The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is a new temporary measure to assist individuals facing a loss of work. The Benefit is available from March 15, 2020, to October 3, 2020. You can apply no later than December 2, 2020 for payments retroactive to within that period. Eligible applicants can receive a taxable benefit of $2,000 every four weeks for up to 28 weeks and is intended to support workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19 (NOTE – maximum eligibility was originally set at 16 weeks, however, in June this was previously extended for 8 additional weeks, and then on August 20, the program was further extended for an additional four week period up to September 26, 2020).

This program which will be implemented by eligible financial institutions will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to eligible small businesses, which must be used to cover their non-deferrable expenses (see list of non-deferrable expenses below).

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for employers was implemented by the passing of Bill C-14 on April 11, 2020, and expanded with the passing of Bill C-20 on July 27, 2020. The subsidy is widely accessible to employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities. It is intended to support businesses that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and would help protect the jobs Canadians depend on during these difficult times.