Daily COVID-19 Update: May 22, 2020
Supports for Business
Calgary and Brooks Phase 1 Opening on May 25
A significant decline in the number of active cases of COVID-19 in Calgary and Brooks means both cities can reopen. Starting May 25, hairstyling and barbershops will be permitted to reopen in Calgary and Brooks, and cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars can reopen for table service at 50 percent capacity. This is in addition to the reopening of limited businesses and activities in these cities on May 14.
Financial Support for Farmers through Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Changes
The Canadian Emergency Business Account will provide additional support directly to farmers from the forgivable portion of interest-free loans. Many farmers were unable to access CEBA, because many did not meet the payroll criteria. With the change in eligibility, more farm operations can now access the program. For those farmers who are still unable to access CEBA, they can turn towards the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. Read the press release.
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund Portal opens May 29, 2020
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) is a program to aid businesses that are not eligible for current COVID-19 funding. The Community Futures RRRF has a maximum of $40,000, is interest and payment free to Dec 31, 2022, and has a forgivable amount up to $10,000. To qualify, businesses need to have applied for and been declined under the federal CEBA program. An application portal will be available by May 29, 2020
Extensions for Certificate of Recognition Holders
Certifying Partners (CPs) are now authorized to grant individual 90-day COR extension for CORs expiring from July 1 to July 31, 2020. Previously, this extension was available for CORs expiring from March 17 to June 30, 2020. Employers who received a previous extension are eligible for a second 90-day extension from their CP.
The due dates have been extended for COR holders to submit their 2020 maintenance action plans to their CP. The new dates are June 30, 2020, for initial plan approval, and December 31, 2020, for review/approval of completed plans. For information contact your certifying partner.
Supports for Individuals
Expanded Testing for Long Term Care Residents and Staff
Starting May 25, voluntary testing will be available in long-term care and level 4 designated supportive living facilities. About 27,000 residents and 44,000 staff in long-term care and level 4 designated supportive living facilities – those providing a higher level of support to people with more complex needs – can now be tested for COVID-19, if they choose, even if they have no symptoms. More testing for this most vulnerable population group will improve our ability to detect cases early, prevent possible outbreaks and keep people safe.
Non-urgent Surgeries with Hospital Stays Resume
Non-urgent surgeries requiring a hospital stay resume next week.Non-urgent surgeries will expand to include more day surgeries and those requiring an overnight stay. These surgeries were put on hold to make sure the health-care system had capacity to help those affected by COVID-19. Albertans waiting the longest will receive care first. Patients will be contacted directly when it is time for their surgery.
Since day surgeries resumed on May 4, about 3,000 scheduled surgeries have been performed across the province. Urgent and emergency surgeries have been available throughout the pandemic. Read more.
Childcare for Albertans Returning to Work
Parents can find information about licensed child care programs and contracted family day home agencies with the Child Care Lookup tool. This tool provides information about the location, ages of children served, number of children that can be served in the program, the program’s status and recent inspection results. The Lookup tool is not available for private child care arrangements.
New Resources
Childcare and Social Service Tracking
As most economic reopening plans across Canada involve several phased-in stages stretching across weeks or months, a formidable challenge will be the availability of childcare and other social services as employees return to the workplace. The CBRN reopening guide for business includes information on the availability of these services. Open the CBRN Reopening Toolkit.
Online tools to help find financial help during COVID-19
To help Canadians and Canadian businesses navigate the number of COVID-19 programs available, the government has developed two tools, one for individuals and one for businesses. They allow users to quickly find programs they may qualify for by answering a few simple questions.
Retail Council of Canada and Boston Consulting Group released critical resource for retailers
The Road to Retail Recovery Playbook - Helping Retailers in Canada Navigate the COVID-19 Crisis leverages global best practices so that retailers in Canada, of all sizes and retail formats, can plan their businesses strategies in a COVID-19 world. Today’s release completes the series of 6 separate content sections:
- Customer Health & Safety
- Employee Wellbeing
- Retail Operations
- Merchandising & Marketing
- Store Network & Channel
- Finances
This Playbook is FREE to retailers, governments and partners to help shape and execute recovery plans. Download now.
Featured Webinars
Phase two economic relaunch: A discussion with Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism - May 25, 2020
The ACC invites businesses opening in phase two of Alberta's economic relaunch to join Michele Evans, Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade, and Tourism to discuss Alberta's relaunch. We will meet via Zoom on Monday, May 25 at 3 p.m. MT. Please note that space is limited and individuals are required to register to attend.
Strategies For How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19
Join us on May 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a webinar with Canadian Western Bank (CWB) on tips and tricks for how to take care of your employees and gain insight into how CWB is able to offer its support to businesses and clients as they navigate the crisis and beyond. Register here
EDC Webinar: Manage Your Cash Flow And Ramp Up For Business
During global economic downturns, cash flow is more vital than ever. Join Export Development Canada (EDC) on Thursday May 28 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET for a FREE webinar, Manage Your Cash Flow and Ramp Up for Business, to discover strategies that can help your company weather the pandemic and prepare for recovery and growth. Register here
Leverage EQ techniques to nurture customer trust
Neuro-science shows we buy on emotion and justify our purchases intellectually. This creates a challenge for the salesperson, especially in the COVID-19 world. Learn more by joining Sandra Crozier-McKee, Sandler Training Associates on May 28. Register here.
