Free COVID-19 Work Safe Course
As the city continues opening and more COVID-19 cases are reported daily, this is the perfect time to prepare your business to handle changing conditions. Emery Village BIA is the proud sponsor of SkillsPass’ FREE COVID-19 Work Safe Course.
View a CTV feature on the course HERE.
View a Toronto.com feature on the course HERE.
The course is the first program in Canada, free to all Emery BIA business owners and all of their employees. We strongly encourage as many employees as possible to take advantage of this, from management to skilled trade workers. The course will cover crucial information about safe working conditions which is important for all employees to know. Register today for this exclusive opportunity!
Participate in an exclusive free webinar on the evidence behind the COVID-19 Work Safe Course, and how it helps protect employees, customers, & corporate reputations. Highly recommended for those who have not yet signed up for the course!
Emery Village BIA PPE Booklet
Reopening Guidance Package for BIAs
Emery Village BIA has put together a PPE Directory including businesses which are offering any of the following: gloves, temperature screening, electrostatic disinfection, masks, face shields, or eye protection.
The City of Toronto is preparing to oversee the safe restart of some services and partial reopening of many businesses. Resources have been developed to help support business through this time. For guidance on safely reopening, business operators can reference the Toronto Public Health Planning Guide, and visit the COVID-19: Reopening Guidelines for Businesses & Organizations to view sector specific resources.
Decisions about when and how businesses can begin operating will be made by the Government of Ontario in accordance with its framework to reopen the province after COVID-19.
COVID-19 Guidelines for Re-Opening your Restaurant
This guide provides you with the information you need to re-open your restaurant, or other food premise, after being closed or limited to take-out and delivery only. Part 1 provides advice on preparing your restaurant for food service, and Part 2 helps you to modify your premises and practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
You are advised to start preparing now for re-opening, but you are not permitted to start operating dine-in services until the revised order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act is announced by the provincial government and comes into effect. Please note that announcement may contain conditions, which may result in amendments to Part 2 of this document. These conditions are likely to be minor, and you will be informed of them immediately. Please check the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/COVID19 for updates and new information.
Digital Main Street Programs Across Ontario
FedDev Ontario and the Province have provided funds to expand Digital Main Street’s services and resources across Ontario. You can see the overview here: https://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/02590.html?OpenDocument
What this means for municipalities and BIAs is that the following resources will be available to help you support your main street businesses over the coming months:
- Digital Main Street Grant – there will be $2,500 grants available to main street businesses to support their purchase of technologies. These will be available July 1st.
- Future-Proofing Program – Digital Main Street will be launching a new program focused on helping future-proof businesses. More details will follow on this in the coming weeks.
In addition, this also means the ShopHERE program, which builds an online store for small businesses and artists at no-cost, is also available across Ontario. You can find the details about the program here: www.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere.
Last week, the Emery Village BIA hosted a tele-town hall to address members’ questions about the impacts of COVID19 and the steps being taken by our governments to provide assistance to the business community. The one hour town hall featured commentary from local Humber River-Black Creek government representatives including Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza, MPP Tom Rakocevic and Honourable MP Judy Sgro. Based on the feedback received in the discussion, the BIA is issuing a letter to Mayor Tory and the City’s Economic Support & Recovery Task Force outlining recommendations for a responsible approach to reopening the economy. If you were not able to make it to the tele-town hall, you may listen to a recording here:
- Canada’s largest Business Improvement Area founded in 2003
- Representing 3200 Businesses and Commercial Properties employing over 28000 people
- Provincially Designated Employment District
- Projects, programs and services to help meet business and community prospects and growth
- We work with the City of Toronto, and other BIAs to engage and give voice to our businesses.
Our office may be closed, but like many others, we’re still actively working on your behalf. Recently, we have made changes to our website to reflect the most immediate needs in support of our businesses. We believe that our priority in this time of crisis is to ensure that the Emery Village Stakeholders and Community have the tools and timely information from the most appropriate sources to guide us through, build sustainability, and safeguard the health and safety of our residents, employees and business operators.
We will, from time to time renew and update our links to continue to serve you. Also, please see the section on the latest changes to our Mobile Security Patrol Program through VP Security.
If you are a business or a commercial property owner, please register to obtain access to e-mail blasts and other news feeds to keep you keep informed and updated to the latest news and changes to our services and programs.
