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If you already have a budget in place, make sure you adjust it using the suggestions above. If you have never budgeted before, now is extremely important to get one in place to have a plan for your money. My free budget template is available for download by clicking the button above.

If you need further help creating your budget plan, join my Facebook Group (called Make Your Money Pretty) and send me a message! I am happy to help. Another option is to take my FREE 5 Day Budget Makeover Series, which will send you one video per day for 5 days all about budgeting. 

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

What is it? A lump sum of up $2000, paid every 4 weeks that you are eligible, for up to 16 weeks total between March 15, 2020 and Oct 3, 2020. It will be paid retroactively.

Who gets it? If you have $5,000 in income from employment, self employment, or parental leave benefits; are at least 15 years old,  AND you have had no income from employment, self-employment, or any EI benefit for at least 14 days in a row, and expect to receive NO INCOME, AND stopped work due non-voluntarily to COVID-19, you can apply.

How do I apply?

If you were an employee: You should apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit through Service Canada and the Employment Insurance program.

If you were self-employed, a contractor, or qualify but were not an employee: Apply online using your MyAccount with the Canada Revenue Agency: 

There is a LONG list of Q&A available at the following link:

Click here to read more about applying for the CERB

Click here for the Government of Canada's Department of Finance List of Supports to businesses during the COVID-19 Crisis.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

• Benefit to provide loans to qualifying commercial property owners (landlords)
• Covers 50% of 3 monthly rent payments owed by eligible small business tenants
• Tenant's rent must be $50,000 monthly or less and tenant must have ceased operations or had a 70% drop in revenue
• Benefit will cover April, May (retroactively) & June.
• The loans will be forgiven if the landlord agrees to reduce the tenant's rent by at least 75% for April May and June under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a pledge not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place
• Will be available mid-May, administered by the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

• Will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to eligible businesses.
• To qualify, businesses will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019.
• Repaying the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000).
• The CEBA will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada.
• Contact the financial institution that your business accounts are with to ask about how to enrol in this program.
• For more information about the Canada Emergency Business Account click here

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

• Who Is Eligible? All employers except public sector entities that see a drop of at least 15% of their revenue (compared to the same month in 2019) in March and 30% for the following eligibility periods. Alternatively, the employer can compare their revenue using an average of the revenue earned in January and February 2020
• How is Revenue Calculated? Using the employer's normal accounting method, and  exclude revenues from extraordinary items and amounts on account of capital.Employers are allowed to calculate their revenues under the accrual method or the cash method, but not a combination of both.
• How much will employers receive? It's based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees and can cover up to 75% of wages on the first $58,700 that an employee earns, up to a maximum of $847 a week. The program will be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020. There is no overall limit on the subsidy amount that an eligible employer may claim. 
• See more about CEWS here.

British Columbia Business Resources

Click here for a comprehensive list 

BC HYDRO:

If you own a small business that needed to close due to COVID-19, you may be eligible to have your business' electricity use charges waived for up to three months.

Application form to open the week of April 13

Once it opens, there is no rush to apply. Eligible business customers can apply any time before June 30, 2020 to have their business' bills waived for April, May and June.

See more information here.

Small Business BC

Resources specifically for small business in British Columbia

B.C. COVID-19 Action Plan B.C. Relief for Commercial Property Owners and Tenants Business

and light and major industry property classes will see their school property tax cut in half for the 2020 tax year, providing $500 million in relief for business that own their property and for tenants on triple-net leases.

Worksafe BC

Payment deadlines are postponed without penalty until June 30, except for employers that report on an annual basis (which do not need to report their 2020 payroll or pay their 2020 premiums until March 2021). See more info here.

ICBC Commercial Insurance

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia ICBC Commercial Insurance ICBC customers on a monthly Autoplan payment plan, who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19, can defer their payment for up to 90 days with no penalty. Apply online or call 1-800-665-6442​

The Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch (CVSE) is providing an extension for all vehicles that have a valid Certificate of Approval which expires March 31, 2020, or April 30, 2020, and are unable to undergo the required mechanical inspection.

BC Arts Council 

Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement to give operating and eligible project clients a supplement of up to $15,000. Clients will receive a 50% advance on 2020-21 funding. See more info here.

