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Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

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.

On this page

The government has announced a proposed increase to the maximum number of weeks of EI regular benefits and proposed extension to the Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit eligibility period limits.

Support for individuals

Individuals and families

  • Employment Insurance (EI) program

    We made temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians who need financial assistance. As of September 27, 2020, the minimum benefit rate for EI regular claimants is $500 per week before taxes in most cases.

    Apply to Employment Insurance

    If you are not eligible for EI or if you've received the maximum number of weeks of EI regular benefits, you may be eligible for the new benefits:

    Update

    • If you've received this benefit in 2020, learn how to report it for your tax return.
  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

    The CRB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who:

    • are not employed or self-employed for reasons related to COVID-19  or have had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19
    • are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI)
    • meet all the eligibility criteria for period they're applying for

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Benefit

    Updates

  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

    The CRSB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:

    • Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
    • Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
    • have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

    Updates

  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

    The CRCB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:

    • unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
    • because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

    Updates

  • Mortgage payment deferral

    Homeowners facing financial hardship may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral.

    The deferral is an agreement between you and your lender. Typically, the agreement indicates that you and your lender have agreed to pause or suspend your mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. After the agreement ends, your mortgage payments return to normal and the deferred payments — including principal and accumulated interest – are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.

    To know if you are eligible for a mortgage payment deferral or to learn what options are available, contact your lender — your bank or your mortgage professional.

    Learn more about mortgage payment deferral

  • Provincial and territorial support

    Other supports may be available to you in your province or territory 

Find the support you need

Answer a few questions to get a list of benefits and support tailored to you


Support for businesses

Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs

  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

    We are covering up to 75% of an employee's wages for qualifying eligible employers to keep and re-hire employees and avoid layoffs.

    Apply for the CEWS

    Update

    The government has announced a proposed extension of the current CEWS rates until June 5, 2021.

  • Extending the Work-Sharing program

    We have extended the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19. This measure will provide income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.

    Apply to the Work-Sharing program

Financial support, loans and access to credit

  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans

    The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) provides interest-free, partially forgivable, loans of up to $60,000, to small businesses and not-for-profits, that have experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19 but face ongoing non-deferrable costs, such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes and wages.

    We have recently expanded CEBA to include an additional interest-free $20,000 loan, 50% of which would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022.

    This means the additional loan effectively increases CEBA loans from the existing $40,000 to $60,000 for eligible businesses, of which a total of $20,000 will be forgiven if the balance of the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022.

    Business owners can apply for support until March 31, 2021 through their banks and credit unions.

    Learn more about the CEBA

  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

    The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) provides a direct and easy-to-access rent and mortgage subsidy of up to 65% of eligible expenses to qualifying businesses, charities and non-profits. This support is available directly to tenants.

    Lockdown Support

    Qualifying organizations that have been significantly restricted by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority can receive an additional 25% of rent support through the Lockdown Support.

    The combined effect of the rent subsidy and the Lockdown Support is that hard-hit businesses, non-profits and charities subject to a lockdown can receive rent support of up to 90%.

    Apply to the CERS

    Update

    The government has announced a proposed extension of the current CERS and Lockdown Support rate until June 5, 2021.

  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)

    The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) 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.

    The program is available at some participating financial institutions. Other participating financial institutions will deploy the program progressively over the days that follow.

    Learn more about HASCAP eligibility requirements

  • Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Export Development Canada (EDC) is working with financial institutions to guarantee 80% of new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

    This financing support is to be used for operational expenses and is available to both exporting and non-exporting companies.

    This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.

    This support is available until June 2021.

    Learn more about the loan guarantee

  • Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Business Development Canada (BDC) is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.

    The program offers differing maximum finance amounts based on business revenues.

    This program is now available at various banks and credit unions.

    This support is available until June 2021.

    Learn more about the Co-lending program

  • Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

    We are providing over $1.5 billion through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to help more businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism and others that are key to the regions and to local economies. This fund is specifically targeted to those that may require additional help to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but have been unable to access other support measures.

    Apply to the RRRF through your local Regional Development Agency

  • Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

    We are supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund that will provide loans of between $25,000 and $250,000.

    The Loan Fund will begin accepting applications in May 2021.

  • Mid-Market Financing Program

    Through the Business Credit Availability Program, the Business Development Canada's (BDC) Mid-Market Financing Program will provide commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million to medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceed what is already available through the Business Credit Availability Program and other measures.

    BDC anticipates that qualifying companies will have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million.

    This support is available until June 2021.

    Learn more about the Mid-market Financing Program

  • Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program

    Through the Business Credit Availability Program, EDC’s Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program will bring liquidity to companies who tend to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million, to sustain operations during this uncertain period. EDC will continue to work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75 % of new operating credit and cash-flow loans – ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million.

    These expanded guarantees are available to exporters, international investors and businesses that sell their products or services within Canada.

    Apply to the Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program

  • Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)

    The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) provides bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going.

    The additional liquidity provided through LEEFF allows Canada’s largest businesses, their workers and their suppliers to remain active during this difficult time, and position them for a rapid economic recovery.

    This program is delivered by the Canada Development Investment Corporation, in cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Department of Finance.

