Given the severity of the situation related to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on your business, your families and your lives, the Canadian Jewellers Association with the help of our friends at FDFA (Frontier Duty-Free Association) is able to share some additional information concerning the steps the Government is taking to address the situation.
The Government has announced some measures to assist small and medium-sized businesses. As you are aware the situation is fluid so we will keep you updated but here is a place to start:
- Visit the website for businesses for information about supporting your employees and your business. It is updated as the COVID-19 crisis evolve. Some of the information available:
- Eliminating the payroll tax for three months by providing a 10% wage subsidy to small businesses;
- Helping businesses with cash flow by deferring tax payments until August 31st;
- Introducing a new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 bi-weekly for up to 15 weeks for self-employed people who are not eligible for EI sickness benefits.
- Establishing a coordinated approach with the financial sector: cutting interest rates to 0.75%, and major banks increasing lending capacity by $300 billion;
- Establishing a Business Credit Availability Program through BDC and EDC worth $10 billion – providing more short-term loans, working capital, and export insurance-credit so that more Canadian businesses are supported.
- Enhancing the Work-Sharing Program to help businesses pay wages so they don’t have to lay anyone off.
- Download the Canada Business App to find tailored supports to address your specific needs and questions about COVID-19.
- Consult the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s pandemic preparedness guide to help prepare your business in the days and weeks to come.
Business SUPPORT
List of relevant and official information sources regarding COVID-19
MENTAL WELLNESS: at risk during this time of crisis
The current situation and social distancing measures may be impacting the mental health of stakeholders, their teams and family members. As such, we encourage you to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and to seek help as needed. Below is a list of national resources that can be of assistance in helping manage the stress around the COVID-19 situation:
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645; 1-866-277-3553 (from Quebec):
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
- First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
- Native Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-877-209-1266
GOVERNMENT updates and useful links
CJA/JVC Crime Prevention Program (CPP)
- For those of you who are members of the CPP, special bulletins are being sent out to CPP members with regard to the possibility of an increase in criminal activity to be cognizant of during these unusual times.
Please stay safe and let us know what more we can do to help. We are all in this together and we will come out stronger at the end!
Warm regards,
Beatrice Sturtevant - CJA Managing Director