BC Business Taxes
Payments for Employer health tax (EHT), provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax, and carbon tax are deferred until after Sept 30. Scheduled April 1 increases to provincial carbon tax and PST are deferred.

Alberta Business Resources

• Alberta corporate income tax balances and installment payments coming due between March 18, 2020 and August 31, 2020 are deferred until August 31, 2020 (interest free) to increase employers’ access to cash so they can pay employees, address debts and continue operations.Due dates for the filing of corporate income tax returns due after March 18, 2020 and before June 1, 2020 have been extended to June 1, 2020.
• Two month extension of filing deadline for annual returns with Alberta Corporate Registry
• Extensions for oil and gas tenures: extending the term of mineral agreements expiring in 2020 by one year

Business Link Advice for Small Businesses

Talk to a small business advisor at Business Link to get free advice, coaching and information on COVID-19 resources and supports.

Submit your question online or contact them directly:

Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed weekends and statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-7722
Toll free: 1-800-272-9675 (Canada only)
TTY: 1-800-457-8466 (For the deaf or hard of hearing)

• Deferral of utility payments for 90 days for residential, farm and small commercial customers
• Energy Sector Relief 
• Click here for Alberta's resources for Employees and Employers 
• Freezing education property taxes
• Government to pay 50% WCB premiums for small and medium-sized businesses
• Government to pay Alberta Energy Regulator industry levy for six months
• Deferral paying tourism levies for hotels and other lodging providers

Manitoba Business Resources

Manitoba Protection Plan
As part of the Manitoba Protection Plan, the Manitoba government has implemented a number of initiatives to support Manitoba businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Manitoba government is providing the following measures for businesses until October 1, 2020:

• not charging interest or penalties for Manitoba Hydro, Centra Gas, Workers Compensation Board and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI);
• not disconnecting customers of Manitoba Hydro and Centra Gas;
• relax ordinary practices on policy renewals and collections at MPI;
• not charge interesting through Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries receivables from restaurants, bars and specialty wine stores; and
• not charging interest on education property taxes.

For more information: News Release: April 3, 2020 - Province Announces Over $100 Million in Support and Relief for Manitoba's Fight Against COVID-19

Tax Filing Deadline Extension
Manitoba has extended the April and May tax filing deadlines for the Retails Sales Tax (RST) until June 22, 2020 for small and medium businesses with monthly RST remittances of no more than $10,000. Additionally, businesses that file on a quarterly basis that have a due date of April 20, 2020 have had the due date extended to June 22, 2020. Manitoba will also extend provincial income tax and corporate income tax filing deadlines to August 31, 2020. Please see this bulletin for full details.

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is compiling information, toolkits, planning resources and links to help support organizational response.

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce has established a COVID-19 resource centre.

Ontario Business Resources

Interest and penalty relief

Businesses will get five months of interest and penalty relief to file and make payments for the majority of provincially administered taxes.

Between April 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020, the province will not apply any penalty or interest on any late-filed returns or incomplete or late tax payments under select provincially administered taxes, such as Employer Health Tax, Tobacco Tax and Gas Tax.

This complements relief from the federal government on interest and penalties from not remitting Corporate Income Tax owing.

Education property tax deferrals

We have deferred the June 30 property tax payments municipalities make to school boards by 90 days.

WSIB payment deferrals

Employers can defer Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments for up to six months.

All employers covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the financial relief package.

• Schedule 1 employers who owe premiums to the WSIB will be allowed to defer reporting and payments until August 1, 2020.
• Schedule 2 businesses that pay WSIB for the cost related to their workplace injury and illness claims can defer reporting and payments until August 31, 2020.

No interest will be accrued on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this six-month deferral period.

Affordable electricity bills

From March 24 to May 8, 2020, residential, farm and small business time-of-use customers will get the lowest rate — also known as the off-peak price — 24 hours a day. That means you will pay 10.1 ¢/kWh no matter what time of day you use electricity.

This rate will be automatically applied to your bill.

Employer Health Tax relief

We’re increasing the Employer Health Tax (EHT) exemption for 2020 from $490,000 to $1 million. As an employer, this means relief of up to $9,945.