Destination Canada – COVID-19 Research Webinar
This session will provide an overview of latest market research and how it can help inform your organization’s next steps. They will also share some quick website and social media ideas that SMEs can use during COVID-19. Please click the link to join the webinar on June 3 at 1:00 MST: https://zoom.us/w/85868233670.
Edmonton Chamber Advocacy A.M.
In this edition of Advocacy A.M. Tuesday, June 2 at 10 a.m., the Edmonton Chamber will welcome Trevor Tombe, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary, to share his insights. He will discuss the depth and scale of the disruption in the labour market and the economy. Register online.
Easing into the New Normal with Doug Griffiths and Heather Thomson
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the 13 Ways team has been trying to come up with ways to help communities and businesses. The team has pooled their knowledge base and offer free resources. Over the coming months you will see free articles, podcasts, webinars and social media posts on various topics posted on their website. Watch the webinar on how to ease into the new normal.
#YXH2Gether
Share your stories and resources with us and on the YXH Business Support Group and connect with us for any questions you have.
Recognize your heroes by using the hashtag #YXHheroes.
Honour your everyday heroes through the Alberta Northern Lights Volunteer Awards program. Nominations can be submitted online.
"Success is finding satisfaction in giving a little more than you take." - Christopher Reeve
For more resources visit our COVID-19 page
On Demand Webinars
Alberta Bits & Pieces Webinar. Watch Now.
Canadian Business Resilience Network Video Content
13 Ways COVID-19 and Your Business Part 1: Watch Now.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Explained: Watch Now.
Conflict Escalation & What to Do About It. Watch Now.
Destination Canada: The Visitor Economy: Watch Now.
BDC Economic Pulse (April 20): Watch Now.
How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business. Watch Now.
How to Navigate Government Programs with KPMG. Watch Now.
The Importance of Human Resources & Being Strategic When Your Business is Being Temporarily Impacted. Watch Now.
Keeping Your Company and Employees Secure When Working Remotely. Watch Now.
Leading During a Crisis and Switching to Remote Work. Watch Now.
Maintaining Sales in the face of COVID-19. Watch Now.
Rent Relief in a World of the Coronavirus: Watch Now.
Shopify E-Commerce Tools. Watch Now.
Social Media in Crisis. Watch Now.
Understanding, Accessing and Optimizing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Watch Now.
What To Feel When Stressors Collide, With Canada Life. Watch Now.
Working From Home During COVID-19. Watch Now.
Webinar Series
AMHSA, CSSE, Howatt HR, AUMA Mental Health Webinar Series. Click here.
APEX Alberta Webinars: Watch the recorded series
BDC Webinar Series. Click here.
BusinessLink: View upcoming events.
Buyandsell.gc.ca: Learn how to find bid opportunities. Register now.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Watch Now.
CPA Small Business Webinar Series. Click here.
CPHR Alberta: HR Pandemic Essentials. Click here.
Conference Board of Canada Webinar Series: Mental Health and COVID-19. Click here.
Constant Contact Webinar Series: View the line up of sessions and register.
D2L Webinar Series: Digital Transformation for Associations. Watch Now.
Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) Wednesday weekly: Business & Economic Recovery During the COVID-19 Crisis
Free Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)® IDS™ sessions. Register here.
International Economic Development Council Webinar series. Watch now.
Retail Council of Canada
StartUp Canada Women Entrepreneur Webinar Series: Click here.
Travel Alberta Webinar Series. Watch Now.
Upcoming Webinars
May 25: The Alberta (re) Bound Strategy. Register here.
May 26 & June 2: Rock My Business Plan. Register here.
May 26: CWB Financial Webinar | Putting People First: How to Win During a Crisis. Register now.
May 26: Travel Alberta “Worth the Wait” summer marketing campaign.
May 26: CWB | Strategies For How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19. Register now.
May 27: Funding programs for tourism businesses. Register here.
May 27: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Workplace. Register here.
May 27: Digital Strategy in a Time of Crisis. Register here.
May 27: BBB Digital Marketing in the Face of a Pandemic. Register here.
May 27: Marketing Your Business Re-Opening. Register here.
May 28: Work-Life Wellness for Entrepreneurs: During & Beyond the COVID-19 Crisis. Register here.
May 28: Succession Planning Webinar. Register here.
May 28: Alberta Tourism Town Hall. Register now.
May 28: Alberta’s Economy in a COVID-19 World, hosted by Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist at ATB Financial
May 28: Adapting your Business Plan in a Crisis, Presented by CPA Alberta. Register here.
June 3: APEX Alberta: Personality Dimensions – Sales and Customer Service. Register here.
June 3: BBB Financial Options for Small Businesses. Register here.
June 4: Cash Flow Management in Times of Uncertainty Webinar. Register here.
June 10: Post-COVID Employee Benefits. Register here.
June 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
Don’t forget Joe Social Media – Free Social Media training from May 1 – June 30 (times vary). Register here. Use promocode: Resilience
Check out more events on our Pandemic Training Calendar