COVID 19- Business Resources

Feb. 14th, 2022

January 7, 2022

Ontario Providing Supports for Small Businesses, Workers and Families

Province’s plan includes $10,000 grant for eligible small businesses and additional electricity-rate relief

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect people, jobs and our economy, and we will continue to deliver on that commitment. As part of our plan to support workers and businesses, the government is announcing an Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen beginning January 5, 2022. It will provide eligible small businesses with a one-time grant payment of $10,000.

Eligible small businesses will include:

• Restaurants and bars 
• Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms)
• Performing arts venues and cinemas, museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions
• Meeting or event spaces
• Tour and guide services
• Conference centres and convention centres.

Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and that are subject to closure under modified Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and will not need to apply to the new program. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks. Small businesses who qualify can expect to receive their payment in February. 

Electricity Rate Relief Support

The Ontario government is providing electricity rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home while the province is in Modified Step Two. For 21 days, starting at 12:01 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set 24 hours a day at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate.

The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility and will benefit customers on both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans. This will provide immediate savings for families, small businesses and farms as all Ontarians work together to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.”

Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program

The government is also announcing that online applications for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program will open on January 18. This program will provide eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity with rebate payments for up to 100 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to public health measures in response to the Omicron variant.

Eligible 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. Those 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. A complete list of eligible businesses will be provided prior to the launch of the application portal.

Improving Cash Flow for Ontario Businesses

The government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing up to $7.5 billion through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period starting January 1, 2022 for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This supports businesses now and provides for the flexibility they will need for long-term planning.

Building on Ontario’s leadership on improving cash flows for businesses, the Province continues to call on the federal government to match provincial tax deferral efforts by allowing small businesses impacted by public health restrictions to  defer their HST remittances for a period of six months.

These measures will build on Ontario’s support for businesses and workers, including:

• Cutting wholesale alcohol prices to provide approximately $60 million in annual support to restaurants, bars and other businesses, as well as making it easier for business to create and extend patios and permanently allowing licenced restaurants and bars to include alcohol with food as part of a takeout or delivery order.
• Extending COVID-19 paid sick days until July 31, 2022 to keep workers safe and ensure they do not lose pay if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19.
• Enabling an estimated $10.1 billion in cost savings and support to Ontario businesses in 2021, with more than 60 per cent, or $6.3 billion, going to small businesses, including:
  • Supporting a reduction in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) premiums.
  • Allowing businesses to accelerate write-offs of capital investments for tax purposes.
  • Reducing the small business Corporate Income Tax rate to 3.2 per cent.
  • Providing the Digital Main Street program, which helped more than 20,000 businesses across the province to increase their digital presence in 2020-21.
  • Introducing and temporarily enhancing the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit to encourage investments in certain regions of Ontario that have lagged in employment growth in the past.
  • Providing targeted COVID-19 support through the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant.
  • Lowering high Business Education Tax (BET) rates for job creators.
  • Increasing the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption from $490,000 to $1 million.
  • Lowering electricity bills through measures such as the Comprehensive Electricity Plan, with the Province paying for a portion of high-priced, non-hydro renewable energy contracts.
  • Providing targeted COVID-19 support through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which delivered $3 billion in urgent and unprecedented support to over 110,000 small businesses across the province.

Small businesses are at the heart of every community across our province and are the backbone of our economy. Supporting people, families and businesses though this difficult time has and will remain a top priority for our government.

Canada Summer Jobs Program 

Deadline for Employers to apply for subsidy January 25th, 2022, For more information: Canada Summer Jobs

December 17, 2021

Ontario Further Strengthening Response to Omicron

Additional measures to slow the spread as province accelerates booster dose rollout

To further strengthen its response to Omicron and reduce opportunities for close contact as the province gets as many vaccines into arms as possible, Ontario is introducing a 50 per cent capacity limit in the following indoor public settings:

• Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments and strip clubs;
• Personal care services;
• Personal physical fitness trainers;
• Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies);
• Shopping malls;
• Non-spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g. gyms);
• Indoor recreational amenities;
• Indoor clubhouses at outdoor recreational amenities;
• Tour and guide services;
• Photography studios and services;
• Marinas and boating clubs;
• Facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities;
• Entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas;
• Racing venues;
• Meeting and event spaces;
• Studio audiences in commercial film and television production;
• Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and
• Fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals.

Enhanced COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate with QR Code and Verify Ontario App Available for Download Starting October 15

Ontario Making it Easier and More Convenient to Show Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination