Weekly Update: October 9 – 15, 2020

Government announces new, targeted support to help businesses through pandemic including Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy

The federal government announced the government’s intention to introduce new, targeted supports to help hard-hit businesses and other organizations experiencing a drop in revenue including:

• The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners. The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.
• A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy.
• The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021. The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020.
• An expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31, 2020.

Modernizing irrigation district infrastructure

Alberta’s government, together with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and eight irrigation districts, is modernizing irrigation infrastructure. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding amongst all parties and agreement in principle for the CIB to invest about $407.5 million in this project, to be paid back by the irrigation districts, represents an innovative approach to financing a unique asset class. More information.

Update to Industrial Energy Efficiency and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (IEE-CCUS) Grant Program

A revised grant application form has been posted to the Industrial Energy Efficiency and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (IEE CCUS) grant program webpage, available at: https://www.alberta.ca/industrial-energy-efficiency-carbon-capture-utilization-and-storage.aspx.  Applications are open until 5 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-6 hours) on October 30, 2020. Questions regarding the IEE-CCUS Grant Program should be directed to AEP.GHG@gov.ab.ca.

AHS review implementation plan released

The Government of Alberta has directed Alberta Health Services (AHS) to proceed carefully in implementing a portion of their plan.
There will be no job losses for nurses or for other front-line clinical staff. Any reduction in full-time equivalent positions will be in keeping with proactive disclosures announced in the fall of 2019. A minimum of 100 management positions will be eliminated and a full review of senior AHS executives will be completed before the end of the fiscal year. More information.

Additional support for food banks and local food organizations

The federal government announced an additional investment of $100 million through the Emergency Food Security Fund. The Government of Canada will provide this funding to national and regional organizations, who will then support food banks and local food organizations across Canada. More information.

Have your say about Budget 2021

Alberta’s government is asking Albertans to help set the direction of the upcoming budget. The online survey is now live until Dec. 4, and the telephone town halls will take place on Nov. 30, Dec. 2, and Dec. 3. More information is available at alberta.ca/BudgetConsultation.

Repeal of Bill10: Minister Shandro

Minister of Health Tyler Shandro issued a statement on the repeal of the Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act. Read the full statement.

Animal Health Research Boost for University of Calgary

The governments of Canada and Alberta are investing in critical animal health diagnostics at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The $3.44-million agreements were finalized in March and will help the faculty launch a pilot project to expand its diagnostic service unit for animal disease diagnosis and welfare until February 2024. More information.

Connecting Community Brings Hatters Together

A new community initiative aims to bring Hatters together and start conversations about what makes us who we are. This project appears throughout the community and online. The City also collaborated with Shaw Spotlight TV to produce a series of #imahatter videos. To participate in the conversation, an online community forum is active on Shape Your City. Residents can also share their story through social media by using the hashtag #imahatter. More information.