COVID-19: Financial support for people, businesses and organizations

The Government of Canada took immediate and significant action through the Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to support people, businesses and organizations facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

On this page

Support for people

People and families

  • Employment Insurance (EI) program

    We made temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians who need financial assistance.

    Apply for Employment Insurance

  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

    The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides $300 a week to eligible workers who were unable to work due to a temporary local lockdown anytime between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.

    The benefit is only available for periods when a COVID-19 lockdown order was designated for your region.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

    The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of six weeks, for workers who, prior to May 7, 2022:

    • were unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
    • were self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
    • had underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or had 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.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

    The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 44 weeks per household for workers who, prior to May 7, 2022, were unable to work for at least 50% of the week because:

    • they had to care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities were closed due to COVID-19
    • because the child or family member was sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

  • Provincial and territorial support

    Other supports may be available to you in your province or territory 

Support for businesses

Financial support

  • Wage and hiring support

    You may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022. This subsidy will enable you to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease your business back into normal operations.

    For each applicable claim period, eligible employers can claim one of the following, whichever gives the highest amount:

    • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
    • Hardest-Hit Businesses Recovery Program
    • Canada Recovery Hiring Program
    • Local Lockdown Program

    Although these programs ended on May 7, 2022, businesses can apply for support up to 180 days after the end of the claim period for which they are applying.

    Apply to the wage and hiring support

  • Rent and property expenses support

    You may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your commercial rent or property expenses between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.

    Depending on the period you are applying for, you may be eligible to claim your commercial rent or property expenses through one of the following:

    • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
    • Hardest-Hit Businesses Recovery Program
    • Local Lockdown Program

    Although these programs ended on May 7, 2022, businesses can apply for support up to 180 days after the end of the claim period for which they are applying.

    Apply to the rent and property expense support

  • 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

    Apply through your Regional Development Agency

  • Extending the Work-Sharing program

    We have extended the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19.

    Apply to the Work-Sharing program

  • 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.

    Apply to the LEEF program

  • Additional support by sector
  • Provincial and territorial support

    Other supports for your business may be available to you in your province or territory

Self-employed workers

  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

    The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides $300 a week to eligible workers who were unable to work due to a temporary local lockdown anytime between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.

    The benefit is only available for periods when a COVID-19 lockdown order was designated for your region.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

    The CRSB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of six weeks, for workers who, prior to May 7, 2022:

    • were unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
    • were self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
    • had 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.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

    The CRCB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 44 weeks per household for workers who, prior to May 7, 2022 were unable to work for at least 50% of the week because:

    • they had to care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities were closed due to COVID-19
    • because the child or family member was sick and/or required to quarantine or was at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.

    Although the benefit has now expired, you may still apply for any prior eligible 1-week period, for up to 60 days after the end of that period.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

Indigenous businesses

  • 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.

    Apply to the Indigenous Community Business Fund

Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.


Support for sectors

Tourism

  • 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.

    Apply through your Regional Development Agency

  • Additional support for your business

Aquaculture and fisheries

Culture, heritage and sport

Aerospace

  • 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.

    Apply through your Regional Development Agency

  • Additional support for your business

Support for communities

Communities and organizations

  • 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

    Apply to the Indigenous Community Support Fund

  • 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

  • Additional support for your organization

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