Provincial Support

Find all of the provincial support programs (click here).

Essential Services: The Province of Alberta issued an essential services list which provides general guidance to business owners on what services can continue to be provided and accessible to the public. The list is not exhaustive, if a business is not listed as an essential service, it can continue to operate if:

• It is not specifically prohibited from offering services in a location accessible to the public
• The business doesn’t fall under previous business, workplace and facility closures

Relaunch Funding: The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers up to $5,000 in funding for eligible small- and medium-sized businesses, cooperatives and non-profits to offset a portion of their relaunch costs.

Businesses and non-profits can use these funds as they see fit, including implementing measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission such as physical barriers, purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies, paying rent and employee wages, replacing inventory and more.

Application intake is now open. Additional program details including eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the program webpage.

Corporate Income Tax Changes: To increase employers’ access to cash so they can pay employees, address debts and continue operations, Alberta corporate income tax balances and instalment payments coming due between March 18th, 2020 and August 31, 2020 are deferred until August 31, 2020  Due dates for filing corporate tax returns due after March 18, 2020 and before June 1, 2020 have been extended to June 1, 2020. 

Education Property Tax Freeze and Deferral: 

• The Government of Alberta is cancelling the 2020 education property tax increase. 
• Collection of the education property tax will be deferred for a six month period for all businesses.
• Government encourages landlords to reduce/defer payments: The Government of Alberta expects commercial landlords to pass savings from freezing the education property tax and deferring payments to their tenants. This will help employers continue to manage their debts, pay their employees and stay in business.

WCB Premiums Deferral/Support: Private sector employers can save money on their WCB premium payments to ensure the sustainability of the workers’ compensation system and protect and support injured workers.

• Small, medium and large private sector employers can defer WCB premium payments until 2021.
  • For small and medium businesses, the government will cover 50% of the 2020 premium when it is due in 2021.
  • Large employers will have their 2020 WCB premium payments deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due.
• Employers who have already paid WCB premiums in 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit.

Utility payment deferral: Residential, farm, and small commercial customers can defer natural gas or electricity bill payments until June 19, 2020. Call your utility provider directly to arrange for a payment deferral.

Emergency Funding for Charities and Not-For-Profit Organizations:  This funding will be provided immediately and will support social services in enabling physical distancing, as well as supports and services for at-risk seniors and families facing homelessness, poverty and social isolation.

Federal Support

Find all of the federal support programs (click here).

Avoid layoffs and rehiring:

• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS): 
  • Qualifying business owners can keep and return workers to payroll with a 75% wage subsidy for up to 3 months - retroactive to March 15, 2020. 
• Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy: 
  • Qualifying business owners will be allowed to reduce the amount of payroll deduction required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Work Sharing Program: 
  • Work-Sharing helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in normal business activity - beyond the control of the employer. Income support is provided to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits working temporarily reduced work weeks while their employer recovers.

Access to credit:

• Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA): 
  • Interest free loans up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover operating costs during periods where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
    • Repayment by December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25%. 
    • If not repaid by December 31, 2022, the remaining balance will be converted to a 3 year term loan at 5% interest. 
• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): 
  • This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Do not apply for CERB if you have already applied for EI.
• Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA): 
  • This program is for small businesses that will seek to provide loans and/or forgivable loans to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May and June. Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial governments who are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. More details will be available soon
• Small & Medium Sized Enterprise Loan: 
  • Businesses interested in the loan opportunities below should work with their current financial institutions. Loans would be interest-only for the first 12 months, with a 10-year repayment period. 
    • EDC Loan Guarantee: This program provides credit and cash flow term loans. It allows financial institutions to issue operating credit and cash flow term loans to existing clients, with 80% guaranteed by EDC. The money is to be used for operational expenses. 
    • BDC Co-Lending Program:  This program provides term loans for operational and liquidity needs for businesses, which would include interest payments on existing debt. It is designed in 3 segments to target support to different business sizes:
      • Loans of up to $312,500 to businesses with revenue of less than $1 million. 
      • Loans of up to $3.125 million for businesses with revenues between $1 million and $50 million.
      • Loans of up to $6.25 million for businesses with revenues in excess of $50 million
• Small and Medium-sized Businesses Unable to Access Other Support Measures: 
  • This program provides financing support to small and medium-sized businesses that are unable to access other COVID-19 business supports, through Canada’s Regional Development Agencies.

Deferred payments:

• CRA Business Tax Deferrals: 
  • Income Tax: Businesses can defer payment until August 31, 2020 for any income tax amounts between March 18, 2020 and before September 2020. No interest or penalties will accrue at this time.
  • GST and Customs Duty: Businesses can defer GST payments that become owing from March 27 until the end of May can be deferred until June 30, 2020.

Indigenous:

• Funding for Small and Medium-Sized Indigenous Businesses, and Aboriginal Financial Institutions: 
  • This program provides funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses. 
  • The funding will allow for short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions through Aboriginal Financial Institutions, which offer financing and business support services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses.

Wellness:

Wellness Together Canada: Connects Canadians to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls and will make it easier to find credible information and help address mental health and substance use issues.