Weekly Update: June 1- June 4, 2021
News for Business
New Canada Recovery Hiring Program
The proposed Canada Recovery Hiring Program would help hard-hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen. The program would provide a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of eligible salary or wages. The Hiring Program is designed to interact with the Wage Subsidy. The programs overlap so that, as Wage Subsidy rates gradually decline, eligible employers would still be able to receive the maximum support from the Hiring Program this summer if they hire more workers or increase workers’ hours or wages. Read more
New Prairie-focused Regional Development Agency investment announced in Budget 2021
Budget 2021 will establish a new agency for the Prairie provinces to play an enhanced role as convenor, pathfinder, partner, investor, and advisor to support economic development in more communities and help develop businesses to create good jobs that people can rely on. Growing Western Economic Diversification Canada into two new separate agencies focused on the Prairies and British Columbia is recognition that economic drivers and conditions are different in each of the two regions, and entrepreneurs, innovators, institutions, and communities have unique needs linked to where they are located. Read more
Canada Invests in Hydrogen Fueling Station for Commercial Fleet in Alberta
The government has announced a $2.3-million investment in the Alberta Zero-Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration (AZETEC) project. The AZETEC project addresses barriers to fuel cell electric truck adoption by installing and testing a hydrogen fueling station for highway heavy-duty commercial fleet vehicles using real-world conditions, such as capabilities in climates that range from -40°C to +40°C and the ability to refuel in 20–45 minutes. Read more
Funding for Infrastructure upgrades in Alberta
The governments of Canada and Alberta are injecting more than $31.9 million to complete crucial repairs and upgrades to seniors and family housing throughout the province. Funding for these capital maintenance and renewal projects is approved through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Read More
New Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program
The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) supports building Canada’s low-emissions energy future and a renewable, electrified economy through projects that focus on non-emitting, cleaner energy technologies, such as storage, and modernizing electricity system operations.
Poultry and egg producers can now apply for compensation funds to boost competitiveness
The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP) is now accepting applications. The PEFIP will provide almost $647 million over ten years to support poultry and egg producers through on-farm investments. Each producer is entitled to an amount proportional to their quota holdings as of January 1, 2021. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2030, meaning producers can apply when they are ready to make an investment. Read more
Black Entrepreneurship Fund is Now Accepting Applications
The Black Entrepreneurship Program fund provides financing of up to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs so they can grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future. Eligible businesses must be majority owned by a Black Canadian and may include start-ups and existing for-profit small businesses in Canada, including sole proprietorships, social enterprises, partnerships or co-operatives. Read more
Indigenous SCO Student Bursary
The Safety Codes Council offers funding support for Indigenous safety codes officer students, including those applying with the support of a First Nations community, Metis Settlement, or Indigenous organization.
The Bursary is given in the form of credits towards a single level of certification. Individual awards can cover up to 75% of certification costs for the indicated level. Applications close July 31
News for the Community
Alberta speeding up second-dose appointments
Albertans will be able to schedule second-dose appointments in the order they received their first doses.
- Anyone vaccinated in March or earlier can book their second dose starting June 1.
- Anyone vaccinated in April can book their second dose starting June 14.
- Anyone vaccinated in May can book their second dose starting June 28.
Alberta kicks off Stage 1 of Open for Summer Plan
The Stage 1 threshold of 50 percent of Albertans age 12-plus having received at least one dose of vaccine was met on May 18. Albertans have driven cases down and kept hospitalizations well below 800 through the two-week waiting period. Albertans can now enjoy outdoor patios, haircuts and more physical activities. Second doses are now available for booking. Read More
Government of Canada extends quarantine measures and travel restrictions
To continue managing the elevated risk of imported COVID-19 cases into Canada, the Government of Canada has extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India and Pakistan until June 21, 2021. Read more
Medicine Hat ends chronic homelessness: Minister Sawhney
“Medicine Hat is the first city in Canada to end chronic homelessness. This is a remarkable achievement, and I want to acknowledge the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society and the many homeless-serving agencies in Medicine Hat for their passion, their hard work and commitment to reach this incredible milestone.” “Medicine Hat’s success gives us all hope that we will see similar success in other cities. I look forward to continuing to work with all of our partners to make sure vulnerable Albertans are protected and have access to the critical services they need.” Read More
Government of Canada investing in safety at airports in Alberta
Through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the Government of Canada will provide over $20 million to the Alberta airports for safety-related projects including a $1 million rehabilitation of the airfield electrical system in Medicine Hat. Read more
Supporting access to learning opportunities for students with disabilities
This program is a two-year project that will support students with disabilities so that they can successfully navigate the transition to post-secondary education. With this funding, NEADS will offer virtual mentoring and webinars on various topics related to accessibility, as well as expand their National Student Awards Program, which provides scholarship awards to post-secondary students with disabilities. Read More
Advocacy
Debt Is a Major Hurdle to Growth Indicated by the Latest Stats from Canadian Survey on Business Conditions
Last quarter, Statistics Canada’s CSBC found 40% of Canadian businesses could not take on additional debt and 26% of Canadian businesses were unsure about their ability to take on additional debt. The data shows that lack of confidence, uncertainty in future sales, cash flow and expectations of being turned down are the three biggest barriers to businesses for fueling business investment when the economy reopens. To counter the debt load hurdle and unlock business investment for growth, three things are required. Keep reading
Looking for Employees? Hiring Persons with Disabilities Could Benefit Your Business!
Inclusive workplaces are good for business — research shows they are more innovative, more productive, enjoy lower turnover and have better employee morale. What employer doesn’t want all that for their business? Inclusive workplaces also include persons with disabilities.
Would you like to be a more inclusive employer, but are not sure where to begin? The federal government has tools and resources for employers to help make your workplace more inclusive and hire persons with disabilities. Learn more
New Resources
Online Course Provides COVID-19 Guidance for Temporary Foreign Workers
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has developed an online course to help employers and temporary foreign workers in agricultural operations learn how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 at work. Prevent the Spread of COVID-19: Guidance for Temporary Foreign Workers
Have Your Say
Call for Proposals for he new Women’s Employment Readiness (WER) pilot program.
Through the WER pilot program, organizations will test new approaches for helping marginalized women by providing pre-employment and training supports, including wrap-around supports such as transportation and child care, because we know that access means different things to different women. The pilot will also test ways to help employers remove barriers and improve workplace inclusion. Eligible organizations are invited to submit their application by June 30, 2021.
Be Heard at the UN Food Systems Summit
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is co-convening the North America Best Small Business dialogue on June 16. there will be one to two breakout sessions to enable participants to discuss and exchange experiences, challenges and ideas for the business and policy solutions needed for SMEs to become major contributors to positive transformation of the food system. If you would like to participate or provide input, please contact Jarred Cohen today.
Featured Webinars
June 8
Renewable Energy Purchasing for Canadian Retail | Register
Big Data, Blockchain and the Digitalization of Energy | Register
June 15
Succession and Financing | Register
June 16
Working Together for Community Recovery | Register
Navigating Support for LGBTQ2+-led Businesses | Register
June 22
Succession Planning: Taxation and Legal Considerations | Register
June 23
Women in Business Summit: Empowering an Inclusive Recovery | Register
