Completed measures to respond to COVID-19
Since March 2020, the Government of Canada has put in place temporary measures to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians, businesses and organizations.
Support for individuals
Individuals and families
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
We provided a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 28 weeks to eligible workers who stopped working or whose work hours were reduced due to COVID-19.
End date: September 27th, 2020
Extra time to file and pay your income tax balances
We extended the filling date for tax returns from individuals.
End date: June 1st, 2020
We also extended the payment due date for 2019 individual tax returns.
End date: September 30th, 2020
Canada Child Benefit (CCB) top-up payment
An extra payment of up to $300 per child was delivered through the Canada Child Benefit for 2019-20.
End date: May 20th, 2020
Special Goods and Services Tax credit top-up payment
We provided a one-time special payment through the Goods and Services Tax credit for low and modest-income families.
End date: April 9th, 2020
Supporting families with children under the age of six
Through the Canada Child Benefit young child supplement, we provided temporary support in 2021 of up to $1,200 to families with children under the age of six through the Canada Child Benefit young child supplement.
End date: October 29th, 2021
Canada Recovery Benefit
The Canada Recovery Benefit provided support to eligible workers who were not employed or self-employed for reasons related to COVID-19 or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19 or were not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Post-secondary students and recent graduates
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
We provided a taxable benefit of $1,250 every 4 weeks to students or $2,000 to students with dependents or with disability who were not eligible for CERB or EI or unable to work due to COVID-19.
End date: September 30th, 2020
Suspending repayment and interest on student and apprentice loans
We suspended loan repayments and interest for all student loan borrowers.
End date: September 30th, 2020
Supporting student researchers and post-doctoral fellows
We provided funding to support a one-semester extension for students whose research scholarships or fellowships ended between March and August 2020 and who intend to continue their studies.
Supporting international students working in an essential service
We removed the restriction that allowed international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week. This applied to those working in an essential service, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.
End date: August 31st, 2020
Seniors
Providing a one-time tax-free payment for Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement
We provided a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
End date: July 10th, 2020
Temporarily extending the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance payments
We extended the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance payments if seniors' 2019 income information had not been assessed.
End date: October 1, 2020
Reduced minimum withdrawals for Registered Retirement Income Funds
We reduced the required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds by 25% for 2020.
End date: December 31, 2020
Providing one-time payment to Old Age Security pensioners
WWe provided a one-time payment of $500 to Old Age Security pensioners who were 75 years of age or over as of June 30, 2022.
End date: August 20, 2021
Persons with disabilities
Special one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment
We provided a one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment of up to $600 to help Canadians with disabilities.
End date: December 31, 2020
Support for business
Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy
The Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy was a three-month measure that allowed eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
End date: June 19th, 2020
Creating new jobs and opportunities for youth
We made temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to allow employers to receive up to 75% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee
End date: February 3,th 2021
Taxes and tariffs
Extra time to file and pay your income tax balances
We extended the filling date for tax returns.
End date: June 1st, 2020
We also extended the payment due date for 2019 tax returns.
End date: September 30th, 2020
Deferral of Sales Tax Remittance and Customs Duty Payments
We allowed businesses, including self-employed individuals, to defer payments of the GST/HST, as well as customs duty owing on their imports.
End date: June 30th, 2020
Financial support, loans and access to credit
Canada Emergency Business Account
The Canada Emergency Business Account provided interest-free, partially forgivable, loans of up to $60,000, to small businesses and not-for-profits that experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19.
CEBA was also expanded to include an additional interest-free $20,000 loan, 50% of which would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022.
End date: June 30th, 2021
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund
We provided over $1.5 billion through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to help more businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism and others that are key to the regions and to local economies.
End date: June 30th, 2021
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
We provided relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The CECRA covered 50 % of the rent, with the tenant paying up to 25 % and the property owner forgiving at least 25%.
End date: October 31, 2020
Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Export Development Canada (EDC) worked 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).
End date: December 31, 2021
Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Business Development Canada (BDC) worked with financial institutions to co-lend term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.
End date: December 31, 2021
Mid-Market Financing Program
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, the Business Development Canada's (BDC) Mid-Market Financing Program provided commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million to medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceeded what was already available through the Business Credit Availability Program and other measures.