What this means for you:

The annual tax return form is not changing. Only the amount for the exemption claimed will change. Eligibility for the tax exemption, tax rates and everything else remains the same.

You will begin making your installent payments after your payroll has exceeded the new $1 million exemption level.

If your business no longer needs to make instalment payments as a result of the increased exemption amount, you do not need to notify the Ministry of Finance.

If you have already filed a final or special return for 2020:

The ministry will be reviewing all 2020 EHT returns and correcting the returns for the new exemption level.

Find out how you can apply the new exemption.

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit

If you are building, renovating or acquiring commercial or industrial buildings in designated regions in Ontario, you could be eligible to save up to $50,000 this year. You can apply for this tax credit when you file your tax return.

Learn more about the tax credit and if your project qualifies.

Quebec Business Resources

• Incentive program to retain essential workers (IPREW) - Financial assistance for essential workers that offsets the difference between their wages and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the pandemic.

• Businesses: find financial assistance - This tool can be used to determine the financial assistance that might respond to your situation during the pandemic.

• Emergency assistance for SMEs - The program supports small and medium-sized enterprises that experience financial difficulties during the pandemic (in French only).

• Concerted temporary action program for business (PACTE) - Financing for businesses whose cash resources are reduced during the pandemic.

• Assistance to maintain essential regional air services - Support for carriers to offer essential air services in remote and isolated regions in Québec (in French only).

• Continued employment (PACME) - Support for businesses and self-employed workers whose activities are reduced during the pandemic (in French only).

• Flexibility measures respecting existing loans and loan guarantees

• Flexibility measures for businesses during the pandemic (in French only).

• Assisting the tourism industry & Measures to assist the tourism industry.

• Temporary Aid for Workers Program (TAWP COVID-19) - Information for individuals registered in the program, which has been closed since April 10, 2020.

Nova Scotia Business Resources

• Fee deferral

  To support businesses, many program and service fees are deferred until 30 June 2020. This includes workers compensation premiums and licence, permit, registration, renewal and service fees.

• Small Business Impact Grant: Through this new $20-million program, eligible small businesses, non-profits, charities and social enterprises ordered to close or greatly reduce operations because of the public health order may be eligible for a flexible grant. This one-time grant is equal to 15 per cent of revenue from sales, either from April 2019 or February 2020, up to a maximum of $5,000. You can use it for any purpose. Apply online The deadline to apply is 25 April. If you have further questions about the program, email SmallBusinessImpactGrant@novascotia.ca.
   

• Non-profit organizations:

  Nova Scotia Power, EfficiencyOne and the Government of Nova Scotia are redirecting $3 million from the HomeWarming program to organizations that deliver prepared meals, operate soup kitchens, help those experiencing homelessness and provide other services to help vulnerable families seniors and youth. Funding includes:

• $1.36 million for prepared meal delivery services (like Meals on Wheels and VON's Frozen Favorites) to help hire staff, buy food and make meal deliveries

• $1 million for United Way’s Atlantic Compassion Fund to help vulnerable families and youth
• $400,000 for shelters, soup kitchens and other service organizations to help those experiencing homelessness
• $180,000 for the Seniors’ Safety Program to help vulnerable older Nova Scotians
• $60,000 for Community Links to help vulnerable older Nova Scotians
• We’re providing providing $15 million as an incentive to providers to speed up projects under the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative and complete them as soon as possible

• Worker Emergency Bridge Fund

  This fund supports people who are self-employed or laid-off who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance. Applications open 10 April 2020. Read more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
   

• Commercial rent deferral: To support small and medium-sized businesses, landlords are encouraged to defer rent payments from their commercial tenants for 3 months, spreading the deferred rent amount over the rest of the lease term.
  You can use one of these forms to document the deferral agreement with your tenant.

• Government will defer payments until June 30 for all government loans, including those under the Farm Loan Board, Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Business Fund, Municipal Finance Corp. and Housing Nova Scotia.
   

• Government will defer the payment of small business fees until 30 June. This includes registration renewal fees and workers’ compensation premiums. A full list of deferred fees will be available later.
   
