Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
On this page
- Support for individuals
- Support for businesses
- Support for sectors
- Support for communities
- Other measures
- Completed measures
Support for individuals
Individuals and families
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Employment Insurance (EI) program
We made temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians who need financial assistance. As of September 27, 2020, the minimum benefit rate for EI regular claimants is $500 per week before taxes in most cases.
If you are not eligible for EI or if you've received the maximum number of weeks of EI regular benefits, you may be eligible for the new benefits:
- Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
Update
- If you've received this benefit in 2020, learn how to report it for your tax return.
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Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
The Canada Recovery Benefit provides support to eligible workers who:
- are not employed or self-employed for reasons related to COVID-19 or have had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19
- are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI)
Updates
- If you apply on or after July 18, 2021 or if you received this benefit for 42 weeks, you can receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) per week.
- If you applied before July 18, 2021, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for 42 weeks.
This benefit is available for 54 weeks until October 23, 2021
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Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
The CRSB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of four weeks, for workers who:
- Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
- Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
- have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
This benefit is available until October 23, 2021
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Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
The CRCB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 42 weeks per household for workers:
- unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
- because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
This benefit is available until October 23, 2021
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Supporting families with children under the age of six
The Canada Child Benefit young child supplement (CCBYCS) is providing temporary additional support in 2021 of up to $1,200 to families with children under the age of six.
You must be entitled to receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) in January, April, July or October 2021 to receive the CCBYCS.
If you already receive the CCB, you will not need to apply for this benefit.
Payment dates:
- May 28, 2021 (includes amounts for January and April)
- July 30, 2021
- October 29, 2021
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Supporting low-income workers and families
The Canada Workers Benefit provides a refundable tax credit to help people who are working and earning a low income. We are expanding eligibility by making the benefit available to those with incomes up to:
- $32,244 as single Canadians, without children;
- $42,197 as single-earner families; and
- $56,197 as double-earner families.
Low-income workers are now eligible for a tax refund of up to about:
- $1,400 for workers who are single and without children; and
- $2,400 for workers with families.
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Mortgage payment deferral
Homeowners facing financial hardship may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral.
The deferral is an agreement between you and your lender. Typically, the agreement indicates that you and your lender have agreed to pause or suspend your mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. After the agreement ends, your mortgage payments return to normal and the deferred payments — including principal and accumulated interest – are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.
To know if you are eligible for a mortgage payment deferral or to learn what options are available, contact your lender — your bank or your mortgage professional.
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Provincial and territorial support
Other supports may be available to you in your province or territory
Seniors
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Providing one-time payment to Old Age Security pensioners
We will provide a one-time payment of $500 during the week of August 16, 2021 to Old Age Security pensioners who will be 75 years of age or over as of June 30, 2022.
Learn more about the one-time payment
Update
We will also increase to the Old Age Security (OAS) pension by 10% for seniors 75 years of age and over as of July 2022.
Students
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Waiving interest on student and apprentice loans
To help students and young Canadians who have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19, we are waiving the interest for full-time and part-time students on the federal portion of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until March 31, 2023.
Find the support you need
Support for businesses
Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
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Jobs and Growth Fund
The Jobs and Growth Fund is a $700-million program that supports regional job creation and positions local economies for long-term growth. This includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020.
The Fund will help businesses and organizations that:
- support the transition to a green economy
- foster an inclusive recovery
- enhance Canada's competitiveness through digital adoption to improve productivity and manufacturing processes
- strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada's recovery and growth
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Canada Recovery Hiring Program
The Canada Recovery Hiring Program provides a subsidy on eligible salary or wages to help hard-hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen.
This program allows eligible employers to hire new workers, increase workers' hours, or increase wages at a pace that works for them. As with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, eligible employers can apply for support after each four-week period of the program.
We are ensuring that businesses can continue to get the financial support they need to invest in their longer-term prosperity, including businesses in hard-hit sectors like tourism and hospitality, hotels, arts and entertainment.
Support is available retroactively to June 6 2021 and until November 20, 2021.
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Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides support to eligible employers to cover part of their employees' wages.
This subsidy helps employers re-hire workers, helps to prevent further job losses, and keeps employees on payroll at their place of work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This support is available until October 23, 2021
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Extending the Work-Sharing program
Financial support, loans and access to credit
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Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy provides a rent and mortgage subsidy for eligible expenses to qualifying businesses, charities and non-profits. This support is available directly to tenants and property owners.
Lockdown Support
Qualifying businesses and other organizations that have been significantly restricted by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority can receive an additional 25% in rent support through the Lockdown Support.
This benefit is available until October 23, 2021
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Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program provides businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19, access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs.
HASCAP is available to businesses that operate in sectors such as tourism and hospitality, restaurants and those that primarily rely on in-person services.