End date: December 31, 2021
Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
Through the Business Credit Availability Program, EDC's Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program brought liquidity to companies who tended to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million, to sustain operations during this uncertain period.
End date: December 31, 2021
Northern Business Relief Fund
We provided $15 million in non-repayable support for businesses in the territories to help address the impacts of COVID-19.
End date: July 31, 2020
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) for early-stage businesses
We invested $250 million to assist innovative, early-stage companies that are unable to access other COVID-19 business supports through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).
End date: April 29th, 2020
Targeted support
Women entrepreneurs
We provided $15 million through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to organizations that provided support and advice to women entrepreneurs facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Young entrepreneurs
We provided $20.1 million in support for Futurpreneur Canada to continue supporting young entrepreneurs across Canada who are facing challenges due to COVID-19.
Supporting Black-led business organizations through the National Ecosystem Fund
We invested up to $53 million to develop and implement the National Ecosystem Fund to support Black-led business organizations access funding and capital, mentorship, financial planning services, and business training.
Self-employed
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
We provided a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 28 weeks to eligible workers who stopped working or whose work hours were reduced due to COVID-19.
End date: September 27th, 2020
Extra time to pay your income tax balances
We also extended the payment due date for 2019 tax returns.
End date: September 30th, 2020
Supporting financial stability
Relief for federally regulated pension plan sponsors
We provided relief to sponsors of federally regulated, defined benefit pension plans in the form of a moratorium, through 2020, on solvency payment requirements for defined benefit plans.
End date: December 31, 2020
Launching an Insured Mortgage Purchase Program
We launched an Insured Mortgage Purchase Program, in which we purchased up to $150 billion of insured mortgage pools through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Indigenous businesses
Supporting the Indigenous tourism industry
We announced a stimulus development fund that provided $16 million to support the Indigenous tourism industry.
Relief measures for Indigenous businesses
We provided $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.
End date: June 30, 2021
Support for sectors
Agriculture and agri-food
Increasing credit availability
We enabled Farm Credit Canada to provide an additional $5 billion in lending to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors.
Protecting the health and safety of farm workers
We provided $35 million through the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to improve health and safety on farms and in employee living quarters to prevent and respond to the spread of COVID-19.
Helping food producers access more PPE and adapt to health protocols
We launched a $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund to help food producers access more personal protective equipment, adapt to health protocols, automate or modernize their facilities, processes, and operations, and respond to emerging pressures from COVID-19.
End date: July 31st, 2020
Helping redistribute existing and unsold inventories
We launched the Surplus Food Purchase Program with an initial $50 million fund designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories, which could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local food organizations who are serving vulnerable Canadians.
End date: July 31st, 2020
Helping producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19
We launched a national AgriRecovery initiative of up to $125 million in funding to help producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19 such as set-asides for cattle and hog management programs to manage livestock backed-up on farms, due to the temporary closure of food processing plants.
Increasing the Canadian Diary Commission Borrowing limit
We increased the Canadian Dairy Commission's borrowing limit by $200 million to support costs associated with the temporary storage of cheese and butter to avoid food waste.
Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability
We worked with provinces and territories to increase interim payments from 50 % to 75 % through AgriStability.
Aquaculture and fisheries
Fish Harvester Benefit
We launched the Fish Harvester Benefit to provide income support to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who cannot access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
End date: October 19, 2020
Increasing credit availability
We enabled Farm Credit Canada to provide an additional $5 billion in lending to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors.
Fish Harvester Grant
We launched the Fish Harvester Grant that to provide non-repayable grant of up to $10,000 to self-employed fish harvesters with a valid commercial fishing licence in 2020 and non-deferrable business costs of up to $40,000.
End date: October 19, 2020
Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP)
We provided 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.
End date: August 31, 2021
Culture, heritage and sport
Cultural Workers in the Live Performing Arts Sector
The Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund is a new temporary funding program for fiscal year 2022-2023 that provides $60 million to help workers in the live performance sector.
The application deadline was March 4, 2022.
Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations
We established a $500 million Emergency Support Fund to help alleviate the financial pressures of cultural, heritage and sport organizations facing significant losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helping the National Arts Centre continue its operations
We invested $18.2 million to help the National Arts Centre ensure the continuity of its operations and be ready to reopen to the public.
