To help our members manage through COVID-19 in Canada, ECABC has developed this list to refer to and make members aware of supports and programs from the federal and provincial governments.

The list below provides links to government resources and will be updated as more information becomes available.

PROVINCIAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

B.C. Ministry of Health Newsroom

B.C. Centre for Disease Control

B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service

B.C. COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information:

• Some provincial taxes have been deferred, delayed or reduced including:
  • Sales Taxes (PST, Carbon tax, Motor fuel tax)
  • School tax
• Employer guide for handling absences and other disruptions including:
  • Employees taking unpaid, job-protected leave due to COVID-19
  • Employees taking paid, job-protected leave to be vaccinated 
• WorkSafeBC information and guidance: 
  • Build a Communicable Disease Prevention Plan 
  • Information for workers
• Business recovery grant program extended (updated July 6, 2021)
  • The B.C. government has extended the deadline for the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program to ensure businesses have the time they need to apply. 
• PST rebate for capital investments opens to support business recovery
  • Businesses can grow bigger and stronger following the pandemic, with up to half-billion dollars in expected rebates available for purchases or leases of select machinery and equipment, including tools, furniture, computers, software and zero-emission vehicles.
• Province extends bill supports for BC Hydro customers in financial crisis
  • The Province is extending BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund to continue providing support for people in financial crisis and help avoid disconnections of their electricity service. 
• Free supports for rural businesses looking to expand
  • Business owners in rural and Indigenous communities can benefit from free expert advice and resources as they recover from the pandemic through the Province’s Export Navigator program.

FEDERAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Information on COVID-19 Vaccines

List of government financial supports for businesses and individuals

• Managing your business during COVID-19
  
• Financial support for Canadians
  

Support to businesses

• Avoiding layoffs:
  • Extending the Work-Sharing program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs.
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • As a Canadian employer whose business has been affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of you employee wages, retroactive from March 15, 2020.
• PPE Resource Hub
  • Organizations buying and selling personal protective equipment during COVID-19
• Customized COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan
  • The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has launched a new customizable tool kit resource to help workplaces across Canada operate safely and prevent the spread of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Home Office Expenses
  • The Government has provided additional details on how the Canada Revenue Agency has made the home office expenses deduction available to more Canadians and simplified the way employees can claim these expenses on their personal income tax return. View the details on home office expenses here.
• COVID-19 rapid testing and screening in workplaces
  • The Government of Canada will continue to accept new applications for direct delivery of rapid tests from organizations of 200 employees and more until July 29, 2022. View the program here. 
• CERB reimbursement for self-employed workers who repaid CERB  
  • If you’re self-employed, you may have based your CERB eligibility on your gross instead of your net self-employment income. If you meet the conditions for using gross self-employment income, you can keep the CERB. If you repaid the CERB, you can apply for a reimbursement.
    
• Canada Community Revitalization Fund
  • The new Canada Community Revitalization Fund provides $500 million over two years to Canada’s regional development agencies to invest in shared and inclusive public spaces, helping to create the conditions and accessibility to stimulate local economies. 
• Natural Infrastructure Fund
  • Announced in June 2021, the $200 million Natural Infrastructure Fund supports projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to protect the natural environment, support healthy and resilient communities, and contribute to economic growth and jobs.