Nova Scotia:  

• The EDGE pilot program – which provides eligible Employment Support and Income Assistance clients aged 18 to 26 with a one-stop-shop approach – is expanding to Bridgewater, New Glasgow, Sydney and north end Halifax.
• A request for proposals for service providers was issued on January 22. The deadline for applications is February 8.
• Click here to learn more or to apply as a service provider for the EDGE pilot program.

 

• Effective April 1, 2021, the provincial minimum wage is increasing by .40 cents an hour to $12.95 per hour.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Ontario:

• The provincial government is extending electricity rate relief to support those spending more time at home in response to the Stay-at-Home Order. 
• Electricity prices will hold at the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour until February 9, 2021. This lower rate is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for Time-Of-Use and tiered customers.
• Families, small businesses and charitable organizations with overdue electricity and natural gas bills can apply for support through the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program.

 

• The provincial government is further expanding eligibility for the targeted emergency child care program to additional workers performing critical roles in their communities.
• This expansion is intended to support workers and their families with child care options at no cost in regions where students continue to learn remotely.
• Read the official release to see the new additions to the list of those eligible for emergency child care.

 

• The provincial government is providing $5 million to support Agricultural and Horticultural Societies impacted by the pandemic.
• $1.8 million in Base Support Funding will provide eligible agricultural societies with $7,000, and eligible horticultural societies with $1,140 to support their continued delivery of agricultural and horticultural education across Ontario.
• $3.2 million in Hardship Funding will help off-set operating losses, liabilities, and fixed overhead costs.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Quebec:

• The provincial government is investing more than $91.5 million over two years to maximize the return to work of those whose jobs have been affected by the pandemic.
• This investment will increase the graduation rates of people in general adult education and in vocational training and better align the training offer with the new realities of the labor market.
• Short, flexible training courses will be accessible to those wishing to undertake training for in-demand jobs.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is providing $12.5 million over three years to the Mouvement des accelerateurs d’innovation du Québec (MAIN) for the continuation of the Support service project for innovative and technological SMEs (PMEit).
• The PMEit project helps the most promising innovative technology companies so that they move quickly from the commercialization phase to that of growth.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government announced a series of regional investments to support young, innovative businesses.
• The investments include $1.5 million for businesses in the Capitale-Nationale region, $600,000 for businesses in the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean region, $580,000 for businesses in the Montérégie region, $200,000 for businesses in the Outaouais region, and $142,000 for businesses in the Lanaudière region.
• The projects were selected as part of a call for proposals from Startup Quebec.

Manitoba: 

• The provincial government is amending public health orders to put formal restrictions on interprovincial travel to protect Manitobans from COVID-19.
• Effective January 29, anyone entering Manitoba from anywhere in Canada will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes those entering from northern and Western Canada, and from west of Terrace Bay in Ontario, which under previous health orders did not require self-isolation.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 Saskatchewan:

• The provincial government announced a further extension to the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) program.
• The program was originally launched in April 2020, then renewed in December 2020. Under the latest extension, businesses will be eligible for an additional payment for January 2021.
• This phase of the program will accept applications for the December and/or January payment until March 2, 2021.
• Applicants will be eligible for up to $5,000 per month. Those who qualified for the December intake will not have to re-apply for January. However, businesses will be contacted to ensure they remain eligible for the January payment.
• Learn more about the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment program.

 Alberta:

• The provincial government is investing $17 million to ensure the stabilization of performing arts, sports and rodeo organizations.
• The Stabilize Program will provide one-time grant funding to support live experience presenting and performing arts, sport and rodeo organizations. The funding will help these organizations continue to operate and reopen when it is safe to do so.
• Qualifying organizations will be eligible for a one-time grant of up to 25 percent of eligible expenses based on 2018 and 2019 financials. Organizations may use funds for ongoing operational costs, such as utilities, rent, insurance and programming, to support their reopening. Applications will be accepted until midnight on February 18, 2021.
• Learn more about the Stabilize Program.

 British Columbia:

• The provincial government is investing $10 million in a new FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund as part of its plan to create jobs and help communities cope with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
• Funded projects will encourage economic development, reduce wildfire risks, allow people to develop new job skills and help protect forests and communities from harm.
• Learn more about the FireSmart program.

 Yukon:

• Yukon’s small business tax rate has been reduced from two per cent to zero. The change took effect on January 1, 2021 as one of the measures introduced as part of the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2020. 
• This change is expected to save Yukon businesses approximately $2 million per year. Yukon joins Manitoba as one of two Canadian jurisdictions to permanently reduce this tax rate to zero. The government anticipates approximately 2,000 small businesses will benefit from the rate reduction.
• Click the official release to learn more.

Northwest Territories:

• The territorial government announced new regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act to replace those put in place on April 9, 2020 to help tenants impacted by COVID-19. 
• The new regulations will allow for the establishment of rent repayment plans to ensure tenants have a reasonable timeframe to pay back rent that has accumulated from March 18, 2020 to January 31, 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
• Beginning February 1, 2021, landlords and tenants have one year to enter into a repayment plan. This will allow tenants to maintain their housing and provide them with at least 12 months to repay their rental arrears.
• Read the official release to learn more.