Nova Scotia:

• The provincial government announced an $18.2 million tourism restart package that will provide operators with new grant programs and marketing support.
• Under the Tourism Accommodations Restart Customer Attraction Program, eligible operators will receive $1,000 per room for the first 10 rooms and $500 per room for each additional room.
• The Small Tourism Operators Restart Program will offer a one-time payment of $5,000 to help tourism businesses that were affected by COVID-19 restrictions but ineligible for earlier provincial programs.
• Applications for both programs will open on June 23.
• Click here to learn more.

Quebec:

• The provincial government announced the establishment of the $105-million Tourism Industry Revival Assistance Program. The program is intended to ensure the sustainability, growth and competitiveness of the Quebec tourism industry.
• Eligible organizations must submit projects with costs of at least $500,000.
• Financial assistance will correspond to a maximum of 50 percent of the eligible costs of a project, rising to 60 percent if certain eco-responsibility criteria are met.
• The maximum amount granted will be $5 million.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Alberta:

• The provincial government is investing $13 million in the Stabilize Program to help non-profit arts and culture organizations recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• One-time grant funding through the Stabilize Program’s Adapt and Innovate stream will empower arts and culture non-profits to rebuild, reopen and offer live experiences.
• Qualifying organizations will be eligible for a grant of up to $75,000. Priority will go to smaller organizations and to organizations whose events are produced in Alberta. The deadline to apply is July 29.
• This second phase of Stabilize Program funding also includes $3 million in matching funding allocated to non-profits that host live experiences or own and/or operate live experience venues. The government will approve and match donations dollar-for-dollar on a first-come, first-served basis until the $3 million is allocated.
• Learn more about Phase 2 of the Stabilize Program.

British Columbia:

• Effective June 17, 2021, employers can apply for reimbursement of wages paid to workers who have taken sick leave related to COVID-19.
• The temporary reimbursement program is retroactive to May 20, when legislation was passed, to ensure sick workers can stay home for up to three days without losing wages, while supporting businesses during the pandemic.
• Any employer whose workers are covered under the ESA but does not currently provide paid sick leave benefits to its employees will be eligible.
• To apply for reimbursement, employers must be registered for WorkSafeBC compensation coverage and signed up for WorkSafeBC’s online services.
• Click here to learn more about COVID-19 paid sick leave, or to apply for reimbursement.

• For the second consecutive year, the provincial government is waiving the income requirements normally required for existing B.C. farm operations when qualifying for farm classification.
• Without this action, more than 400 farm properties with a history of sub-threshold income and many developing farms would have been at risk of losing their farm class for 2021.
• With the elimination of the income requirement, farmers will not have to worry about the possibility of losing their farm classification and facing an increase in property taxes in 2022.
• Click here to learn more about farm classification in British Columbia.

• More than 2,000 temporary patios authorized to serve liquor during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply to become permanent under amended provincial liquor regulations.
• The province is extending the authorization of existing temporary patios for an additional seven months, until June 1, 2022, and continuing to accept applications for new patios until October 31, 2021.
• Read the official release to learn more.