With severe drought conditions providing a significant challenge to livestock producers in 2021, there are some important assistance measures available that all Alberta producers should be aware of. The following are two of the most important and widely accessible benefits available, including a new program recently introduced for 2021.

In May 2021 the Federal Government announced the new Canada Greener Homes Grant intended to provide grants of up to $5,600 for Canadian homeowners to cover the cost of certain retrofitting improvements aimed at improving the energy efficiency of their home.

The program does not provide funding up-front, but instead requires eligible applicants to cover costs out-of-pocket, which may be eligible for reimbursement of all or a portion of the costs incurred. Before applying for this new grant, here are a few important points to know about how this new program works:

With the release of the 2021 Federal Budget on April 19, 2021, the government announced an additional means for employers to receive government assistance covering a portion of their employee wages. This program allows eligible employers to claim a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of incremental remuneration paid to eligible active employees between June 6, 2021, and November 20, 2021. With several provincial governments having significantly eased public health restrictions, many businesses are starting to reopen or gradually return to normal operating levels, and the CRHP subsidy could provide a significant benefit for those businesses that have re-hired, or otherwise began to increase their payroll over and above pandemic payroll levels. The following are some of the key details to know about this new important new subsidy.