Federal Resources
COVID–19: CECRA for small businesses
Federal wage subsidy – CEWS – commenced April 27th, eligibility requirements
Additional Details on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Backgrounder
Canada Emergency Business Account
Government provides further flexibility for employers to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-Employment and Social Development Canada
Business Assistance through your Financial Institutions
Chamber of Commerce – Emergency wage subsidy changes positive, but timeliness of execution deciding factor
What is the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and How to apply
$213 million to go to SME’s facing financial hardship
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Extending the Work-Sharing Program
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (COVID-19 fraud information)
Provincial Resources
How Ontario is Responding
Ontario is working with its partners in the health care system implementing a robust plan to monitor for, detect and, if needed, isolate any cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The Ministry of Health is taking several steps to ensure the health and safety of Ontarians. This includes:
- monitoring hospitals for potential cases of the virus in individuals with travel history to areas under a travel health advisory for COVID-19
- adding the 2019 novel coronavirus as a designated disease reportable under Ontario's public health legislation, enabling local public health units to quickly and effectively take all necessary measures to investigate, complete lab tests and do case and contact management to prevent and control further spread of the infection
- ongoing planning with federal and provincial/territorial partners and readiness to coordinate with other provinces/territories
- through the work of the Command Table, refining and finalizing plans for the implementation of enhanced measures to ensure the province continues to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any scenario, including: enhanced access to screening; expanding lab-testing capacity; and implementing new initiatives to keep the public and frontline workers safe
Province announces plans to re-open the economy
Ontario’s Response to The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ontario’s Framework for Re-opening the Economy Guidebook
https://files.ontario.ca/mof-framework-for-reopening-our-province-en-2020-04-27.pdf
Ontario’s Regulation 82.80 Orders the Closure of Places of Non-Essential Businesses
Ontario Extends Emergency Declaration to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Municipal Resources
Guidelines for Mandatory Mask Usage in Enclosed Public Places
Transportation Service’s presentation on CafeTO: Increasing Dining Capacity for Toronto’s Restaurants
View full presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fFYtzYSIdO3wKi1rysp1TzBu2ifxGrfb/view
Affected City Services
City Response to COVID-19
Economic Support and Recovery for Businesses
Economic Support for Individuals and Families
Mobile Security
Other Resources
Emery Village has prepared an Emergency Security Plan due to the lockdown of non-essential businesses in the province.
As part of our security patrol service we will be prepared and be operating security patrol in the BIA Business Community 24/7. We have increased our operating patrols to include the following:
2- Day patrol cars (6am-6pm)
4- Evening patrol cars (6pm-6am)
This will ensure full coverage of our area and act a as a deterrence.
Please ensure that your alarm company has the most up to date contact information and telephone numbers in the event of an alarm call. Below are the two telephone numbers for VP Protection Dispatch:
416-218-3226 or 647-202-3022
If you have not signed the VP Protection Security Form please do so immediately and scan the form and sent by to: info@emeryvillagebia.ca
Financing available as part of the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
How EDC is helping Canadians during COVID-19
COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit for businesses
Business continuity plan and templates for entrepreneurs
Resources for Canadian Businesses
WSIB -Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Frequently Asked Questions
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Any company can qualify no matter what size. This includes non-for-profits and charities. Companies must demonstrate their revenues have decreased by 30% or more to be eligible. The federal government will cover up to 75% of an employee’s salary on the first $58,700 earned which means up to $847 a week. Funds will be back-dated to March 15. The Prime Minister encouraged businesses that have the means to pay the remaining 25% of salaries.The Government of Canada also warned against companies seeking to take advantage of this subsidy or make fraudulent claims. Learn more.
- A smaller wage subsidy of 75% for eligible small businesses that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. The 75% subsidy covers 75% of wages paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
- Access to additional credit. More than $10 billion in credit will be available through:
- Interest-free loans to small businesses. Through a new Canada Emergency Business Account, financial institutions and Export Development Canada (EDC) will offer interest-free loans of up to $40,000. Small businesses should apply through their financial institutions. Learn more.
- A loan guarantee for SMEs through EDC for loans of up to $6.25 million. Learn more.
- A co-lending program for SMEs between financial institutions and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Learn more.
- Additional credit from EDC and BDC as part of the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP). Businesses seeking support through BCAP should contact the financial institutions with whom they have a pre-existing relationship. Learn more.
- Credit for the agri-food sector through Farm Credit Canada. Learn more.
- Deferrals on:
- Income taxes until August 31.
- GST/HST remittances until June 30.
- Customs duty and sales tax for importers until June 30.
- Audit suspensions by the Canada Revenue Agency.
- An Insured Mortgage Purchase Program to provide stable funding to banks and mortgage lenders and support continued lending to Canadian businesses and consumers.