• The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, administered through 16 provincial credit unions, will defer principal and interest payments until 30 June 2020. The Small Business Loan Guarantee Program continues to provide access to credit for eligible businesses up to $500,000.
   
• Small businesses which do business with the government will be paid within five days instead of the standard 30 days.
   

• Measures for restaurants: Starting 30 March, restaurants can include alcohol purchases with take-out and delivery orders, as long as the alcohol cost is no more than 3 times the value of food ordered.

New Brunswick Business Resources

• Working capital for NB small business owners:
  Small business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for working capital loans up to $100,000 through the NB Small Business Emergency Working Capital Program. Accessible to small businesses employing 1 to 49 employees, including sole proprietors/self-employed, with sales of less than $10 million in the most recent fiscal year. Examples of sectors that would benefit from this support include restaurants, full time & seasonal tourism operations, service sectors, and self-employed business owners impacted directly by the pandemic. The loans are funded by Government of New Brunswick and are administered by the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC). Applications can be completed on online.

• Deferring interest and principal payments on existing loans: As an immediate measure, and on a case-by-case basis – the Government of New Brunswick will defer loan and interest repayments for up to six months on existing provincial loans. This support will enable businesses to have immediate relief if they are experiencing difficulties as a result of COVID-19. This assistance is available, on a case-by-case basis, to any business that has a loan with an existing Government of New Brunswick department. The deferral can be requested by contacting the department that issued the loan.

• NB Business working capital above $100,000: Opportunities New Brunswick is making available working capital loans to assist employers respond to the challenges associated with COVID-19. Working capital in excess of $100,000, up to a maximum of $1 million is available. Examples of sectors that would benefit from this support are manufacturing and processing industries, information technology and related sectors, business-to-business service sectors engaged in export, or import replacement activities, and cultural enterprises. Business can apply directly to Opportunities New Brunswick.
   

• Community Investment Fund COVID-19 Relief: The Government of New Brunswick has included a new category into the Community Investment Fund to assist in providing relief to non-profits in New Brunswick being impacted by COVID-19.This funding is available for small to medium-sized non-profits in the form of a grant between a minimum of $500 and up to a maximum of $10,000.Application forms and the updated Community Investment Fund Guidelines are available here.
   

• Waiving late penalties on property taxes: Though business property taxes must be paid by May 31, late penalties will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to see if the penalty can be waived due to undue financial challenges, such as having to close a business due to COVID-19. 
   

• WorkSafeNB has announced assessment premiums related to employer payrolls for March, April and May will be deferred for three months without interest charges.

Prince Edward Island Business Resources

If you are self-employed, a worker or a business, there are now supports available for emergency relief. 

Find details about these programs and online applications below.

If you still have concerns after reviewing this section, use the contact information provided. Staff are working hard to respond to inquiries as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Business concerns? Call 1-866-222-1751 or email peibusinesshelpline@gov.pe.ca(link sends e-mail)

Employee Gift Card Program

The Government of Prince Edward Island has partnered with Sobeys on the PEI Employee Gift Card Program.  This is a temporary program put in place to offer a $100 Sobeys gift value to any employee, living and working on Prince Edward Island, who has...

Employers: COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

As part of the provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Government has announced a new Emergency Contingency Fund as an initial step to help support Island businesses. Visit PrinceEdwardIsland.ca/CovidforBusiness for details about business supports...

Guidance Document for Farms Employing Temporary Foreign Workers

This document outlines recommendations for all farms to meet the orders, notices, and guidance issued by Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer for farms employing Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) and domestic workers. The requirements apply...

Post-Secondary Student Program

This summer employment program is designed to create jobs for post-secondary students by providing a financial incentive to Prince Edward Island employers. In turn, students will gain valuable work experience, preferably related to a student’s field of...

Property Tax Relief Measures Due to COVID-19

Due to the Public Health Emergency of COVID-19, property tax relief measures are now in place, including the option to defer property tax payment. The measures include the following: deferring provincial property tax and fee payments until December 31,...

Tourism Assistance Loan Program

A funding program has been developed by the Province of PEI to support the PEI Tourism Operators through a joint partnership of Finance PEI and Tourism PEI. This new program will provide funding in the form of a repayable loan to qualified applicants....

