January 4th 2022,
By: Adam Gibeau

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. We’ve compiled a list of current programs and supports for businesses.

You can find more of this information on the Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website.

Wage and Hiring Support

You may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages. This subsidy will enable you to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease your business back into normal operations.

For each applicable claim period, eligible employers can claim one of the following:

  • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
    • As a business, charity, or non-profit in Canada who has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy, a rent subsidy, or both through the THRP.
  • Hardest-Hit Businesses Recovery Program
    • Through the HHBRP, you may be able to get a subsidy to help cover wages (formerly the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) and rent (formerly the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy).
  • Canada Recovery Hiring Program
    • As an employer in Canada who continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible to apply for a subsidy to cover part of your wages as you hire new employees and increase existing employees’ wages or hours.
  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
    • As an employer in Canada who was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic between March 15, 2020, and October 23, 2021, you may have been eligible for the CEWS.
    • Beginning October 24, 2021, the CEWS and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) were replaced with two new programs, each offering wage and rent support: the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program

Rent and Property Expenses Support

You may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your commercial rent or property expenses.

Depending on the period you are applying for, you may be eligible to claim your commercial rent or property expenses through one of the following:

Jobs and Growth Fund

The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The initiative, valued at $700 million nationally over three years, is being delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) and includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.

The Fund will help businesses and organizations that:

  • Support the transition to a green economy
  • Foster an inclusive recovery
  • Enhance Canada’s competitiveness through digital adoption to improve productivity and manufacturing processes
  • Strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada’s recovery and growth

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)

The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program provides businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19, access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs.

HASCAP is available to businesses that operate in sectors such as tourism and hospitality, restaurants and those that primarily rely on in-person services.

Business owners can apply for support with HASCAP until March 31, 2022