For information and updates from the World Health Organization on COVID-19, visit

• Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19
• WHO Checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness planning

For updates on Health Canada recommendations, visit:

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

For information and recommendations from the BC Centre for Disease, visit:

• COVID-19

Government of Canada

Business Credit Availability Program

• Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA): Canada Emergency Business Account: an interest-free loan of $40,000 for qualifying businesses. Up to $10,000 of that amount will be eligible for complete forgiveness if $30,000 is fully repaid on or before December 31, 2022.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is offering support for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 including: Small & Medium-sized Enterprise Loan and Guarantee Program: BDC co-lending with financial institutions. This program is available through your primary financial institution.
• Export Development Canada (EDC): Is enhancing their financing and insurance programs to ensure that financially viable impacted companies have access to the credit and support they require during the coronavirus pandemic. EDC Business Credit Availability Program Guarantee: available through your primary financial institution.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

To help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would provide a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.

Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the federal government’s page Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Western Economic Diversification Canada

• Assistance for tourism operators, small businesses or organizations: if you are a tourism operator, a small business or an organization affected by COVID-19 and need pressing assistance, the Western Economic Diversification Canada, as the regional development agencies (RDA) for western Canada could assist you with access to federal funding and services. Call Western Economic Diversification Canada at 1-888-338-WEST (9378)

Canada Revenue Agency

• The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020. For more information, see CRA’s complete list COVID-19 changes to taxes and benefits
• Tax returns filing due date deferred until June 1, 2020.

Export

• Access to funding to help you in global markets
• Frequently Asked Questions: Impact of COVID-19 – CanExports SMEs

Farm Credit Canada

• Increased credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector

Government of British Columbia

The BC Emergency Benefit for Workers

Provides a one-time $1,000 payment for people who lost income due to COVID-19.

For updates on when this funding will be available, visit: COVID-19 Financial Supports: Emergency Benefit for Workers

Regional Initiatives

Columbia Basin Trust

• Small Business Working Capital Loan: This is a one-time loan of up to $25,000 (minimum request $5,000). The interest rate on this loan is 2% per annum. No interest will be charged for the first three months. Interest only payments will continue for the following nine months at which point payments will begin in an amount to sufficiently repay the loan over a maximum period of five years.
• Columbia Basin Trust Wage Subsidies, including:
  • Basin Food Producer Wage Subsidy
  • Apprentice Wage Subsidy
  • Co-op Wage Subsidy
  • Summer Works Wage Subsidy
  • School Works Wage Subsidy

Community Futures Central Kootenay Emergency Loans Program

If you are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Business Account (Government of Canada) funding or the Small Business Working Capital Loan (Columbia Basin Trust), get in touch with our Business Loans Manager, Don McCulloch to learn more about our emergency loan program.

Pandemic Preparedness & Business Continuity

Guides & Planning Tools

• Pandemic Preparedness for Business guide, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Planning for Coronavirus: A Guide for Business and Organizations, British Columbia Economic Development Association
• Pandemic Preparedness, Government of British Columbia
• Emergency Plan for Small Businesses. PreparedBC
• COVID-19 Small Business Survival Guide. CanadaOne
• Business Continuity and COVID-19: Key Considerations for Small Businesses in BC [pdf] Small Business BC

Checklists

• Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• COVID-19 Update (Checklists, Guides and Tools). Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

Financial Planning

• Cash Flow and Working Capital During Challenging Times. Greater Vancouver Board of Trade: Huey Lee, Partner, KPMG, on Finance

Other Resources

• Regularly updated Google Doc: #COVID19 Resources for BC Businesses BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA)
• Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe. Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• A risk management guide for your business during COVID-19. BC Business

Commercial Insurance & Leases

• Insurance Bureau of Canada: COVID-19 and business insurance: how is coverage triggered
• Benchmark Law Corporation: COVID-19 and your Lease

Specific Sectors

• Restaurants Canada: Crisis Preparedness & Business Continuity [PDF]

Basin Business Advisors Program

The Basin Business Advisors Program (BBA) supports and inspires entrepreneurship and builds economic capacity in Basin communities by strengthening and supporting existing businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they are available to businesses in the Columbia Basin who need help deciding which programs are right for them; looking at cash flow and budgeting; marketing; online selling; and pivoting your business.

They provide free, one-to-one, confidential business advisement and assessment services to businesses, farmers, agri-food producers, and social enterprises in the Columbia Basin who need someone to talk to, get feedback from, and decide what to do next.