Tourism Interest Relief Program

The new ‘term debt’ interest relief program announced by the Province of PEI will provide assistance to PEI tourism operators through a joint partnership of Finance PEI and Tourism PEI. This new interest relief program will provide relief for qualified...

Broadband Fund for Businesses

The availability of stable, high‑speed Internet infrastructure is critical for access to essential resources and public services, and to enable economic growth and diversification. The Prince Edward Island Broadband Fund provides financial assistance to...

Commercial Lease Rent Deferral Program

To support small and medium-sized businesses, landlords are encouraged to defer rent payments from their commercial tenants for 3 months, spreading the deferred rent amount over the rest of the lease term. If you’re deferring rent because your tenant’s...

COVID-19 Business Adaptation Advice Program

The COVID-19 Business Adaptation Advice program provides a non-repayable contribution to Prince Edward Island businesses, entrepreneurs, not-for-profits, and non-governmental organizations to access professional advice and support to adapt or recover...

COVID-19 Income Support Fund

Program Guidelines  The Prince Edward Island COVID-19 Income Support Fund provides financial support to residents of Prince Edward Island to bridge the gap between the loss of their job/lay-off, loss of their primary source of income, Employment...

COVID-19 Income Support Fund FAQ

Individuals, including students, are eligible for the COVID-19 Income Support Fund if the following conditions are met: You have experienced loss of job, lay off, loss of all revenue through self-employment or expiry of Employment Insurance benefits, on...

Emergency Income Relief for the Self-Employed

The Emergency Income Relief Fund is a temporary program put in place to support the self-employed who have been significantly affected by COVID-19.   Eligible Applicants  To be eligible for this component self-employed individuals must; Have declared...

Emergency Relief - Worker Assistance Program

The Emergency Relief - Worker Assistance Program is a temporary program to provide financial support to employers to assist their employed workers who have been impacted by reduced hours at work as a result of COVID-19.  Who is Eligible to Participate...

Emergency Working Capital Financing

A financing program has been developed to provide emergency working capital financing to assist PEI’s small business during this unprecedented economic disruption to business, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This new loan program is to assist qualifying...

• If you are a working parent that cannot work because you have to stay home to take care of your children, you may qualify for Regular EI Benefits, EI Sickness Benefits, and/or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. If you are an employee, see the Resources for Employee's section. If you are Self-Employed, see Resources for the Self Employed section. 
• Special Goods and Services Tax credit payment
  The federal government is providing a one-time special payment by early May through the Goods and Services Tax credit for low- and modest-income families.The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples (it's different for everyone and based on income) There is no need to apply for this payment. If you are eligible, you will get it automatically.

• Increasing the Canada Child Benefit *one time increase*

  The federal government is providing an extra $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).This benefit will be delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May. Those who already receive the Canada Child Benefit do not need to re-apply.

Click here for the Ministry of Child and Family Development (Province of BC's) Response to the COVID-19 Crisis.

April 25, 2020 : More support for students! See federal government link here. 

• Supporting Students through Expanded Student and Youth Programming includes:
  - The launch of the "I Want to Help" Platform. 
  - $153.7 million for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
  - Changes to the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy's Canada Summer Jobs program, including increased wage subsidies, expanded eligibility and new flexibilities for employers, to ensure it can continue to support up to 70,000 student job placements in 2020-21. These new measures are being supported by a reallocation of existing resources.
  - $80 million for the Student Work Placement Program to support up to 20,000 post-secondary students across Canada to obtain paid work experience related to their field of study.
  - $15 million for the Supports for Student Learning Program to serve an additional 14,700 youth through support to complete high school and transition to post-secondary education in order to help ensure that vulnerable children and youth do not become further marginalized as a result of COVID-19.
  - Additional support for the Canada Service Corps to expand support for meaningful youth service projects that have positive impacts in communities across Canada, including increasing the number of microgrants from 1,800 to 15,000, and providing stipends to participants.
  - $40 million to Innovation, Science and Economic Development to support Mitacs in order to create 5,000 new job placements. The Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) will also create a further 5,000 to 10,000 new student placements, by reorienting existing federal support and building online tools.
  - $75.2 million to provide additional distinctions-based support to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation post-secondary students
  - $291.6 million to support up to 40,000 student researchers and post-doctoral fellows through the federal granting councils. Funding would support a one-semester extension for eligible students whose research scholarships or fellowships end between March and August 2020 and who intend to continue their studies. It would also provide a 3-month extension in funding for holders of federal research grants to support eligible trainees and staff paid out of these awards. These extensions cannot be combined with other income supports.
  - $7.5 million to support student and post-doctoral research placements within the National Research Council.