Reopening Fund for Heritage Organizations
The Reopening Fund for Heritage Organizations provided financial assistance for ongoing operating costs to heritage institutions that felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recovery Funding for Professional Arts Presentation Organizations
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provided $10 million to not-for-profit organizations in the professional arts presentation sector that owned or operated presentation venues.
Third-language production allocation
The Canada Media Fund Third-Language Allocation 2021-2022 provided financial support to independent television producers who had projects in a language other than English or French that were subject to a barter agreement with a Canadian broadcaster.
Supporting arts and live events workers
We provided 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.
Special Measures for Journalism 2021
The Special Measures for Journalism 2021 provided short-term recovery funding to Canadian magazines and community newspapers to support organizations that struggled due to the pandemic.
Recovery support for campus and community radio stations
The Community Radio Fund of Canada administered recovery support for campus and community radio stations who are still struggling due to the pandemic.
End date: January 16, 2022
COVID-19 News Support Fund for Private Independent Local TV and Radio Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters administered recovery support for local news and programming produced by independent broadcasters who are still struggling due to the pandemic.
Waiving payments for Part I licence fees
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) did not issue letters requesting payment for Part I licence fees by private broadcasters for the 2020–21 fiscal year.
End date: December 31, 2021
Supporting Canada's six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission
We invested $25.7 million to help Canada's six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission to maintain essential services and be ready to reopen their doors to the public once precautionary measures were lifted.
Air transportation
Waiving ground lease rents
We wavied ground lease rents from March 2020 through to December 2020 for the 21 airport authorities that pay rent to the federal government. We also provided comparable treatment for PortsToronto, which operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and pays a charge to the federal government.
Supporting essential air access to remote communities
We announced new measures to support essential air access to remote communities:
- seeking bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure continuity of service for at least six months
- establishing a $75-million funding program for the federal contribution for the first six months and maintaining these essential services through an investment of up to $174 million over 18 months, if needed.
Continuing the supply of essential goods and services to remote and fly-in communities
We provided up to $17.3 million to the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut to support critical air services to Northern and remote communities, in partnership with investments by the territorial governments, to ensure the continued supply of food, medical supplies, and other essential goods and services to remote and fly-in communities.
Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP)
We provided a top-up of $186 million through the ACAP to support local and regional airports for
safety-related infrastructure projects and equipment purchases.
End date: June 1, 2021
Airport Relief Fund (ARF)
We provided almost $65 million in financial relief to targeted Canadian airports to help maintain
operations.
End date: July 30, 2021
Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP)
We provided close to $490 million to support Canada's larger airports with investments in critical infrastructure-related to safety, security or connectivity.
Tourism
Deferring payments on commercial leases and licenses of occupation
We deferred payments on commercial leases and licences of occupation without interest until September 1, 2020 for tourism operators in national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.
End date: September 1st, 2020
We also waived up to 75% of commercial rents for the months of April, May and June 2020 or equivalent amounts of annual rents.
Energy
Cleaning up orphan and inactive oil and gas wells
We provided up to $1.72 billion to the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, and to the Alberta Orphan Well Association, to clean up orphan and inactive oil and gas wells. This helped maintain approximately 5,200 jobs in Alberta alone.
Construction
Helping address urgent housing needs of vulnerable individuals
We introduced the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating new affordable housing. This $1 billion initiative will covered the construction of modular housing, as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing.
End date: December 31, 2020
Infrastructure
Flexible funding for community resilience
We adapted 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, provided added flexibility to fund quick-start.
Funding for communities
We accelerated $2.2 billion in annual federal infrastructure funding for communities through the Gas Tax Fund to help communities quickly move forward with infrastructure projects.
Supporting communities: new ways to adapt spaces and services
We provided up to $31 million in
funding to support community-led projects that responded to needs arising from COVID-19.
End date: June 25, 2021
Academic and research
Providing wage support for universities and health research institutes
We provided wage support for up to 75% of wages for individuals working in universities and health institutes, for a maximum of $847 per week per employee.
Covering eligible costs to maintain research activities
We covered up to 75% of total eligible costs for research activities, and will support activities such as the safe storage of dangerous substances, and restarting data sets that were interrupted during the pandemic.
Mining
Protecting jobs and safe operations of junior mining exploration and other flow-through share issuers
We protected jobs and safe operations of junior mining exploration and other flow-through share issuers, by extending the timelines for spending the capital they raise via flow-through shares by 12 months.