Business owners can apply for support until December 31, 2021
Learn more about the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability
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Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Export Development Canada (EDC) is working with financial institutions to guarantee 80% of new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This financing support is to be used for operational expenses and is available to both exporting and non-exporting companies.
This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.
This support is available until December 31, 2021.
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Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Business Development Canada (BDC) is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.
The program offers differing maximum finance amounts based on business revenues.
This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.
This support is available until December 31, 2021.
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Mid-Market Financing Program
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, the Business Development Canada's (BDC) Mid-Market Financing Program will provide commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million to medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceed what is already available through the Business Credit Availability Program and other measures.
BDC anticipates that qualifying companies will have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million.
This support is available until December 31 2021.
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Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, EDC's Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program will bring liquidity to companies who tend to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million, to sustain operations during this uncertain period. EDC will continue to work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75% of new operating credit and cash-flow loans – ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million.
These expanded guarantees are available to exporters, international investors and businesses that sell their products or services within Canada.
This support is available until December 31, 2021.
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Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) provides bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going.
The additional liquidity provided through LEEFF allows Canada’s largest businesses, their workers and their suppliers to remain active during this difficult time, and position them for a rapid economic recovery.
This program is delivered by the Canada Development Investment Corporation, in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Department of Finance.
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Additional support by sector
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Provincial and territorial support
Other supports for your business may be available to you in your province or territory
Support for self-employed individuals
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Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
The Canada Recovery Benefit provides support to eligible workers who:
- are not employed or self-employed for reasons related to COVID-19 or have had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19
- are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI)
Apply to the Canada Recovery Benefit
Updates
- If you are eligible, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for 42 weeks.
- After you have received this benefit for 42 weeks or if you are applying for your first Recovery Benefit on or after July 18, 2021, you may receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) per week.
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Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
The CRSB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of four weeks, for workers who:
- Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
- Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
- have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
Apply to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
Updates
- Find out how to keep getting your payment
- If you've received this benefit in 2020, learn how to report it for your tax return.
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Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 42 weeks per household for workers:
- unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or a family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
- because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
Indigenous businesses
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Relief measures for Indigenous businesses
We are providing $306.8 million in 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.
Financial support for Indigenous businesses will be provided through Aboriginal Financial Institutions, and administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association and the Métis capital corporations in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada.
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Supporting business through the pandemic and into recovery
We are 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.
Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.
Find the support you need for your business
Support for sectors
Tourism
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Tourism Relief Fund
The Tourism Relief Fund will help position Canada as a destination of choice when domestic and international travel is deemed safe, by:
- empowering tourism businesses to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors
- helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors, by providing the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world
The Tourism Relief Fund provides non-repayable contributions up to $100,000 or repayable contributions up to $500,000 to businesses to enhance or create new tourism experiences. Not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous organizations, not generating profits, are also eligible for non-repayable contributions.
Agriculture and agri-food
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Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP)
We are providing support to employers with some of costs associated with the mandatory 14-day isolation period as well as costs associated with the 3-day hotel quarantine imposed under the Quarantine Act on temporary foreign workers upon entering into Canada.
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Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability
We are working with provinces and territories to increase interim payments from 50 % to 75 % through AgriStability, a federal, provincial and territorial program that supports producers who face significant revenue declines. This change has already been enacted in some provinces.
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Expanding AgriInsurance to include labour shortage
We are working with provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the AgriInsurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest.
Aquaculture and fisheries
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Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP)
We are providing support to employers with some of costs associated with the mandatory 14-day isolation period as well as costs associated with the 3-day hotel quarantine imposed under the Quarantine Act on temporary foreign workers upon entering into Canada.
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Assisting the fish and seafood processing sector
We are providing $62.5 million of new assistance to the fish and seafood processing sector through the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund.
This will help businesses:
- add storage capacity for unsold product;
- comply with new health and safety measures for workers;
- support new manufacturing/automated technologies to improve productivity and quality of finished seafood products; and,
- adapt products to respond to changing requirements and new market demands.
Regional Development Agencies are now accepting applications to the Fund.
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Changes to Employment Insurance fishing benefits
Culture, heritage and sport
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Supporting arts and live events workers
We announced funding for the live arts and music sectors that will support the planning and presentation of COVID-19-safe events —including both live and digital—and provide work opportunities in these sectors.
For non-profit organizations, band councils or municipal administrations
- Apply to Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH)
- Apply to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF)
For Canadian music artists, music industry professionals or not-for-profit organizations
For artistic individuals, organizations, groups or collectives
Additional support could be available through the Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund for existing, eligible or past recipients of BCAH or the CAPF.
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Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative
The Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative is a two-year, $200-million national fund to help Canadian festivals survive and adapt to the pandemic.
Eligible activities are recurring festivals and events with annual revenues exceeding $10 million.
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Support for Independent production companies
We are creating the Short-Term Compensation Fund initiative to compensate independent production companies for the lack of insurance coverage for COVID-19–related filming interruptions and production shutdowns in the sector.
