FEDERAL

To support Canadian businesses, the federal government has implemented a multitude of support measures , particularly in the entrepreneurial community:

Support for salaries and hiring

This financial assistance is used to cover part of the salaries paid to employees. This grant will allow your business to rehire workers, avoid further job losses and facilitate the resumption of normal business activities.

For each relevant claim period, eligible employers may apply through one of the following programs, whichever results in the highest amount:

• Recovery program for tourism and hospitality

• Recovery program for the hardest hit businesses

• Canada's Economic Recovery Hiring Program

• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Click here to make a request. If you believe an error was made in a recent government calculation, you can also complete a new form .

Support for rental and property expenses

This grant can cover part of the commercial or property rent expenses.

Depending on the period for which a request is made, you can request reimbursement for your rental or property expenses through one of the following programs:

• Recovery program for tourism and hospitality

• Recovery program for the hardest hit businesses

• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy

Click here to apply.

The Jobs and Growth Fund

The Jobs and Growth Fund is a $700 million program that supports regional job creation and prepares for the long-term growth of local economies. It provides up to $70 million for businesses created after January 2020.

This fund helps businesses and organizations that:

• support the transition to a green economy;

• promote an inclusive recovery;

• improve Canada's competitiveness through the adoption of digital technologies to improve productivity and manufacturing processes;

• build capacity in sectors critical to Canada's recovery and growth.

Click here to apply to a regional development agency.

Extension of the Work-Sharing program

The maximum duration of Work-Sharing agreements has been extended from 38 to 76 weeks across Canada for employers impacted by COVID-19. The Work-Sharing program allows employers and employees to avoid layoffs when:

• there is a temporary slowdown in the normal activities of the company; and

• the slowdown is beyond the control of the employer.

Click here for more details.

Credit program for highly affected sectors

The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program is available until March 31, 2022. Extended by the federal government, it allows businesses facing significant challenges to obtain low-interest guaranteed loans, ranging from $25,000 to $1 million, to meet their operational cash flow needs.

The program is available to businesses operating in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and accommodation and food services, and those that primarily offer in-person services. It is aimed at SMEs that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more due to the pandemic. Click here for more information .

Emergency Credit for Large Employers

It provides transitional financing to the country's largest employers whose financial needs during the pandemic cannot be met through conventional mechanisms. It thus allows a large company to continue its activities.

The assistance is provided by the Canada Development Investment Corporation, in collaboration with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Department of Finance.

Aboriginal Business Support Fund

Ottawa is providing non-repayable financial contributions to help support the operating costs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis community- or collectively-owned businesses, including micro-enterprises, whose revenues have been impacted by the pandemic.

The fund aims to support businesses that are not eligible for other Government of Canada support measures.

Additional support by sector

Additional assistance is offered to companies in sensitive sectors or those particularly affected by COVID-19:

• Aerospace

• Agriculture and agri-food

• Aquaculture and fishing

• Culture, heritage and sport

• Energy

• Tourism

• Transportation

• Infrastructure

Canadian Lockdown Benefit for Workers

The PCTCC provides $300 per week ($270 after tax deductions) to eligible workers who are unable to work due to a temporary local lockdown. Canadians can apply for weeks where their region is eligible between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.

Quebec has been eligible since December. Click here to apply.

Please note that an applicant must have earned at least $5,000 in 2020, 2021 or in the 12 months preceding the date on which they apply. Various sources of income are to be considered. Details are here .

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

The PCMRE provides $500 ($450 after tax deduction) per week, for up to six weeks, to workers who:

• are unable to work at least half of their weekly work schedule because they have contracted COVID-19;

• must isolate due to COVID-19;

• have underlying health conditions, are undergoing treatment for, or have contracted other illnesses that, in the opinion of a physician, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health agency, would make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. This benefit is available until November 20, 2021.

This benefit has been extended until May 7 , 2022.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

The PCREPA provides $500 ($450 after tax deduction) per week, for a maximum of 44 weeks per household, to workers:

• who are unable to work at least half of their weekly work schedule because they must care for a child under 12 years of age or a relative whose school, daycare or care facility is closed due to COVID-19;

• whose child or loved one is sick, in quarantine or at risk of developing serious complications if they were to contract the virus.

This benefit has been extended until May 7, 2022.

PROVINCIAL

Aside from federal financial assistance, other support measures for businesses are offered by the Quebec government.

Emergency aid for SMEs

Quebec is helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in all sectors of activity as part of the Temporary Concerted Action Program for Enterprises (PACTE) , which will allow them to benefit from financial support to compensate for the lack of liquidity linked to COVID-19.

Businesses subject to a closure order since December 21, 2021 in the context of the pandemic can therefore once again submit an application for financial assistance under the Aid for Businesses in Regions on Maximum Alert (AERAM) component.

Applications for financial assistance must be received no later than four weeks after This emergency aid aims to support, for a period not exceeding six months, the working capital of SMEs so that they are able to maintain, consolidate or relaunch their activities.

Applications for financial assistance submitted under the PACTE and the Emergency Assistance Program for SMEs (PAUPME), as well as applications for increased financial assistance from the Aid for Businesses in Regions on Maximum Alert (AERAM) component, may be received up to 4 weeks after the resumption of activities of businesses subject to a closure order.

Temporary concerted action programme for businesses (PACTE)

Financial assistance for amounts greater than $50,000 in the form of a loan or loan guarantee for businesses whose liquidity is reduced in the context of the pandemic. Click here for more information.

Emergency aid for SMEs (PAUPME)

Assistance program that aims to support the working capital of SMEs through loans of less than $50,000 in order to maintain, consolidate or relaunch their activities. Find out more .

Assistance component for businesses in regions on maximum alert (AERAM)

The AERAM is intended for businesses benefiting from the PAUPME or the PACTE. It allows establishments subject to closure orders to obtain loan forgiveness in order to pay certain eligible fixed costs. Loan forgiveness may reach 100% of eligible fixed costs, up to $15,000 per month of closure. It may not exceed 80% of the amount of the loan granted under the PAUPME.

The moratorium on the repayment of capital and interest relating to financial aid granted under the AERAM component of PAUPME is extended until March 31, 2022.

Tourism

As part of the Aid for certain businesses in the tourism sector component of PAUPME, tourist lodgings with four or more rooms (for the commercial part) and travel agencies will benefit from the following conditions:

• possibility of converting 40% of the amounts repaid (principal and interest) into loan forgiveness during the first 24 months following the start of repayment, up to a maximum of $20,000 per establishment;

• 12-month moratorium on repayment of capital and interest. This moratorium may be extended until March 31, 2022;

• possibility of amortizing the loan repayment up to 60 months following the moratorium.

To be eligible, tourist accommodations with four or more rooms (for the commercial part) must be registered on the Bonjour Québec website.

To be eligible, travel agencies must hold one of the permits issued by the Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec, namely:

• general travel agent license;

• restricted travel agent license (adventure tourism travel organizer);

• restricted travel agent (outfitter) license.

Travel agencies are not required to be registered on the Bonjour Québec website.

For more information on which tourism businesses are eligible, please visit this website .

Here is the form for the PACTE Tourisme – Aid for travel agencies.