Apply for Business Advisory Services

Community Futures Central Kootenay

Community Futures Central Kootenay provides free 45 minute business counselling sessions to anyone in the Central Kootenay region. This is available to both business owners and people thinking about starting a business. To book an appointment, email ac.cb.serutuf@ofni or call (250) 352-1933 extension 100 and leave a message.

Business Community Weekly Roundtable on COVID-19

We are hosting weekly video conference call every Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM for Central Kootenay businesses and business service providers. We will bring in experts to answer legal, financial, accounting, and insurance questions. More information available at Business Community Weekly Roundtable on COVID-19

COVID-19 Support For Kootenay Business Facebook group

We’ve created this group as a place to check in with our business community, answer questions, and share resources.

Small Business BC

Small Business BC has a site dedicated to COVID-19 supports for business: BC Business COVID-19 Support Service

If you are having trouble finding the answer to your question, you can get help from a business advisor by phone, email or chat. The B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service is open: Monday-Friday: 8:00AM-6:00PM, and Saturday 10:00AM – 4:00PM. Phone: 1-833-254-4357 or Email: ac.cbssenisubllams@divoc[/li][/list]

Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

Their business helpline is open to all business owners for advice on managing COVID-19 situations in the workplace. To talk to an expert, call 1-888-234-2232

The Government is advising Canadians to: avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice and if outside of Canada, return home and self-isolate for 14 days

To help bring Canadians home, the Government has created the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.

When it comes to business conferences and events, the Government is advising against gatherings of over 50 people.

The resources below will help explain how Canadian exporters can be prepared to take on the risk of doing business in rapidly changing international markets due to COVID-19:

• The Trade Commissioner Service has prepared a guide on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses as a helpful starting point to refer to for information and support on making informed decisions as your business navigates through these challenges.
• Export Development Canada (EDC) recently hosted a webinar on Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing the impact on global supply chains, which provides information on how the coronavirus is affecting global trade and how your company can be protected.
• EDC: UPDATED FAQs: What Canadian exporters need to know about COVID-19

Grants for businesses

• CanExport for SMEs is a funding program offered by the Canadian Government that allows Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply online for up to $75,000 in funding to reimburse up to 75% of eligible expenses associated with entering a “new” export market where the applicant company has no or minimal business. For example, eligible expenses can include the cost of business advice specifically related to the target market(s).
• For companies that have already applied or planning on applying, please review the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on CanExport.
  • See the Applicant’s Guide and Frequently asked questions (FAQs) to learn more about this program. Please review carefully the eligibility criteria to ensure your company qualifies before going through the application process.
  • For more specific questions about the application process, please contact the CanExport team directly at ac.cg.lanoitanretni@sEMStropxEnaC.

• To find other grants and funding programs, Innovation Canada online search tool by the Canadian government allows companies to search for relevant funding. Answer a few questions to filter for programs of interest.
  • Get one-on-one guidance about funding programs from an Innovation Advisor by calling 1-855-534-8433.​

General EI Information:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Employment & Social Development Canada: Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury or quarantine, to allow them time to restore their health and return to work. Canadians quarantined can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits.
• Waiving the one-week waiting period for EI

ROEs (Record of Employment): from Service Canada: “If your employees are directly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and they are no longer working, you must issue a Record of Employment (ROE).

• When the employee is sick or quarantined, use code D (Illness or injury) as the reason for separation (block 16). Do not add comments.
• When the employee is no longer working due to a shortage of work because the business has closed or decreased operations due to coronavirus (COVID-19), use code A (Shortage of work). Do not add comments.
• When the employee refuses to come to work but is not sick or quarantined, use code E (Quit) or code N (Leave of absence), as appropriate.
• Avoid adding comments unless absolutely necessary as this will slow down the processing of the ROE.

Self-Employed/ Not Eligible for EI: Canadian Emergency Response Benefit

If you stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support.

The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks and covers Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19; working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures; and, wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).

Apply for CERB

If you need help figuring out what programs and resources you should use to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, contact the Basin Business Advisors program to be connected with a free business advisor who will work with you to determine what’s best for your business.

Government of Canada

Enhanced work-sharing program

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

To help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy provides a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.

Waiving the one-week waiting period for EI

Canadian Emergency Response Benefit 

Government of British Columbia

• Employees: Taking Unexpected Time off Work
• Employers: What you must do if employees fall ill, are absent from work or your business is unexpectedly disrupted
• BC Emergency Benefit for Workers provides a one-time $1,000 payment for people who lost income due to COVID-19.