- Lower electricity rates for small businesses, farms, and residents until at least May 8, and banning electricity disconnection for those that fail to pay their utility bills until July 31. Click here for more information.
- Tax deferrals:
- $6 billion in provincially administered taxes deferred from April 1 to August 31
- $1.8 billion in property taxes deferred for 90 days (including the provincial education tax) in collaboration with municipal partners
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) premium and expense deferrals of $1.9 billion for employers for 6 months.
- Postponement of the 2021 property tax reassessment.
- Changes to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) to retroactively reduce the tax and temporarily increase the exemption to $1 million
- A Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit to support regions lagging in employment growth.
- An extended grace period for tax and other payments for businesses (payment and payment penalties) for 30 days, beginning March 16.
- A contingency fund to support businesses and affected groups.
- Expanded small business advisory services to help businesses as they plan to recover from impacts.
- Businesses will need to demonstrate a 15 per cent reduction in gross revenues for March given many businesses did not experience the effects of the crisis until mid March. A 30 per cent reduction will still be required to receive the subsidy in April and/or May.
- Employers can compare their revenue of March, April and May 2020 to that of the same month of 2019, or to an average of their revenue earned in January and February 2020.
- 75% Wage Subsidy: For employers that are eligible for both the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the 75% wage subsidy for a period, any benefit from the 75% subsidy for remuneration paid in a specific period would generally reduce the amount available to be claimed under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in that same period.
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit: An employer would not be eligible to claim the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy for remuneration paid to an employee in a week that falls within a 4-week period for which the employee is eligible for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. Employers who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would still be able to furlough employees who will receive up to $2,000 a month.
- Provides protected leave to individuals needing to go into isolation or quarantine and for those who need to miss work in order to care for family members, including children who are at home due to school or daycare closures. The protected leave will be retroactive to January 25 (the date of the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Ontario).
- Makes explicit that doctor’s notes will not be needed in such instances.
- The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for workers who lose income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether or not they are eligible for EI. The CERB provides $2,000 per month for up to 4 months. Applications opened on April 6. Click here to apply, or apply by calling 1-800-959-2019.
- Easier access to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits by waiving the one-week waiting period for individuals in imposed quarantine and waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI sickness benefits. Employers should provide a Record of Employment (ROE) following the code instructions below.
- Enhanced Work-Sharing Program to provide EI benefits to workers that agree to reduce their normal working hours as a result of COVID-19 developments beyond the control of their employers. For more information about the temporary Work-Sharing measures, click here.
- Income tax filing deferrals without penalty until June 1 and payment of amounts owing until August 31.
- When the employee is sick or quarantined, use code D (Illness or injury) as the reason for separation (block 16). Do not add comments.
- When the employee is no longer working due to a shortage of work because the business has closed or decreased operations due to coronavirus (COVID-19), use code A (Shortage of work). Do not add comments.
- T1, T2 – June 1, 2020
- T3, T5013 – May 1, 2020
- T3010 – December 31, 2020
- Federal income tax payments – September 1, 2020
- GST/HST filings and remittances – June 30, 2020
- The CRA is NOT deferring payment of payroll source deduction remittances.
- Employer Health Tax – August 31, 2020
- Tobacco Tax – August 31, 2020
- Fuel Tax – August 31, 2020
- Gas Tax – August 31, 2020
- Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tax – August 31, 2020
- Mining Tax – August 31, 2020
- Insurance Premium Tax – August 31, 2020
- International Fuel Tax Agreement – August 31, 2020
- Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans – August 31, 2020
- Race Tracks Tax – August 31, 2020
- Encouraging employees to use individual measures such as frequent hand washing and social distancing.
- Introducing policies that reduce social contact as much as possible. Where feasible, use teleworking arrangements to allow employees to work from home.
- Increasing frequency with which surfaces are disinfected, and providing access to handwashing facilities and sanitizing dispensers throughout the workplace.
- Following the federal government’s travel health advisories.
- The Ontario Together Fund. $50 million in provincial funding to help companies retool, build capacity, or adopt the technological changes needed to produce supplies and equipment for hospitals, long-term care homes, and other critical public services. Funding will go towards the most viable, innovative proposals. Learn more.
- Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen). Supercluster funding to support companies as they rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by building a Canadian supply of essential equipment, products, and therapeutics. Learn more.
- The National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program and Innovative Solutions Canada. Funding for small- and medium-sized businesses (fewer than 500 staff) to supply products or solutions in response to COVID-19 related challenges. Learn more.