The fund will make as much as $50 million available for the industry.
Energy
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Launching the Emissions Reduction Fund
We are providing up to $750 million to create a new Emissions Reduction Fund to support workers and reduce emissions in Canada's oil and gas sector, with a focus on methane.
This fund will provide primarily repayable contributions to conventional and offshore oil and gas firms to support their investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of this amount, $75 million will be allocated to the offshore sector.
Transportation
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Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI)
The Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI) provides support over two years to eligible regional businesses and airports that directly contribute to regional air transportation.
The initiative will help ensure that regional air connectivity and services, which are critical to economic growth, are maintained and that regional routes are reconnected across the country. RATI is being delivered by Canada's six regional development agencies (RDA).
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Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP)
We are providing a top-up of $186 million through the ACAP to support local and regional airports for safety-related infrastructure projects and equipment purchases.
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Airport Relief Fund (ARF)
We are providing almost $65 million in financial relief to targeted Canadian airports to help maintain operations.
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Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP)
We are providing close to $490 million to support Canada's larger airports with investments in critical infrastructure-related to safety, security or connectivity.
Aerospace
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Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative
The Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative provides $250 million over three years to help the Canadian aerospace sector emerge from the pandemic and continue to compete on the global stage.
Businesses operating in the aerospace industry, and the organizations that support them through supply chains, are eligible to apply for funding for projects that will:
- help them green their operations and adopt environmentally sustainable practices;
- improve productivity and strengthen commercialization; and/or
- strengthen integration into regional and global supply chains.
Infrastructure
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Flexible funding for community resilience
We are adapting the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. The new COVID-19 Resilience stream, delivered through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, will provide added flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects that might not otherwise be eligible under the existing funding streams.
The new stream will support the following types of projects:
- Retrofits, repairs and upgrades for municipal, territorial, provincial and Indigenous buildings, health infrastructure and schools;
- COVID-19 response infrastructure, including measures to support physical distancing;
- Active transportation infrastructure, including parks, trails, foot bridges, bike lanes and multi-use paths; and
- Disaster mitigation and adaptation projects, including natural infrastructure, flood and fire mitigation, and tree planting and related infrastructure.
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Supporting communities: new ways to adapt spaces and services
We will provide up to $31 million in funding to support community-led projects that respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19.
The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will support local projects under three themes: creating safe and vibrant public spaces, improving mobility options, and digital solutions.
Projects could include:
- expanding outdoor seating on main streets
- remodeling playgrounds to allow for proper physical distancing
- creating digital apps to allow residents to access municipal services remotely
Funding under the initiative will be provided to a non-governmental not-for-profit organization, or group of organizations, identified through an open call for applications process, who, once selected, will work with communities to identify and fund local projects under the themes above.
Support for communities
Communities and organizations
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Addressing immediate needs in Indigenous communities
We launched a distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities.
These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to:- support for Elders and vulnerable community members
- measures to address food insecurity
- educational and other support for children
- mental health assistance and emergency response services
- preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
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Canada Community Revitalization Fund
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund provides up to $750,000 or $1 million to not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, public institutions and Indigenous communities for projects to revitalize communities across Canada.
The funding covers up to 75% of the total project costs. Indigenous community projects may qualify for funding to cover 100% of total project costs.
To apply for funding, projects must aim to:
- adapt community spaces and assets so that they may be used safely in accordance with local public-health guidelines
- build or improve community infrastructure to encourage Canadians to re-engage in and explore their communities and regions
- reinvent outdoor spaces
- create green infrastructure
- increase the accessibility of community spaces
Apply to the Canada Community Revitalization Fund through your Regional Development Agency
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Additional support for your organization
What COVID-19 information do you need?
- Vaccines
- Travel
- Health and safety
- Prevention
- Risks and spread
- Difference between quarantine vs isolate
- Overview of the risks of getting COVID-19
- Surface contamination
- How can I go out safely during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Which people are at risk of severe outcomes?
- Pregnancy and risks related to COVID-19
- Can my pet or other animals get sick from this virus?
- How do I care for a person with COVID-19 at home?
- Symptoms and treatment
- What can I do to care for my mental and physical health?
- Drug and medical device supply monitoring
- For clinical trial sponsors
- Income support
- Additional economic and financial support
- Individuals
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
- Financial support, loans and access to credit
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
- Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
- Mid-Market Financing Program
- Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- Additional support by sector
- Provincial and territorial support
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Cultural, heritage and sport
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Organizations helping Canadians
- Vulnerable populations
- Indigenous organizations and communities
- About COVID-19
- E-mail updates on COVID-19
- Current confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Canada
- More details about the cases reported in Canada
- How does it spread?
- Where can I get information specific to my province or territory?
- How governments are working together
- Resources for parents and children
- Resources for youth, students and young adults
- Resources for seniors and their caregivers
- Resources for Indigenous communities
- People with disabilities
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