Support for organizations helping individuals
Vulnerable populations
Supporting people experiencing homelessness
We supported people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative. The funding was used for a range of needs such as purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.
Providing youth with mental health support
We provided $7.5 million in funding to Kids Help Phone to continue their support to young people with the mental health support they need during this difficult time.
Supporting public health efforts through the Canadian Red Cross
We provided $100 million to the Canadian Red Cross to enhance their response capacity and to support public health efforts.
Supporting women and children experiencing violence
We provided $100 million in funding to support shelters, organizations serving survivors of sexual assault, and organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence, including in Indigenous communities, to help manage and prevent an outbreak in their facilities.
Services to those in need
Helping vulnerable Canadians
We invested $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need.
Supporting veterans organizations
We launched a temporary Veterans Organizations Emergency Support Fund (VOESF) to provide financial support to Veterans organizations who had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who were in need of immediate support. End date: November 22, 2020
End date: November 22, 2020
Seniors
Providing immediate and essential services to seniors
We expanded the New Horizons for Seniors Program with an additional investment of $20 million to support organizations that offer community-based projects that reduce isolation, improve the quality of life of seniors, and help them maintain a social support network.
Supporting the delivery of items and personal outreach
We contributed $9 million through United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors.
Providing one-time payment to Old Age Security pensioners
We provided a one-time payment of $500 to Old Age Security pensioners who were 75 years of age or
over as of June 30, 2022.
End date: August 20, 2021
Indigenous communities and organizations
Supporting public health needs and preparedness
We provided $100 million to support a range of federal health measures, including support for preparedness in First Nation and Inuit communities.
Funding for additional health care resources for Indigenous communities
We provided $285.1 million to fund community-led responses to the pandemic and provide targeted increases in primary health care resources for First Nations communities.
Expanding and improving access to mental wellness services
We provided $82.5 million in mental health and wellness supports to help Indigenous communities adapt and expand mental wellness services, improving access and addressing growing demand, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making personal hygiene products and nutritious food more affordable
We provided an additional $25 million to Nutrition North Canada to increase subsidies so families can afford much-needed personal hygiene products and nutritious food.
Providing support to Indigenous post-secondary students
We provided $75.2 million to offer additional distinctions-based support to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation post-secondary students
Ensuring a safe return to school for First Nations
We provided $112 million in funding for First Nations to support community measures to ensure a safe return to school on reserves.
New shelters to protect and support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence
We provided $44.8 million over five years to build 12 new shelters, which will help protect and support Indigenous women and girls experiencing and fleeing violence.
People with disabilities
Providing resources to improve workplace accessibility and access to jobs
We invested $15 million to provide community organizations with resources to improve workplace accessibility and access to jobs in response to COVID-19, including by helping employers set up accessible and effective work-from-home arrangements.
Investing in projects through the Accessible Technology Program
We invested $1.18 million in five new projects across the country through the Accessible Technology Program.
Support for provinces and territories
Vulnerable populations
Supporting skills training and employment
We invested an additional $1.5 billion in the Workforce Development Agreements with provinces and territories to offer Canadians the skills training and employment supports they need.
Temporary wage top-up for low-income essential workers
We provided $3 billion in federal support to increase the wages of low-income essential workers.
Helping address urgent housing needs of vulnerable individuals
We introduced the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating new affordable housing. This $1 billion initiative will covered the construction of modular housing, as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing.
End date: December 31, 2020
Health
Supporting critical health care system needs and mitigation efforts
We provided $500 million to provinces and territories for critical health care system needs and to support mitigation efforts.
Economy
Helping provinces and territories safely restart their economies
We announced an investment of more than $19 billion to help provinces and territories safely restart their economies.
Support for Newfoundland and Labrador's Offshore Energy Sector Workers
We provided $320 million in funding, towards an agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador government, to support Canadians with offshore energy jobs. This agreement allowed the province to support workers through activities such as safety improvements, maintenance and upgrades of existing facilities, and research and development.
Education
Ensuring a safe return to school
We provided up to $2 billion in support for provinces and territories through the Safe Return to Class Fund, as they worked alongside local school boards to ensure the safety of students and staff members throughout the school year.
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