Prince Edward Island:

• A new action plan is available to help guide the PEI tourism industry through the 2021 tourism season.

• In addition to the action plan, new supports include $3 million to create a Tourism Activation Grant Program to provide tourism operators with a non-repayable grant to assist with eligible costs associated with opening for the 2021 season, and $1 million to create an Air Access Recovery Program with Charlottetown Airport to retain and restore air carriers to PEI.

• The province also intends to fund the Tourism Industry Association of PEI to hire a Tourism Operator Advisor to help the industry navigate available supports and programs.

• Download the Tourism Action Plan.

 

• The provincial government is investing over $2 million to lower the cost of post-secondary education for students and to support them on their path to success after graduation.

• New post-secondary education investments include an increase of $500,000 to the Island Advantage Bursary to support low and middle income students who pursue post-secondary studies, and a $200,000 Experiential Learning Fund to connect students to job and co-op placements within their field of study.

• The province is also deferring provincial student loan repayments until September 2021.

• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government announced several tax changes intended to help individuals and businesses amid the recovery from COVID-19.The changes are effective January 2022.

• The changes include increasing the basic personal income tax exemption to $11,250, increasing the low-income reduction threshold to $20,000, and reducing the small business tax rate to one percent.

• For 2021, eligible individuals can claim the $500 Children’s Wellness Tax Credit for expenses on their children’s activities that promote wellness.

• Learn more about PEI’s tax changes and credits.

Nova Scotia:

• The new COVID-19 Accessibility Grant will help about 3,000 Nova Scotia post-secondary students with permanent disabilities by providing $800 in financial assistance.

• The one-time $800 grant will help ensure equity of access to training and other educational opportunities, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusivity and opportunity.

• The grants will be distributed to students starting this month. Eligible students do not need to apply.

• Get more information for students with disabilities.

Quebec:

• The provincial government announced that recipients of social assistance programs will be reimbursed for their travel costs incurred while obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Reimbursement of transport costs related to obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine is in addition to other measures put in place to better support individuals and families living in poverty.

• Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination in Quebec.

Ontario:

• The provincial government is making it easier for businesses to test for COVID-19 in the workplace by providing guidance to employees who want to self-swab for a rapid antigen point-of-care test on a voluntary basis under the supervision of a trained individual.

• The government is also expanding the program to more sectors including first responders, emergency medical services, trucking and transportation, wastewater management, and post-secondary institutions.

• The province has also removed regulatory barriers governing the use of COVID-19 tests that are approved by Health Canada for point-of-care use to make it easier for organizations to offer onsite testing and support a safe return to work. This change will especially benefit rural and remote communities including Northern Indigenous communities where health professionals required to administer testing are limited.

• Learn more about COVID-19 testing in Ontario.

 

• The provincial government is investing more than $1.5 million to help skilled Francophone newcomers receive the additional training they need to get a license or certificate to work in their trade or profession in Ontario.

• The funding is provided through the Bridging Participant Assistance Program and the Ontario Bridge Training Program and will help connect hundreds of Francophone newcomers with good jobs.

• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is providing $106.4 million to help publicly assisted colleges and universities address the financial impacts of COVID-19.

• The funding will provide immediate and targeted support for postsecondary institutions that are most affected by decreases in tuition and ancillary revenues and have incurred expenses associated with online learning, personal protective equipment and enhanced cleaning. Institutions can also use the funding in 2020-21 to offset COVID-19 expenses related to student financial support and human resources.

• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is investing $239 million to extend temporary wage enhancements for personal support workers and direct support workers in publicly funded home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals, and social services sectors.

• These temporary wage enhancements will continue until June 30, 2021, helping to stabilize, attract and retain the workforce needed to provide a high level of care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Read the official release to learn more.

Manitoba:

• The Manitoba government is investing $8 million for the creation of a new Hospitality Relief Sector Program to provide financial relief to Manitoba’s accommodation and tourism sector.

• The new Hospitality Relief Sector Program will provide funding to hotels and full-time licenced resource tourism operators for fixed costs that have not been covered by other relief programs, such as property insurance, mortgage interest, property taxes, land leases, service fees, maintenance of camps, and resource retention costs.

• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The Manitoba government is waiving the 2021 annual permit and licence renewal fees for resource tourism operators to reduce their financial burden caused by ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

• The province has responded to a request from the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association by agreeing to extend resource tourism licences and permits, which would normally be valid until March 31, 2021, for one year. In addition, the province will waive renewal requirements in 2021 including licences and permits for outfitters and their associated facilities related to angling, hunting and ecotourism.

• The total value of this licence and permit fee reprieve for the resource tourism sector is approximately $110,000.

• Read the official release to learn more.

Alberta:

• Working parents have until March 31 to apply to receive a one-time $561 per child benefit to help with the cost of child care.

• Parents who used child care from April to December of 2020 while working or attending school, can apply now to receive the Working Parents Benefit.

• Read the official release to learn more about eligibility requirements.

British Columbia:

• The provincial government is investing an additional $30 million in the Launch Online Grant program.

• The Launch Online Grant program provides up to $7,500 to businesses to help build or expand an e-commerce site to reach more customers and to sustain and grow their business.

• As part of the eligibility enhancements, 30 percent of the grant funds will now be reserved for Black, Indigenous and people of colour-owned (BIPOC) businesses, as well as rural businesses.

• Learn more about the Launch Online Grant.

 

• More than 300,000 British Columbians will benefit from permanent increases to income assistance and disability assistance rates and the first-ever increase to the senior’s supplement.

• Beginning in April, individuals on income assistance and disability assistance will automatically receive a permanent $175 per month increase, the third increase since July, 2017.

• For the first time since it was introduced in 1987, there will be an increase to the senior’s supplement of $50 per recipient. This raises the maximum rate for a single person from $49.30 to $99.30 per month.

• For people on income assistance living in special care facilities, their comforts allowance will increase by $20 to $115 per month.

• Read the official release to learn more.