Interactive Business Benefits Finder The Government of Canada has introduced many COVID-19 supports to help businesses weather the storm. To get a tailored list of the ones that fit your business situation or to discover other federal, provincial and territorial programs and services designed to help Canadian businesses grow, try the interactive business benefits finder. You can also sign up for the notification feature to receive emails when there are changes to your favourite programs, when application deadlines are approaching, or when a new program that meets your needs is introduced.
Canada Digital Adoption Program The Government of Canada has set up the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) realize their full potential by adopting digital technologies. CDAP comprises two separate funding components:
Grow Your Business Online - For smaller, consumer-facing businesses, including those in service industries, Grow Your Business Online grants will help them adopt e-commerce technologies. For-profit businesses, including co-operatives and social enterprises, are eligible for this $2,400 micro-grant.
Boost Your Business Technology - SMEs that want to further improve their productivity and become more competitive in the digital marketplace can turn to Boost Your Business Technology to apply for a grant to cover 90%, up to a maximum of $15,000, of the cost of developing a digital adoption plan.
Federal Government Extends Loan Repayment Deadlines The Government of Canada announced that the repayment deadline for CEBA loans to qualify for partial loan forgiveness is being extended from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023, for all eligible borrowers in good standing.
Repayment on or before the new deadline of December 31, 2023, will result in loan forgiveness of up to a third of the value of the loans (meaning up to $20,000).
Outstanding loans would subsequently convert to two-year term loans with interest of 5 per cent per annum commencing on January 1, 2024, with the loans fully due by December 31, 2025.
The government is also announcing that the repayment deadline to qualify for partial forgiveness for CEBA-equivalent lending through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund is extended to December 31, 2023.
Indigenous Community Business Fund The federal government is providing non-repayable financial contributions to help support operating costs for First Nation, Inuit and Métis community-or collectively-owned businesses and microbusinesses whose revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund seeks to provide support for businesses that do not qualify for other Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures.
Note: Indigenous peoples can also access all other government benefits.
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and several financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country. The Government of Canada has announced that the Loan Fund is accepting loan applications from Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE).
COVID-19 Paid Sick Days Extended to March 31, 2023 Excerpts from Government of Ontario News Release, July 21, 2022
The Ontario government is ensuring employees do not lose pay if they miss work due to COVID-19 by extending paid sick days to March 31, 2023. Eligible workers will continue to receive up to $200 a day for up to three days if they need to get tested, vaccinated, receive booster shots, self-isolate, or care for a family member who is ill from COVID-19. The government will continue to reimburse eligible employers for the paid leave days.
The Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit supports business investment, economic growth and job creation in designated regions across Ontario (including Peterborough City and County) that lagged in employment growth between 2009 and 2019. It is a 10% refundable Corporate Income Tax credit for corporations that invest more than $50,000 to construct, renovate or acquire eligible commercial and industrial buildings in these regions. The Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit will:
help address regional disparities by bringing greater opportunities and prosperity to businesses, workers and families in these communities
help attract investments, boost growth and create jobs by supporting businesses, including those that are recovering from COVID-19, to expand and grow
