Simple Tools to Help Your Business Survive and Thrive with Bradshaw & Associates. Register Now
June 24: How to Build an Effective Advertising Strategy. Register now.
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