Daily COVID-19 Update: June 11, 2020
Supports for Business
CBRN Small Business Relief Fund: Applications Close Friday
The CBRN Small Business Relief Fund will help 62 small Canadian businesses recover and support their resilience, for a total of $620,000 in funds. Businesses can use the $10,000 grants to support their recovery efforts, including paying salaries, retrofitting their workplaces and acquiring technology to adapt their business models. Applications close at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12. Apply now!
Business Resilience Service – New Weekend Hours
The Business Resilience Service (BRS) allows you to connect for free with experienced business advisors for guidance on which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small- to medium-sized business, not-for-profit or charity amid the pandemic. The service is available seven days/week: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET and Sundays: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. More information.
Provincial Government Proposes Bill 22, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020
The bill proposes 14 legislative changes across six different ministries. Highlights of the bill include:
- Making it easier and more affordable for non-profits to operate in Alberta.
- Improving the efficiency of changes to surface rights agreements.
- Reducing trade barriers for grazing leases.
- Eliminating unnecessary delays in the oil sands approval process.
- Providing more effective and timely online access to statistical government information and reports.
To track red tape reduction progress and submit suggestions about where government can cut even more red tape, please visit CutRedTape.Alberta.ca. Watch the news conference.
Energy Efficiency Alberta to merge with Emissions Reduction Alberta
As part of Bill 22, most remaining programs and services that have been led by Energy Efficiency Alberta (EEA) will transition to Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA). This move will focus the province’s funding on one agency, with the goal of making it clearer for applicants and their service providers to access emissions-reduction programs.
Through ERA, Alberta’s emissions-reduction efforts will focus on the commercial and industrial sectors, which account for more than 65 per cent of the province’s total emissions. EEA will continue to honour pre-existing program commitments, collaborate with applicants, and field inquiries until the agency closes on Sept. 30.
Government of Canada announces additional support for Indigenous businesses and the Indigenous tourism industry
Additional funding totaling $133 million in new funding to support Indigenous business through the pandemic and into recovery was announced today. Of these additional funds, $117 million will reach more community-owned First Nation, Inuit and Métis businesses including microbusinesses, who are not eligible for existing business support measures. Indigenous communities rely on these businesses to provide revenue for important services, and to create meaningful jobs.
The Indigenous tourism sector is particularly vulnerable to the economic effects of COVID-19. To bolster this industry, the federal government announced a new stimulus development fund that will provide $16 million to support the Indigenous tourism industry. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada will administer the fund to businesses across the country that have lost revenue due to COVID-19.
World Health Organization ‘Asks’ For The Private Sector
The WHO’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and COVID-19 Strategy outline public health measures needed to support countries in preparing for and responding to COVID-19. In this effort, the private sector has a critical role to play locally, nationally and globally. The following “Asks” have been prepared by the WHO for businesses to take concrete actions. Find out what those ‘asks’ are here.
Community Supports and Resources
Gas tax funding for Alberta
Today, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna announced that Alberta has received $244 million through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) for the 2020–21 fiscal year to fund its most pressing infrastructure needs. Read the backgrounder.
Additional Hand Sanitizers Recalled
Heath Canada has expanded its recall of hand sanitizers containing industrial-grade ethanol that has not been authorized for use in hand sanitizers in Canada. Find more information.
Advocacy
Over 120 Business Leaders Call For A National Plan To Restart The Travel And Tourism Sector
The containment of the COVID-19 pandemic is of paramount importance to the travel economy and the communities in which our businesses operate. The industry has been supportive of measures taken to mitigate the impact of this pandemic and protect the health and safety of Canadians. We also agree that the first step to recovery will be to allow local and regional travel with appropriate safety measures in place. That said, with economic conditions continuing to decline and the importance of the international travel market in stimulating growth, it is imperative to ensure that when tourism businesses gradually re-open and travel restarts, a balanced approach and careful consideration to border openings is in place to accelerate the overall economic recovery of the country. We are proud to be a part of the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable and participated in a teleconference call on June 11th that focused on Travel and Tourism. This industry has faced significant impacts, being the first industry hit going into the pandemic and will be one of the last to come out. As such, our network is calling on governments across the country to put in place logical, streamlined measures to keep the public safe while simultaneously allowing the tourism and travel sector to open. It’s time to get the travel and tourism sector back to work. Read the letter to the Prime Minister and Premiers. Want to know more? Read the Globe and Mail article and the summary of Tourism Recovery Measures to Support Canada’s Visitor Economy.