Canadian Payroll Association

• Payroll and COVID-19 [pdf]

WorkSafeBC

• Information on COVID-19 for workers and employers
• What workers should do
• What employers should do

British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA)

• Coronavirus: Workplace and Employer Resources and Suggestions

Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

• Their helpline is open to all business owners for advice on managing COVID-19 situations in the workplace. To talk to an expert, call 1-888-234-2232.
• Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe: this page has really good FAQs for Employers.

Small Business BC

• What Employers need to know about temporary layoffs

Government of Canada, Occupational Health & Safety

• Responding to the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace. Government of Canada, Occupational Health & Safety

Employment Insurance

• Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury or quarantine, to allow them time to restore their health and return to work. Canadians quarantined can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. More information: Coronavirus disease Employment and Social Development Canada

• Waiving the one-week waiting period for EI

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. For information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

NOTE:

Those who are eligible for the CERB are also eligible for the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, which provides a one-time $1,000 payment to people whose ability to work has been affected due to COVID-19.

Government of British Columbia

• BC Emergency Benefit for Workers provides a one-time $1,000 payment for people who lost income due to COVID-19.
• Protecting Jobs During Difficult Times
• Five things to know about new job-protected leaves

WorkBC

• WorkBC Centres COVID-19 Service Delivery Options

WorkSafeBC

• Information on COVID-19 for workers and employers
• What workers should do

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. For information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

NOTE:

Those who are eligible for the CERB are also eligible for the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, which provides a one-time $1,000 payment to people whose ability to work has been affected due to COVID-19.

Government of British Columbia

• BC Emergency Benefit for Workers provides a one-time $1,000 payment for people who lost income due to COVID-19.

Basin Business Agriculture Advisor Program

• Provides free business advisements to farms and agri-food producers in the Columbia Basin

Columbia Basin Trust

Columbia Basin Trust has rolled out several programs to support businesses in the Columbia Basin including:

• Basin Food Producers Loan
• Small Business Working Capital Loan
• Wage Subsidies, including:
  • Basin Food Producer Wage Subsidy
  • Apprentice Wage Subsidy
  • Co-op Wage Subsidy
  • Summer Works Wage Subsidy
  • School Works Wage Subsidy

Central Kootenay Food Policy Council

• The Central Kootenay Food Policy Council is hosting a weekly meeting (Tuesdays at 1:30 PM) to provide a space for those involved in food systems (farmers, food processors and businesses, non-profits, local government) to discuss our work, our challenges and help find a path forward in this pandemic – for the immediate and the long term. Join the Zoom meeting:

Join the Meeting 

Government of BC

• British Columbia: Ministry of Agriculture’s Response to COVID-19

Health & Safety

• WorkSafeBC: Agriculture and COVID-19 Safety
• Ag Safe BC has developed templates to assist agricultural employers in building their Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Program during COVID-19. Employers are encouraged to customize these documents to fit their individual operation’s needs when building or enhancing their OHS Program.

Farmers Markets

• Farmers markets are designated as an essential food and agriculture service provider.
• All BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) markets currently operating in B.C. have put the following protocols in place to help ensure the health and safety of vendors, organizers and customers.
• In addition to the continuing physical markets, BCAFM is helping member markets move to an online model to continue providing consumers with locally grown and prepared food products. Online farmers markets will also enable vendor-direct-to-consumer delivery at some markets.
• BC Centre for Disease Control: Farmers’ Markets 
• BC Government News: BC Farmers’ Markets Online opening soon

Farm Credit Canada

• Increased credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector through Farm Credit Canada:
  • COVID-19 Support Program
• Update your HR Plan for COVID-19
• March 17: COVID-19 impacts to the economy and agri-food markets
• March 23: FCC Lending Capacity increases to $5b to alleviate industry financial pressure

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

• Government of Canada: Frequently asked questions: Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program regarding COVID-19

Government of Canada

• AgriStability provides support when producers experience a large margin decline
• AgriInvest provides cash flow to help producers manage income declines
• AgriInsurance provides cost-shared insurance against natural hazards to reduce the financial impact of production or asset losses. The Western Livestock Price Insurance program will continue to play an important role in protecting incomes
• Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Information for the agriculture and agri-food industry

Other Resources

• Canadian Horticulture Council: COVID-19 Information Centre
• Canadian Federation of Agriculture: COVID-19 Resources
• Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council: Information & Tips on COVID-19
• Canadian Produce Marketing Association: COVID-19 Updates
• BC Agriculture Council: COVID-19 Resources
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and its impacts on the Canadian agricultural industry and is taking the necessary steps to ensure that producers and processors can continue to operate effectively and keep supply lines open.
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has resources on keeping pets and livestock safe. To date, there have not been any reports of livestock being infected by COVID-19 anywhere. However, livestock producers should follow normal biosecurity measures as always. This includes limiting visitors or workers who may have travelled to, or been in contact with, someone from an affected area.

