Canadian Heritage (PCH) Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Key Messages
Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations – Up to $500M to help alleviate the financial pressures of affected organizations:
$72M to the sport sector
- To support organizations at the national level, including the Aboriginal Sport Circle
- Athlete Assistance Program
- Bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to support sport organizations funded by these governments, including provincial and territorial Aboriginal sport organizations.
$198.3M to the arts and culture sector
- Provided to new and existing recipients of arts and culture programs, including (but not limited to) these programs:
- Canada Periodical Fund
- Canada Book Fund
- Canada Music Fund
- Canada Arts Training Fund
- Canada Arts Presentation Fund
- Harbourfront Centre Funding Program
- Building Communities through arts and Heritage Program
$53M to the heritage sector
- Via the emergency component of the Museums Assistance Program
$55M to the Canada Council for the Arts
- To help artists and art development
$115.8M to the audiovisual sector
- Distributed by the Canada Media Fund ($88.8M) and Telefilm ($27M)
$3.5M for the digital Citizen Initiative to combat false and misleading COVID-19 information
Canada Book Fund and Canada Periodical Fund
- Canadian Heritage is working to establish a simplified process for submitting and processing 2020-21 funding requests.
- The time required to process applications will be shortened by at least 60%.
- It is expected that recipients will receive their 2020-2021 funding in June, compared to August for the Canada Periodical Fund and October for the Canada Book Fund in previous years.
Celebrate Canada Program
- The health and safety of all Canadians is our top priority.
- In terms of events funded by the Department, the decision to hold an event remains that of the event planners, and local health authorities.
- This year, the Celebrate Canada program will provide flexibility to program recipients by allowing them to hold their event at any time before March 31, 2021, and thus not limit them to the prescribed Celebrate Canada period (June 21 to July 1), or to modify the nature of their event to a virtual format.
Flexibility for Funding Agreements
- Canadian Heritage is adjusting its funding agreements for grants and contributions to provide flexibility to adjust to situations where the original scope of activities need to be changed or, in some cases, where activities are cancelled entirely.
- The Department will keep disbursing grants and contributions so that beneficiaries can use the funding to cover eligible costs incurred.
- Each situation is unique, it varies depending on the funding program, and will therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine the obligations of the funding agreement.
New Funding Applications
- Canadian Heritage will still accept new applications for future activities.
- The timelines for applying for funding to its programs may be extended depending on the funding program.
- The Department is taking the necessary steps to ensure that funding requests will be processed in a timely manner.
Security and Safety at PCH
- Canadian Heritage also has everything in place to ensure the health and safety of its personnel. As a result, our workforce is currently reduced and our service standards will be affected.
Government-Wide Response
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
- A new benefit of $2,000 monthly for up to 4 months to eligible workers who have lost employment because of the COVID pandemic.
- It covers Canadians who:
- have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, taking care of someone who is sick with the COVID-19 or working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children
- are wage earners, contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance
- are still employed but are not receiving income or have lost income as a result of reduced hours because of disruptions to their work situation
- Royalty payments will not be considered in the allowed income while receiving the benefit. This ensures artists and creators aren’t disadvantaged for work done months ago.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
- 75% subsidy for up to 12 weeks for qualifying employers, retroactive to March 15.
- This will help employers keep people on their payroll and help Canadians keep their jobs.
Canada Emergency Business Account
- $25 billion in interest-free loans of up to $40,000 each through private financial institutions to qualifying organizations, with the possibility of $10,000 forgiveness.
Business Credit Availability Program
- $40 billion in additional support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC), enabling lending to meet operational cash-flow requirements.
Deferral of all Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) payments
- Deferral of GST/HST payments and customs duties owed for imports for all businesses (included the self-employed) until June.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
- The federal government has reached an agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the CECRA for small businesses.
- This program will lower rent by 75% for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.
Help for Students and Recent Grads
- Nearly $9 billion of comprehensive support to help students and recent grads such as the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the creation of 76,000 jobs for young people, and the Canada Student Service Grant.
Prepared by: Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs, February 2020
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