    Apply to the LEEF program

  • Additional support by sector
  • Provincial and territorial support

    Other supports for your business may be available to you in your province or territory

Support for self-employed individuals

  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

    The CRB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who:

    • are not employed or self-employed for reasons related to COVID-19  or have had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19
    • are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI)
    • meet all the eligibility criteria for period they're applying for

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Benefit

    Updates

  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

    The CRSB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:

    • Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
    • Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
    • have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

    Updates

  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

    The CRCB provides $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:

    • unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
    • because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.

    Apply to the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

    Updates

Indigenous businesses

  • Relief measures for Indigenous businesses

    We are providing $306.8 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses, and to support Aboriginal Financial Institutions that offer financing to these businesses.

    The funding will allow for short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions through Aboriginal Financial Institutions, which offer financing and business support services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses.

    Financial support for Indigenous businesses will be provided through Aboriginal Financial Institutions, and administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association and the Métis capital corporations in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada.

    Learn more about this measure for Indigenous SME

  • Supporting business through the pandemic and into recovery

    We are providing non-repayable financial contributions to help support operating costs for First Nation, Inuit and Métis community-or collectively-owned businesses and microbusinesses whose revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The fund seeks to provide support for businesses that do not qualify for other Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures.

    Apply to the Indigenous Community Business Fund

Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.

Find the support you need for your business

Answer a few questions to get a personalized list of support


Support for sectors

Agriculture and agri-food

  • Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe

    We are providing $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers, put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad.

    The Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP) provides support of $1,500 for each temporary foreign worker, to employers or those working with them to ensure requirements are fully met. The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the mandatory isolation.

    Apply to the MISTFWP

  • Increasing credit availability

    We have enabled Farm Credit Canada to provide an additional $5 billion in lending to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors. This will offer increased flexibility to farmers who face cashflow issues and to processors who are impacted by lost sales, helping them remain financially sound during this difficult time.

    You can also contact your banks and credit unions to discuss other support available.

    Learn more about increasing credit availability

  • Protecting the health and safety of farm workers

    We are providing $35 million through the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to improve health and safety on farms and in employee living quarters to prevent and respond to the spread of COVID-19. The funding will provide support to farmers for:

    • direct infrastructure improvements to living quarters and work stations, temporary or emergency housing
    • personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitary stations, and any other health and safety measures to safeguard the health and safety of Canadian and temporary foreign workers from COVID-19.

    Learn more on how to apply for the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund

  • Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability

    We are working with provinces and territories to increase interim payments from 50 % to 75 % through AgriStability, a federal, provincial and territorial program that supports producers who face significant revenue declines. This change has already been enacted in some provinces.

    Learn more about the AgriStability program

  • Expanding AgriInsurance to include labour shortage

    We are working with provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the AgriInsurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest.

    Learn more about the AgriInsurance program

  • Additional support for your business

Aquaculture and fisheries

  • Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe

    We are providing $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers, put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad.

    The Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP) provides support of $1,500 for each temporary foreign worker, to employers or those working with them to ensure requirements are fully met. The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the mandatory isolation.

    Apply to the MISTFWP

  • Increasing credit availability

    We have enabled Farm Credit Canada to provide an additional $5 billion in lending to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors. This will offer increased flexibility to farmers who face cashflow issues and to processors who are impacted by lost sales, helping them remain financially sound during this difficult time.

    Learn more about increasing credit availablility

  • Assisting the fish and seafood processing sector

    We are providing $62.5 million of new assistance to the fish and seafood processing sector through the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund.

    This will help businesses:

    • add storage capacity for unsold product;
    • comply with new health and safety measures for workers;
    • support new manufacturing/automated technologies to improve productivity and quality of finished seafood products; and,
    • adapt products to respond to changing requirements and new market demands.

    Regional Development Agencies are now accepting applications to the Fund.

  • Changes to Employment Insurance fishing benefits

    We will calculate Employment Insurance (EI) fishing benefits for self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons using either their fishing earnings for their current claim, or their fishing earnings from their claim for the same season from the previous year, whichever is higher.

    Apply to the EI fishing benefits

  • Additional support for your business

Culture, heritage and sport

Energy

Infrastructure

  • Flexible funding for community resilience

    We are adapting the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. The new COVID-19 Resilience stream, delivered through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, will provide added flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects that might not otherwise be eligible under the existing funding streams.

    The new stream will support the following types of projects:

    • Retrofits, repairs and upgrades for municipal, territorial, provincial and Indigenous buildings, health infrastructure and schools;
    • COVID-19 response infrastructure, including measures to support physical distancing;
    • Active transportation infrastructure, including parks, trails, foot bridges, bike lanes and multi-use paths; and
    • Disaster mitigation and adaptation projects, including natural infrastructure, flood and fire mitigation, and tree planting and related infrastructure.

    Learn more about the COVID-19 Resilience stream

  • Supporting communities: new ways to adapt spaces and services

    We will provide up to $31 million in funding to support community-led projects that respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19.

    The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will support local projects under three themes: creating safe and vibrant public spaces, improving mobility options, and digital solutions.

    Projects could include:

    • expanding outdoor seating on main streets
    • remodeling playgrounds to allow for proper physical distancing
    • creating digital apps to allow residents to access municipal services remotely

    Funding under the initiative will be provided to a non-governmental not-for-profit organization, or group of organizations, identified through an open call for applications process, who, once selected, will work with communities to identify and fund local projects under the themes above.

    Learn more about the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative

  • Additional support for your business

Support for organizations helping individuals

Indigenous organizations and communities


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