• Enhancing Student Financial Assistance for Fall 2020

  Due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, the government proposes to change the Canada Student Loan Program’s eligibility requirements in 2020-21 to allow more students to qualify for supports and be eligible for greater amounts, including doubling the non-repayable Canada Student Grants for full and part time students, as well as for students with disabilities and students with dependents, in the coming academic year. These measures are expected to expand the reach of the program and benefit more than 760,000 students at an estimated cost of approximately $1.9 billion over two years starting in 2020-21.

• Canada Emergency Student Benefit

  For post-secondary students and recent graduates who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or for Employment Insurance, but who are unable to find full-time employment or are unable to work due to COVID-19, the government proposes to introduce the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB). The CESB would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students from May through August 2020, and $1,750 for students with dependents and those with permanent disabilities.

  This new grant would provide income support to post-secondary students who will experience financial hardship over the Summer due to COVID-19. The CESB will be delivered by CRA and more details will be communicated.
   

• Canada Student Service Grant

  While the COVID-19 pandemic will limit employment opportunities for students, it presents an opportunity for students and youth to mobilize and take part in national service activities that can provide valuable labour market and skills development experiences, while giving back to their local communities.

  To encourage students to participate in the COVID-19 response, the government will launch a new national service initiative to recognize students' significant contributions to the COVID-19 efforts, and provide support through a new Canada Student Service Grant which will provide up to $5,000 to support student's post-secondary education costs in the fall.

  More details will be made available on the I Want to Help platform over the coming weeks, including more detailed information about eligibility, the levels of funding available under the grant, how to apply for a national service position, and how applications will be assessed.

   

• International students

  The Government of Canada will remove the restriction that allows international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, provided they are working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods. International students and their employers should consult Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada's Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada during the COVID-19 Outbreak to determine if the work the student is doing would allow them to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic session. This temporary rule change will be in place until August 31, 2020.

  Statistics Canada reported that in 2017–2018, more than 11,000 international students were enrolled in health-care programs at Canada's universities and colleges, representing about 4 per cent of health-care students at that time.

April 6th, 2020 : There will be an announcement later this week regarding funding for people who don't qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This could mean you, students. Stay tuned!

A moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans

• Effective March 30, 2020, all student loan borrowers will automatically have their repayments suspended until September 30, 2020. No payment will be required and interest will not accrue during this time. Students do not need to apply for the repayment pause.
• Students who are currently studying can continue to apply for Canada Student Loans. There will be no change to the application process. If a borrower wishes to apply for student financial assistance during the pause, they should apply through their Province or Territory of residence.

Read more about this notice here.

Provincial student loans and interest have been paused in accordance with the federal loan moratorium.
 

April 2, 2020: BC post secondary institutions have been funded by the government to support students in financial need. Contact your financial aid office at your school to find out if you qualify.

Student Aid Funding:

Each post secondary institution will be releasing it's own information regarding COVID-19. Some schools have even offered financial supports for their students - see what is available for you. 
*The BC government has released financial supports to post secondary schools. Contact your school's financial aid office.

Indigenous Emergency Fund for Students:

Indigenous students at public post-secondary institutions can apply for non-repayable emergency assistance that can be used to help with a broad range of costs, including living expenses, groceries, cell phone bills, childcare, medical, dental, optical, and travel costs for family crisis or community obligations. *Contact the Indigenous Student Centre on your campus for more info!

