News

RENT RELIEF UPDATE

Prime Minister Trudeau announced rent relief to small businesses who can't afford  to pay rent because their businesses operations have been curtailed or shut down completely due to covid-19. This relief will be done in partnership with provinces and territories, as they have jurisdiction over rents.

As reported by Global news:

"The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments payable by eligible small business tenants experiencing financial hardship during April, May and June.

The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a pledge not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place.

The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.

Affected small business tenants are those paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations, or have experienced at least a 70-per-cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. The program is also available to charities and non-profit organizations."

As details are revealed the CJA will update our members.

RCC WEBINARS
 

The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is allowing non-members to participate to their webinars. An opportunity not to miss. If you're not a member, you can email them at events@retailcouncil.org to register.

https://www.retailcouncil.org/webinars/rcc-daily-briefing-on-covid-19-for-members

Every week on Mon, Wed, Fri, until May 08, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)

Apr 24, 2020 6:00 PM
Apr 27, 2020 6:00 PM
Apr 29, 2020 6:00 PM
May 1, 2020 6:00 PM
May 4, 2020 6:00 PM
May 6, 2020 6:00 PM
May 8, 2020 6:00 PM

Don't miss this webinar on Security with JSA, JM, CJA, and INSTORE on Friday April 24, 2020 at 11 am. EDT.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7391535493755044622

The Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be launched on April 27th, 2020. For information on who is an eligible employer, determining your eligible employees, calculating your subsidy amount and how to apply go to the CEWS calculator available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenueagency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-who-eligible-employer.html  The Department of Finance has put all the information on what is available to businesses to assist through the covid-19 crisis. Go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#businesses  Other useful resources: Plus Working Capital Programmes: Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) - $40,000 per entity for business with a payroll between $25,000 and $1,500,000 in 2019.  0% interest.  $10,000 will be forgiven if the loan is paid back by 31Dec2022. Information and process attached. EDC BCAP via your primary institution – Up to $6,250,000 in Working Capital to sustain your business through the COVID-19 pandemic.  The loan is backstopped by an 80% government guarantee at 1.8%.  So your Bank is only exposed to 20% of the authorised amount. This is set up as an ODL or, if you have an ODL, a new term loan with 12 months interest only followed by a 12 month amortisation period, 24 month maximum.  Credit is adjudicated and approved by your primary bank.  Need, serviceability and business viability will need to be demonstrated. Calculate by summing fixed cost per month times COVID-19 exposure period less cash receipts and available credit.  Ask your RM for the COVID-19 cash flow assessment. BDC Co-Lending Programme via your primary institution - Up to or an additional $6,250,000 in Working Capital to sustain your business through the COVID-19 pandemic.  This is a syndicated style loan meaning 80% is provided by BDC and 20% by your institution.  This is set up as a new term loan with 12 months interest only followed by a an amortisation period of up to 10 years.  Not yet live. Direct BDC Applications < $100,000 –Simplified online application.  http://www.bdc.ca. Direct BDC Applications > $100,000 –Subordinated Covid-19 relief working capital loan up to $2 million (maximum).  Loans are structured as 12 months of interest-only payments, followed by 24 months of principal payments representing 40% of the principal amount, followed by a balloon payment of the remaining 60%. Personal guarantees required.  Start-ups and changes of ownership excluded.http://www.bdc.ca. Income Tax Deferrals – The Canada Revenue Agency has deferred all payment of any income tax amounts owning on or after Mar 18 and before Sept 2020 until after Aug  31st, 2020.  No interest or penalties will accrue.  The filing date for the 2019 tax year has also been extended until June 1st, 2020. Ask your accountant for further details. HST/GST Remittances and Customs Duty Deferrals – The Canada Revenue Agency and Canada Boarder Services Agency are permitting businesses to defer all HST/GST remittances as well as customs duty owning on their imports until June 30, 2020. Ask your accountant for further details. FCC – For farmers and food processors who are impacted by lost sales, farm credit Canada is offering an additional credit line up to $500,000, deferral of principal and interest up to 6 months or a deferral of principal up to 12 months. See https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/COVID-19/program-details.html.   Plus Payroll Support Programmes: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – Business that have experienced a 15% decline in March and a 30% reduction in the month of April and May as a result of COVID-19 and wish to maintain or bring employees back, a 3 month 75% wage subsidy of  75% for the first $58,700 to a maximum of $847 per week is available retroactive to Mar 15th, 2020. http://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/wage-subsidy.html. 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy –Small businesses that do not qualify for the above may be eligible for 10% of remuneration up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee or up to $25,000 per business. http://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html Work-Sharing Programme – For business that have reduced operations but not closed entirely. EI benefits are available to employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share available work while their employer recovers.  Processing time is 10 days and maximum length is 76 weeks. https://www.canada.ca/en/employement-social-deveopment/services/work-sharing.html Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): $2,000 a month for up to 4 months for workers, wage earners and self-employed individual whose income has been impacted by COVID-19. Call 1-800-959-2019 and enter SIN.

