The B.C. Employer Training Grant program provides access to the skills training needed to adapt to the changing requirements of jobs and the labour market while encouraging employer involvement in the training of their employees. Training must result in a better job at the applicant’s company once training is completed.

The ETG is a cost-shared program. Reimbursement amounts vary between 60% and 100% depending on the training stream. Employers are eligible to receive up to $300,000 per fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021.

This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.

Job-Protected Leave Related to COVID-19 for B.C. Workers, including Vaccine

The BC Government has made regulatory improvements under the Employment Standards Act to bring in job-protected leave for workers needing time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Full- and part-time workers can take time off to receive the vaccine, or take a dependent family member. The government is also exploring options to provide workers with paid leave while getting their vaccine.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

CEBA provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs—such as rent, utilities and insurance—during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. These loans are partially forgivable as repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000). Applicants now have until June 30, 2021 to apply for a $60,000 CEBA loan or the $20,000 expansion at their financial institution.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) - Interest-Free Repayable Contribution

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) provides eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an interest-free repayable contribution of up to $60,000 to help alleviate financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 during the period of April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021. The objective is to assist western Canadian SMEs that do not qualify for the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program, or the "RRRF – Community Futures Stream." Application Deadline: June 30, 2021.

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee

Businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19. The HASCAP Guarantee is available until June 30, 2021.

B.C. Small & Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant - Apply by August 31

Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19, with an additional $5,000 to $15,000 available to eligible tourism-related businesses.

UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to August 31, 2021, or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.

Businesses now only need to show a 30% revenue loss from March 2020 to now, when compared to the same one-month period in 2019.
If businesses need extra help gathering the right documents during the application stage, or support with translation or interpretation services, they can now get that help from a Small Business BC vetted professional service provider. This service will now be included in the up to $2,000 in additional government funding paid to the service provider.

Internet Connectivity Funding Available

The Connecting British Columbia program is currently accepting applications for Phase Three of the program. Current funds ($50 Million) are available right now to help internet service providers and regional and local governments connect people in rural and Indigenous communities with high-speed internet.

Permanent Wholesale Pricing for Liquor in BC

Bars, pubs and Restaurants with Liquor License in BC will now have permanent access to buy beer, wine and spirits at wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB). This decision can help hospitality businesses with liquor license to save 5% more on their wine, beer and spirit sales.

Resiliency - Policy, Resiliency - Update, Resiliency - FinanceGuest UserFebruary 24, 2021

Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF)

Applications open October 26 for grants of up to $5,000 to cover costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to business to meet health and safety requirements, and enhance digital/e-commerce capabilities.

Hospitality Professional Program - Project-Based Labour Market Training (PBLMT)

The Hospitality Professional Program will support Okanagan tourism businesses by training 40 British Columbians for a variety of positions within the Hospitality sector. Okanagan College will provide a unique online training program and work experience component to prepare participants for jobs in the hospitality industry, enabling them to grow their careers in the industry while supporting a more skilled and resilient tourism workforce.

Participants must meet the definition of an “EI client,” be eligible for WorkBC Case Management, and be referred by a WorkBC Case Manager.

Intake 1
Online Course Dates: Sept. 28, 2020 – Jan. 29, 2021
Work Experience and Follow Up Support: Feb. 1 – April 30, 2021

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

CECRA provides forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners, whether they have a mortgage on their property or not. The loans cover 50 per cent of three to six monthly rent payments for eligible small business tenants.

CECRA Advocacy Letters

The BCRTS is gathering CECRA advocacy letters to deliver to the Finance Minister. As CECRA funding is greatly under-subscribed, there is an opportunity to adjust and expand the ways in which the program can help businesses and our stakeholders. The federal gov't is asking for letters that 'humanize' the situation facing business owners and demonstrate how suggested program changes would help them. Read more for a quick cheat sheet with tips for writing advocacy letters and a sample format to save time.

Resiliency - Update, Resiliency - FinanceTOTA CommunicationsSeptember 3, 2020

B.C. Employer Health Tax (EHT) 2020 Quarterly Instalment Date Deadlines Extended

To further support businesses, the B.C. employer health tax (EHT) 2020 quarterly instalment dates have been extended as follows:

Dec. 31, 2020 (original instalment date was June 15, 2020)
Jan. 31, 2021 (original instalment date was Sept. 15, 2020)
Feb. 28, 2021 (original instalment date was Dec. 15, 2020)

B.C. Provincial Tax Measure Implementation Dates Deferred

The Province is delaying implementation dates for several changes to help businesses and families through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery, including:

Provincial sales tax (PST)
B.C.’s carbon tax
Elimination of the PST exemption for carbonated beverages that contain sugar, natural sweeteners or artificial sweeteners
Addition of new PST registration and collection requirements for e-commerce businesses located outside B.C.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

Loans for Canadian small and medium-sized businesses to cover payroll and operating costs caused by the current economic situation. The Business Credit Availability Program BCAP is being extended through June 2021.

Enabling Accessibility Fund - Youth Innovation Component

Organizations can apply for the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) to receive funding for projects that make Canadian communities and workplaces more accessible for persons with accessibility requirements. Application assistance is available.

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Updates

Canadian employers who have seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of employee wages. This subsidy will enable businesses to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease your business back into normal operations.

Arts Infrastructure Program

To help improve spaces for artists and cultural activities, organizations can get support through the new $2-million Arts Infrastructure Program. Arts and cultural organizations, including Indigenous groups, will be eligible for up to $75,000 to improve arts and culture spaces or $40,000 to buy special equipment to support art programming.

Applications are open until October 19, 2020.