COVID-19 - Business and Personal Preparedness

Please reference the most up-to-date information from official / government agencies.

• Vancouver Coastal Health – Regional Health Authority updates and resources
• Office of the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer– provincial statements and resources
• BC Provincial COVID-19 Resource Website – newly launched website
• BC Centre for Disease Control 
• Health Canada – Canada-specific advice, preparedness, & Canada’s response 
• World Health Organization– for FAQs, Global Travel Advice & Situation Reports 

BC COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool

Federal

• COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Trade Commissioner Services
• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Innovation Canada

Provincial

• BC Economic Development Association

Guides:

• Business Support Cheatsheet (BC Chamber)
• Business Preparedness Guide (Canadian Chamber)
• Business Continuity Checklist (SBBC)
• Crisis Preparedness & Business Continuity (Restaurants Canada)

Organizations:

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Small Business BC (SBBC)
• Restaurants Canada

Federal

COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

Employment and Social Development Canada

• Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 bi-weekly for up to 15 weeks to provide income support to workers who must stay home and don’t have access to paid sick leave.
• Waive, for a minimum of six months, the mandatory one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits for workers in imposed quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate
• Waive the requirement for medical certificate to access EI sickness benefits
• Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments. 
• An Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
• Extend the tax filing deadline for individuals to June 1, and allow taxpayers to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing.

For Business

Federal – COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan

• 10 per cent wage subsidy for the next 90 days up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. 
• Allow all businesses to defer income tax payments, from March 18 until after August 31, 2020.
• Increase the credit available to small, medium, and large Canadian businesses via BDC and EDC. 
• Further expand Export Development Canada’s ability to provide support to domestic businesses.
• Provide flexibility on the Canada Account limit, to allow the Government to provide additional support to Canadian businesses.
• Augment credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector through Farm Credit Canada.
• Launch Insured Mortgage Purchase Program to purchase up to $50 billion of insured mortgage pools through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This will provide stable funding to banks and mortgage lenders and support continued lending to Canadian businesses and consumers. 

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has resources available including:

• Small Business Loan: Up to $100,000 can be obtained online in as little 48 hours from time of approval.
• Working capital loan: Get extra funds to bridge cash flow gaps and support everyday operations.
• Purchase Order Financing: Increase your cash flow to fulfill domestic or international orders with very flexible terms.
• BDC’s Advisory Services experts are offering tools and support to review your financial management and operations.

Export Development Canada

• Access to Credit

For Residents

Federal – COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan

• See Human Resource tab for EI & Wages

BC Hydro COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program

• Defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty.

Fortis BC:

• Flexible Payment Options and Updates

Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation is working to address mortgage payment difficulties.