1) CJA wrote a letter to the Government in collaboration with CBQ, DBC, AJA Ontario & Montreal, CGA, and CJG. If you would like to read it, please click here. We joined hands with the other Associations to ask the Government for some relief for our beloved Industry. 2) Yesterday (April 16, 2020) the Canadian Government expanded the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include more businesses. Payroll limits are now between $20,000 and $1.5 million. The government also announced the establishment of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program for commercial property owners so they can lower or forgo rent for small businesses for three months (April, May and June). Details will follow. This may come in the form of loans, including forgivable loans. More information will follow. For more details: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/16/prime-minister-announces-additional-support-small-businesses  http://chamber.ca/media/news-releases/200416-ceba-expansion/  Other issues The Canadian US border will remain closed for another month to non-essential business/travel. Regional information The Retail Council of Canada has compiled covid-19 relief information by province. https://www.retailcouncil.org/coronavirus-info-for-retailers/provincial-covid-19-resources-and-updates/  3) a couple of webinars that you might wish to attend: JCK webinar: 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare Your Business for the Post-COVID-19 Recovery on April 30 at 3 pm EST https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1859993649175926796?utm_source=JCK+News+Daily&utm_campaign=e2c2798c3e-PRE-SHOW+EMAIL+PROMO_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_16_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a126c3c313-e2c2798c3e-334629771 The Centurion webinar: THE PATH TO SUCCESS OUT OF COVID-19--RETAILER/VENDOR COLLABORATION on April 24, 2pm EST https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1336663498018269451?source=Direct+Promo

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Canadian Government has updated the latest changes to Canada's Emergency Wage Subsidy Program and interest free loans.

From the Chamber's update:

"Today(April 8, 2020) we learned of several important changes to the wage subsidy program that will help more businesses access funding:

• A business will now be able to compare its revenue to the same month last year OR an average of January and February 2020. This will help new and growing firms who may not have qualified based on a comparison to the same month in 2019.
• A business needs only to demonstrate a 15% reduction in gross revenues for March. A 30% reduction will still be required to receive the subsidy in April and May.
• The program will now allow businesses to use either accrual or cash accounting methods.
• Employer paid Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) and Quebec Parental Insurance Plan premiums will be reimbursed.
• Registered charities and not-for-profit organizations are eligible employers to apply for the wage subsidy. They also have the choice of whether or not to include government funding in their revenue calculations.
• Businesses can start applying for interest-free loans on April 9. Applications are available through local financial institutions.

While these are positive changes, the Canadian Chamber continues to focus on the importance of getting funds to businesses in days, not weeks."

For more information go to http://www.chamber.ca/ 

For some interesting reading on how to manage your business reputation during these unprecedented times, Edelman, a global communications firm assisting businesses to promote and protect their brands and reputations, has produced an interesting study- Trust Barometer Special Report- Brand Trust and the Coronavirus Pandemic. https://www.edelman.com/research/covid-19-brand-trust-report 

Important resources from our friends at CFIB. 

"We are sharing all of our most current COVID-related business advice, plus up-to-date recorded CFIB COVID webinars on our website here. The next updated recorded webinar should be posted this Saturday and other information on the site is updated daily."

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/small-business-resources-dealing-covid-19

Covid-19

The CJA has heard from members about the challenges facing our industry and businesses during this very fast moving dynamic situation as a result of the covid-19 virus.

We have reached out to you through an email from our Managing Director, Beatrice Sturtevant, on March 20th (https://canadianjewellers.com/news/8849901). In case you missed it, it details many useful links that reach beyond the business aspects of the current situation.

Government information re covid-19

Now, we will turn our attention to assistance for your businesses and the new policies/packages government has put in place to assist us through these very turbulent times. We will update you as the situation evolves and changes through using government information and web sites.https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/maintaingrowimprovebusiness/resources-for-canadian-businesses.html 

There are also two very useful web sites that answer many of the questions you may have.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce- This is one of the best FAQs on covid-19 and businesses. This site is updated regularly. http://chamber.ca/resources/pandemic-preparedness/COVID-19_FAQ.pdf 

Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses- Another good resource for up-to-date information. https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/advocacy/my-business-from-startup-to-retirement/covid-19-how-the-federal-government-is-supporting-small-business . They also have a small business help centre with good information-https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/small-business-resources-dealing-covid-19#faq 

What Members can do right now to prepare

Minister Morneau has indicated that the 75% wage subsidy for qualifying businesses (must have lost 30% or more revenue due to covid-19) will be available in 3 to 6 weeks through a government portal that is being developed. Meanwhile he has suggested that businesses should:

1. Get an electronic connection with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
2. Get a direct deposit ability with CRA

Doing these two things in advance will make the receiving of the subsidies much easier and faster. Go to CRA web site and register with My Business Account https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/cra-login-services.html

What do you want to know?

What questions do you have about the government covid-19 business relief packages? Submit them to the CJA at info@canadianjewellers.com with “My question is” in the subject line and in our next weekly covid-19 business update we will address the most frequently asked questions as best we can. These, as we all know now, are unchartered waters. 

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:

1. 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: 

1. Download the Canada Business App to find tailored supports to address your specific needs and questions about COVID-19.
2. 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

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Employment and Social Development Canada
• Export Development Canada COVID-19
• Business Development Bank of Canada – Support for Entrepreneurs impacted by coronavirus 
• Work-Sharing Program - Temporary special measures
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses

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

• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses 

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