Updates for the week of May 3-9, 2021

Prince Edward Island:

The provincial government launched the PEI Film Production Fund to help grow the film and television industry on Prince Edward Island.
The new fund replaces the Prince Edward Island Film Media Fund, launched in 2018.
The new fund increases the PEI all-spend rebate rate from 25 percent to 32-35 percent, and includes a new PEI Storytelling Development Fund to support the creation of screen-based script projects by Island filmmakers and writers.
Learn more about the Prince Edward Island Film Production Fund.

The provincial government announced more than $12 million in additional support for businesses hit hard by the pandemic and facing province-wide public health restrictions.
The new Small Impact Business Grant Part 3 provides grants of up to $5,000 for businesses directly affected by the current restrictions. Eligible businesses will receive a one-time grant of 15 percent of their sales revenue for the month of April 2019 or February 2020, up to a maximum of $5,000. Applications are now open for this grant.
Applications opened May 4 for the Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program Part 2, announced in March. This program provides qualified operators with a 50 per cent rebate on the first six months of commercial property tax paid in 2021-22. Operators who received payments under the first Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program will be automatically eligible as long as they are still the owners of the property.
Applications opened May 10 for the Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program, also announced in March. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time rebate of a portion of their paid property taxes. They can choose a rebate of $1,000, or 50 per cent of the commercial real property taxes paid for the final six months of the 2020-21 tax year.
Read the official release to learn more.

The provincial government is providing $1.9 million to Halifax Partnership to support economic recovery and position Nova Scotia as Canada’s start-up capital.
The funding will also support newly relocated companies in getting established more quickly by connecting them to the local workforce, business networks, programs and services.
Learn more about Halifax Partnership.

The provincial government announced an investment of an additional $12 million into the grant program of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, raising the amount invested to $25.5 million.
The program is an improved intervention tool that supports artists from the ideation to the dissemination of their works.
In addition to better supporting artists in starting their careers and acquiring or consolidating their skills, this program now recognizes self-production as one of the business models increasingly present in the artistic community.
Learn more about grants for artists.

In partnership with the federal government and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the provincial government launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative for small- and medium-sized businesses across the province.
The COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative will provide free rapid antigen tests for employees of small and medium-sized businesses through participating local chambers of commerce and other organizations. The program will screen for asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the workplace.
To contact participating local chambers of commerce and boards of trade about the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative, visit the Ontario Chamber of Commerce website.

The provincial government announced the Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program, which
will provide employers with up to $600 per employee for up to five full days of COVID-19 related sick leave.
The five days do not have to be taken consecutively.
Eligible sick leave 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 opened May 7 and runs until at least September 25, 2021.
Learn more about the Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program.

Alberta teachers, early childhood educators and support staff can start booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
All certificated teachers actively teaching in kindergarten through Grade 12 are eligible, including those public, separate, francophone, charter, private/independent/ECS operators, and First Nations schools, substitute teachers, administrators and other certified teachers working in separate roles. This includes support workers, such as educational assistants, bus drivers, custodians and others who support schools.
Certified early childhood educators and support staff provincewide are also eligible to begin booking appointments. This includes all staff working in licensed child care programs, including daycares, out of school care programs, preschools and family day homes.
Click here to book an appointment.

People facing food insecurity in B.C. will benefit from new government funding for community-based programs.
Food Banks BC is receiving $6 million over three years for the Emergency Food Purchasing program to provide nutritious, culturally appropriate food to people experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
A further $2.5 million will go to the Perishable Food Recovery program, which will support food banks to build capacity to store and distribute perishable food items under refrigeration.
Read the official release to learn more.

A new youth employment program will provide better access to services for young people with persistent and multiple barriers to employment or education, including youth directly affected by COVID-19.
The provincial government is providing a one-time grant of $5.1 million over three years to administer Foundry Works!, a youth employment program that integrates health and social services.
Foundry Works! is designed to provide integrated and individualized wraparound assistance to British Columbia youth aged 15 to 24, including health, mentoring, education, skills development and job placement services.
Read the official release to learn more.