Alberta Chambers of Commerce President & CEO on Alberta Prime
ACC President and CEO Ken Kobly appeared on Alberta Primetime to talk about Alberta's business community and the road to economic recovery.
Tabatha Bull: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Aboriginal Business
It has taken considerable effort for governments to stay ahead of the country’s needs during the pandemic. While the policy response has been greatly appreciated across this nation, there remains a delay in closing the gap for Aboriginal business support, which has led to an increased negative impact. When devising the programs that will aid ALL Canadian business, Indigenous issues need to be top of mind for governments and the Canadian public. Read more.
New Resources
Deloitte Small Business Relief Tool
To support Canadian small businesses, Deloitte has developed a simple tool that brings together in one place the various financial relief programs that are available federally, provincially and privately. The COVID-19 small business relief tool helps you and your members navigate the available federal, provincial and private funding measures through a quick, easy-to-use questionnaire that takes less than two minutes to complete with four simple questions. It’s available to all business owners and those supporting Canada’s small businesses. Get started now.
Webinars
Webinar Recording Available | Cybersecurity And The Ever-Evolving Work Environment, With Field Effect
Companies around the world transitioned their teams to work remotely as a health precaution during COVID-19. While some businesses have announced their shift to digital will be permanent, others are making plans to go back to the office. What precautions do you need to take to protect you and your organization from an increase in cyber threats during this unprecedented time? We were joined by our EBS partner, Field Effect, for a webinar to discuss how to keep your organization safe from online threats throughout this pandemic and beyond. Watch now.
Canada's Return to the New Workplace
With restrictions lifting and many returning to work during the pandemic employers are facing new challenges regarding workplace safety and employee accommodations. In this webinar, experts from across Canada will discuss considerations for re-opening including:
- Federal and Provincial Rules & Requirements
- Employment Rights / Human Rights / Safety Considerations
- Modified Work Arrangements
- Return to Work Plan
- The New Normal
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 12:00 MST. Register today!
Interested, But Can't Make It? For those not able to attend at the specified date/time listed, that's okay, you should still register! By registering, you will receive a link to the recording of the live webinar as soon as it is available.
#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.
“Every new experience brings its own maturity and a greater clarity of vision.” - Indira Gandhi
For more resources visit our COVID-19 page
On Demand Webinars
Alberta Bits & Pieces Webinar. Watch Now.
Alberta Phase 2 Relaunch Town Hall Recordings. Listen 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.
Crowdfunding through COVID-19. Watch Now.
Cybersecurity And The Ever-Evolving Work Environment, With Field Effect. Watch Now.
Destination Canada: The Visitor Economy: Watch Now.
BDC Economic Pulse (April 20): Watch Now.
Facebook: Build Your Online Presence. Watch now
Facebook: Getting Creative with your Mobile Phone, With Facebook. 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.
Relaunching Your Business. Watch now.
Rent Relief in a World of the Coronavirus: Watch Now.
Shopify E-Commerce Tools. Watch Now.
Social Media in Crisis. Watch Now.
Strategies for How Businesses Can Persevere And Recover From COVID-19. 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.
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. Register here.
School of Public Policy. Register here.
StartUp Canada Women Entrepreneur Webinar Series: Click here.
Travel Alberta Webinar Series. Watch Now.
June 15: Find out more about the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program. Register now .
June 15: Getting found online - tools/tactics to help your website show up higher in search engines. Register now.
June 15: How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal. Register now.
June 16: Google Ads – what you need to know to start driving traffic to your website. Register now.
June 17: APEX Alberta: Everything DiSC Productive Conflict. Register here.
June 17: Physical return to work: Practical realities and transformative opportunities. Register now.
June 17: Canada's Return to the New Workplace. Register here.
June 22: Mental Health for HR Professionals. Register Now.
June 22: Take Control of Your Business: 3 Simple Tools to Help Your Business Survive and Thrive with Bradshaw & Associates. Register Now
June 24: How to Build an Effective Advertising Strategy. Register now.
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