Nova Scotia:

• The Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program has expanded to include live performing arts organizations and independent retailers with a physical location, such as bookstores or clothing stores.
• The program provides eligible businesses with a one-time rebate of a portion of their paid property taxes. They can choose a rebate of $1,000 or 50 percent of the commercial real property taxes paid for the final six months of the 2020-21 tax year.
• Click here to learn more about the Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program, or to apply for a rebate.

• Nova Scotians who must take time off work due to COVID-19 may now qualify for up to four paid sick days under Nova Scotia’s new COVID-19 Sick Leave Program. The $16 million program is expected to help more than 100,000 Nova Scotians.
• People who cannot work remotely and miss less than 50 per cent of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to COVID-19 may be eligible.
• The sick days do not have to be taken consecutively. Any sick days taken between May 10, 2021, and July 31, 2021, may be eligible.
• Full details, including application forms, will be available when the program launches on May 26
• Visit the program website to learn more.

• The provincial government is investing $1.3 million to help ensure vulnerable people get the food they need during the third wave of COVID-19.
• Approximately 150,000 people in Nova Scotia are considered food insecure
• The funding will be provided to Feed Nova Scotia, smaller food banks and charitable organizations, and Family Resource Centres across Nova Scotia.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Quebec:

• The provincial government issued a reminder to owners of restaurants and training halls in the Eastern Townships that they are entitled to assistance of a maximum amount of $10,000 to offset the costs of closing their establishment following the re-closure order due to the pandemic of COVID-19.
• Eligible costs include municipal and school taxes, rent, mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, telecommunications costs, permits and association fees.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Ontario:

• The provincial government is providing one‐time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to support eligible small tourism and travel businesses struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the new $100-million Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant.
• This grant will support eligible small tourism and travel businesses that did not receive the Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG), such as travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. 
• To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20 per cent revenue decline between 2019 and 2020.
• Applications for this grant will close on Friday, June 25, 2021
• Learn more about the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant.

• The provincial government is providing over $1 million in financial relief to more than 300 resource-based tourism businesses operating at Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves by waiving and reducing certain land use and licence fees for 2021.
• Resource-based businesses do not need to apply. Refunds or invoice adjustments will be automatically provided to eligible businesses currently operating in Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves.
• Read the official release to learn more.

• The provincial government has launched a new rapid testing portal to make it easier for all essential businesses to access free rapid testing.
• Through the Provincial Antigen Screening Program, Ontario has already delivered more than nine million rapid testing kits to nearly 1,600 workplaces.
• Businesses are encouraged to participate in the program by registering at ontario.ca/testingonsite.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Manitoba:

• The provincial government has increased the budget for the Manitoba Bridge Grant and will make a fourth round of up to $5,000 payments for eligible businesses and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Eligible businesses that received prior bridge grant payments will automatically receive a fourth payment of up to $5,000 beginning as early as Friday, May 14 and will be notified of the deposit via email.
• The province also announced an additional $2,000 top-up for restaurants to help cover the costs of food waste, employee wages, maintenance, and insurance.
• An additional $2 million will also be provided to the Dine-In Restaurant Relief program to help restaurants shift their operations toward a delivery model.
• Learn more about government support for businesses in Manitoba.

• The provincial government is inviting employers to apply for the new Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program to help cover the costs of employee sick leave related to COVID-19.
• The province also announced changes to the Employment Standards Code that would allow Manitoba workers to take a three-hour paid leave to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
• The voluntary program provides eligible employers with up to $600 per employee for a maximum of five full days of COVID-19 related sick leave. Eligible sick leave for the program related to COVID-19 includes testing, vaccinations and side effects, self-isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms, or care for a loved one in any of the previously mentioned circumstances.
• Eligibility for the program began May 7 and runs until at least Sept. 25
• Learn more about the Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program.

• The provincial government is committing up to $1.9 million to support and protect families and early learning and child-care facilities affected by the move to remote learning in Winnipeg and Brandon.
• The province is further supporting early learning and child care by increasing its monthly investment in personal protective equipment for the sector by an additional $415,000 per month.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Alberta:

• A partnership between the provincial government and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce will make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to access rapid testing kits
• Interested businesses and not-for-profit organizations can apply to receive rapid testing kits directly from their local chamber of commerce.
• Read the official release to learn more.

• The provincial government launched the Stabilize Live Music Grant, a $2-million program to help Alberta’s live music professionals through the pandemic and help venues find creative solutions to support musicians.
• Grants of $1,500 will help musicians and other live music professionals prepare for a return to live performances. Grants up to $25,000 for for-profit music venues will support innovative projects to help Alberta’s music industry adapt and relaunch.
• Learn more about the Stabilize Live Music Grant.