Canada Council for the Arts

• COVID-19 Updates and Information: includes information on government support measures, financial losses, travel, event cancellations, core funded organizations, grant deadlines & cut-off dates, and cancellation and reimbursement of grants.

Government of Canada

• ARTS & CULTURE: the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available to artists and culture workers whose income has been disrupted due to the closing of artistic venues or cancellation of productions and exhibitions or whose income has been disrupted due to self-isolation or because they must care for other family members, or they have children at home.

Government of British Columbia

• Ministers statement on COVID-19 supports for arts and culture sector [March 27, 2020]

British Columbia Arts Council

• COVID-19 FAQs for Arts & Culture Grant Recipients & Applicants includes information on:

1. 1. 1. 50% advance of operating grants for Operating Clients
      2. Arts & Culture Resilience Supplement
      3. Program Amendments, Extension of Deadlines & Program Deferrals

• This page includes an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section on: staff operations; projects that involve travel or in-person gatherings; cancelled or postponed events and activities for which you have already received funding; operating assistance funding; eligible expenses; upcoming deadlines and program changes; financial support for artists and organizations.

CreativeBC

• Update for the Creative Industries of BC
• Survey: COVID-19 Impact of Business Activity, Event or Project Cancellation

Government of British Columbia

• Guidance to Construction sites operating during COVID-19

WorkSafeBC

• Construction and COVID-19 Safety

British Columbia Construction Association

• Construction Briefing COVID-19

BC Centre for Disease Control & BC Ministry of Health

• How You Can Slow the Spread: COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Food & Grocery Stores
• BCCDC: Food Businesses: Information for grocery stores, restaurants and other food premises for employers and workers.

Restaurants Canada

• Restaurants Canada: Navigating coronavirus: COVID-19 Resources for Food Service Operators
• BC Restaurant and Food Services Association: Navigating COVID-19

WorkSafeBC

• Hospitality and COVID-19 Safety

Other

• Finley’s Bar & Grill Extra Measures for Health and Safety during COVID-19
• Nelson Helps: GoFundMe: Meals for our frontline workers

Hotel Association of Canada

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

WorkSafeBC

• Hospitality and COVID-19 Safety

For more information on resources from Tourism resources, see our section for the Tourism Sector.

Government of Canada

• CALL TO ACTION: Canadian Manufacturers needed to help combat COVID-19: if you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed.

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

Government of British Columbia

• Guidance to BC Manufacturers during COVID-19 [information bulletin, March 25, 2020]

The Real Estate Council of British Columbia

• COVID-19 and Real Estate Services: Guidance for Real Estate Professionals

Retail Council of Canada

COVID-19 Updates and Information

Retail Recovery Checklist – templates

Q&As for Retailers on COVID-19

Relief Measures by Region

Planning Checklist for Retailers: COVID-19

BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) & BC Ministry of Health

How You Can Slow the Spread: COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Food & Grocery Stores

BCCDC: Food Businesses: Information for grocery stores, restaurants and other food premises for employers and workers.

WorkSafeBC

Retail and COVID-19 Safety

BC Tech Association

• COVID-19 Resource Centre

Western Economic Diversification Canada

• Assistance for tourism operators, small businesses or organizations: if you are a tourism operator, a small business or an organization affected by COVID-19 and need pressing assistance, the Western Economic Diversification Canada, as the regional development agencies (RDA) for western Canada could assist you with access to federal funding and services.

Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

• Join the NKL Tourism Partners Facebook group for tourism-specific updates on COVID-19.
• Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism COVID-19 updates: includes information about the #FindingAwesome…within campaign; list of businesses that are open/ providing alternative services in the Nelson-Kootenay Lake region.

Destination BC

• Coronavirus Update
• Destination BC Response: Response, Recovery, Resilience

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

• COVID-19 Development Stimulus Fund Application

WorkSafeBC

• Hospitality and COVID-19 Safety