FEDERAL SUPPORT:

Federal Parliament passed C-13, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, to accomplish what is suggested in the bill’s title. Most impactful among the measures is a new Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which will provide $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

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  • workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.

  • workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.

  • working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.

  • workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.

  • wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.

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Canadians can make application through a secure web portal
set to launch in early April, with benefits received within 10 days
of application submission.

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Support for individuals and families:

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Support for people facing unemployment

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Support for people who are sick, quarantined,
or in directed self-isolation

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Support for people who are unable to work

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Support for people who need it most

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Support for seniors

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Support for students and recent graduates

 

 

SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS

 • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

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PROVINCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN ADDITION
TO THE FEDERAL SUPPORT ABOVE:

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ONTARIO:

Ontario took the approach to provide direct financial support to individuals in the form of grants and reliefs to allow for more cash
in the hands of people to pay for necessities such as food and rent.
For businesses, the government is taking an approach to allow more short-term cash in the hands of businesses by focusing on deferring taxes and other payments.

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Support for individuals and families

  • Doubling the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) maximum payment for
    low-income seniors to $166 per month for individuals and $332 per month for couples for six months;

  • Payments to families with children of $200 per child up to 12 years of age and $250
    for those with special needs;

  • Six months of relief from loan payments and interest accrual for students under
    the Ontario Student Assistance Program;

  • Relief from energy bills including:

- Setting electricity prices for time-of-use customers at the lowest rate
(off-peak price) for 24 hours a day for a period of 45 days

- $9 million to expand the eligibility for the Low‑income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP); 
 

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  • $200 million in new funding to provide temporary emergency supports for people
    in financial need as well as funding to municipalities and other service providers
    so they can quickly respond to local needs.

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Support for Businesses

  • Five months of relief from interest and penalties associated with payments for the majority
    of provincially administered taxes;

  • Six months of relief from Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments by allowing deferrals;

  • Deferring municipal remittance of education property tax for the upcoming quarter to school boards by 90 days. This will provide municipalities with the flexibility to provide property tax deferrals for businesses and residents;

  • A temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption; and

  • Setting electricity prices for time-of-use customers the lowest rate (off-peak price) for 24
    hours a day for a period of 45 days.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Support for individuals and families

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Support for Businesses

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SASKATCHEWAN

Support for individuals and families

  • Job Protected Leave

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Amendments to The Saskatchewan Employment Act will ensure:

  • Employees can access unpaid public health emergency leave;

  • Removal of the requirement of 13 consecutive weeks of employment with
    an employer prior to accessing sick leave; and

  • Removal of the provision requiring a doctor's note or certificate

  • Self-Isolation Support Program

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The Self-Isolation Support Program is targeted at Saskatchewan workers forced to self- isolate in order to curb the spread of
COVID-19, and who are not covered by recent federally announced employment insurance programs and other supports. Administered by the Ministry of Finance, the program will provide $450 per week, for a maximum of two weeks or $900.

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To be eligible, residents of Saskatchewan must meet these criteria:

  • They have contracted COVID-19 or are showing symptoms;or

  • They have been in contact with an individual infected with COVID-19; or

  • They have recently returned from international travel and have been required
    to self-isolate;

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  • They are not eligible for compensation including sick leave, vacation leave
    from their employer;

  • They do not have private insurance covering such disruptions;

  • They are not covered by other programs such as federal employment insurance
    that has been updated

  • Student Loan Repayment Moratorium

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Effective immediately, a six-month student loan repayment moratorium has been put in place, mirroring a similar federal provision. This provides individuals with student loans immediate relief, and comes at a $4 million cost to the provincial government.

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Labour Market Services

Saskatchewan Labour Market Services offer career, employment and training information and services to Saskatchewan residents. These services continue to be available from anywhere in the province, by calling or emailing your nearest Labour Market Services office.

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Immigration Services

If you have applied through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) 
and have questions about your application or status or require other assistance,
please contact (306) 798 7467 or immigration@gov.sk.ca

ALBERTA

Support for individuals and families

 

Support for Businesses

corporate income tax changes and other supports for employers

QUEBEC

Support for individuals and families

 

A program to offer financial assistance to meet the needs of workers who, because they are in isolation to counter the propagation of the COVID-19 virus, cannot earn all of their work income and are not eligible for another financial assistance program.