• Rental Supplement of up to $500 per month:
  A new temporary rent supplement of $500 will soon be available for low and moderate income renters, who are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The money will be paid directly to landlords. 
  Available for application through BC Housing: https://www.bchousing.org/COVID-19
   
• NO RENT INCREASES ALLOWED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
   
• NO EVICTIONS ALLOWED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
  EXCEPT for in exceptional cases where it may be needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the property, landlords will be able to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for a hearing. The smaller number of court ordered evictions are up to the courts, which operate independently of government..
  
  READ MORE FROM THE BC GOVERNMENT REGARDING RENTERS HERE

13. Resources for Persons with Disabilities and Low Income Persons

**see "Section 11: Resources for Renters" for housing-specific supports

Food Banks in Canada

Funding has been provided to food banks in Canada to help those struggling. Go here and use the search bar to find your local food bank.

Persons on Income Assistance or Disability Assistance in British Columbia:

For people in B.C. currently receiving income assistance or disability assistance, the Province will temporarily exempt federal employment insurance benefits, including the new $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). These payments will be fully exempted for the next three months so people receiving income assistance and disability assistance in B.C. will benefit from these new emergency federal support programs, without any reductions to their monthly assistance payments. 

British Columbia Income Assistance Receivers:

Work search requirement for those on Income Assistance is suspended for now.

Food Banks in British Columbia:

To further support vulnerable people, the Province recently provided a $3-million emergency grant to Food Banks BC to distribute among food banks provincewide. The grant will support immediate needs to buy and distribute food, pay employees and cover other costs essential to the delivery of their food programs.

United Way:

Funding boost to United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors, such as: Delivery of groceries, medications, or other needed items; or personal outreach to assess individuals’ needs and connect them to community supports. Contact your local United Way office for help.

British Columbia COVID-19 Crisis Supplement:

For everyone on income assistance or disability assistance who is not eligible for the emergency federal support programs, including the CERB, the Province will provide an automatic $300-monthly COVID-19 crisis supplement for the next three months. This supplement will also be provided to low-income seniors who receive the B.C. Senior’s Supplement and recipients of income assistance or disability assistance who reside in special care facilities.

British Columbia Bus Passes:

With the current provincewide suspension of BC Transit and Translink bus fares, the Province will also provide all BC Bus Pass Program users receiving income assistance and disability assistance with the $52 Transportation Supplement for the duration of the fare suspension. This will be included on the next cheque and for each subsequent month while the fare suspension remains in place.

Existing Compass passes under the BC Bus Pass Program will not be cancelled and will remain active during this time, so people will not need to reapply for bus passes in the future. This will also ensure people can still use SkyTrain and SeaBus services that are still charging fares. There is no change for eligible low-income seniors who will continue to have an active bus pass provided by the BC Bus Pass Program.

14. Resources for Indigenous Persons

Indigenous Emergency Fund for Students:

Indigenous students at public post-secondary institutions can apply for non-repayable emergency assistance that can be used to help with a broad range of costs, including living expenses, groceries, cell phone bills, childcare, medical, dental, optical, and travel costs for family crisis or community obligations. *Contact the Indigenous Student Centre on your campus for more info!

Supports through the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP)​

At this time, Emergency Management Assistance Program assistance is dedicated to ensure the immediate health and safety response of First Nations related to COVID-19. Funding will not be used to support capacity building activities, nor to supplement other programs such as Band Support Funding. Eligible expenses will still be funded in cases of fire, flood or other natural disasters that pose an imminent threat to communities that would typically be supported by the Emergency Management Assistance Program.

Indigenous Community Support Fund

The federal government has announced funds that will flow directly to Indigenous communities and organizations providing services to Indigenous peoples across the country and will provide Indigenous leadership with the flexibility needed as they prepare for and react to the spread of COVID-19. See more about this fund here.

Supports through the First Nation and Inuit Health Branch

The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) provides funding and expertise to First Nations communities for developing and maintaining their all hazard or pandemic plans in all provinces except British Columbia (BC).

In BC, FNIHB will be supporting the First Nations Heath Authority (FNHA) who is coordinating community requests for communities, which are transferred under their health authority in this province. As well, in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, FNIHB will collaborate with First Nations and the Territorial Governments to identify the need for additional supports.

On-reserve communities who require assistance in updating their plans should contact their ISC regional office. Read more here.