RRHBA COVID-19 Resource Page

As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, we have set up this page to ensure you have quick access to the necessary updates and information, to help you and your businesses navigate this tumultuous time. We encourage you to check back frequently for updates.

Last Updated March 18/2021

Updates on Key Federal Response Measures

  • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF)
  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
  • Employment Insurance Benefits (EI)
  • Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
  • Mortgage Payment Deferral
  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
  • Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee
  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

 

Updates on Key Provincial Response Measures 

  • Special Vaccination Leave Introduced
  • Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program – Phase 2
  • Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate (SRAR)
  • Home Renovation Tax Credit
  • Public Health Measures
  • Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan
  • Re-Open Saskatchewan Training Subsidy
  • Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)
  • Public Health Measures
  • Guidance on Cloth and Non-medical Masks
  • Testing Information
  • Physical Distancing
  • Self-Isolation
  • Self-Assessment Tool
  • Vaccine

 

Updates from the City of Regina

  • Updates on City services, facilities and programs.
  • Regina Economic Recovery Grant

 

Important COVID-19 Information for the Local Residential Construction Industry 

  • Guidelines for Operating During Covid-19 in the Residential Construction Industry

 

Updates on Key Federal Response Measures

  • The Government of Canada has announced several programs to support Canadian businesses from the economic impacts of COVID-19. These measures are a part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which provides direct support and tax deferrals to Canadian workers and businesses to help them in these difficult times. Learn more about Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

 

Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF)

  • The federal government has announced it will invest $12M into the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) that provides up to $5,000 to help small businesses offset COVID-related costs. The CUSBRF grants are available to small businesses and not-for-profits across all sectors to help cover the costs of physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements, purchase personal protection equipment and/or enhancements to their website and e-commerce capabilities so they can do more business online. Learn more about the CUSBRF.

 

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

  • The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. The CRB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period. If your situation continues past 2 weeks, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 13 eligibility periods (26 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021. Learn more about CRB.

 

Employment Insurance Program (EI)

  • The Government of Canada made temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to better support Canadians looking for work. Learn more about the EI benefits.

 

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)

  • The RRRF has been expanded by over $250 million for western small and medium-sized businesses and business networks who continue to suffer from the economic effects of COVID-19. Learn more about the RRRF.

 

Mortgage Payment Deferral

  • Homeowners facing financial hardship may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral of up to six months. The deferral is an agreement between you and your lender. Typically, the agreement indicates that you and your lender have agreed to pause or suspend your mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. After the agreement ends, your mortgage payments return to normal and the deferred payments – including principal and accumulated interest – are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage. Learn more about mortgage payment deferral

 

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

 

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

  • Temporary credit program providing up to $40,000 guaranteed interest-free loans to small businesses and not-for-profits. The federal government announced it will be extended to December 31, 2020 and making available an additional up to $20,000 (for a total of $60,000). Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000) for the first $40,00 and 50 percent for the additional $20,000 (up to $10,000). *Changes subject to legislative approval. Program is administrated financial institutions and credit unions. Learn more about CEBA. 

 

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

  • BCAP will support access to financing for Canadian businesses in all sectors and regions. Through this program, EDC and the BDC will provide direct lending and other types of financial support. Learn more about BCAP.

 

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee

  • Some businesses, have been more heavily impacted as a result of COVID-19 and are struggling more than others to access financing. The BDC will provide 100% guarantees of up to
    $1 million to help qualifying businesses finance day-to-day business operating costs. Learn more about HASCAP.

 

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

  • Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to 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. If you are eligible for the base subsidy, you may also be eligible for lockdown support if your business location is significantly affected by a public health order for a week or more. Learn more about CERS.

 

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

  • The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period. If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 26 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021. Learn more about CRCB.

 

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

  • The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period. If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 2 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021. Learn more about CRSB.

 

Updates on Key Provincial Response Measures

      Special Vaccination Leave Introduced

      • The Government of Saskatchewan has also amended The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 to allow for paid time off from work for an employee to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and are effective immediately.  Special Vaccination Leave is similar to provisions allowing residents to vote during a general election.

        The new section 6-22.1, Special Vaccination Leave, establishes that during the pandemic:

        • Workers are entitled to three consecutive hours leave during work hours to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
        • Workers are entitled to more than three consecutive hours if the employer determines the circumstances warrant a longer break from work.
        • Workers do not lose any pay or other benefits while receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.

        “We want to ensure that everyone in the province gets vaccinated,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said.  “The amendment today ensures workers also have paid time off during the work hours to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.” Full Media Release Here

       

      Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program – Phase 2

      • The Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) – Phase 2 is established to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses in Saskatchewan that have been ordered to temporarily close or substantially curtail operations between December 1 and 31, 2020, due to a public health order to help control transmission of COVID-19. Financial assistance includes a payment of up to $5,000 that could be used for any purpose. The program was initially offered April through June of 2020. An amended Phase 2 of the program has been established for December 1–31, 2020, with the program opened for applications on Monday, December 7, 2020. Learn more about SSBEP

       

      Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate (SRAR)

      • The Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate (SRAR), which will assist businesses as they adapt their business models to address the challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The rebate will assist businesses who have adapted to different business models, such as changing the use of square footage, installing physical infrastructure to comply with COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, and upgrading technology, such as websites, to enhance their business. The program is for Saskatchewan businesses that employ less than 100 people, have or will incur expenses to adapt their business model between April 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, plan to continue operating, and have experienced at least a 30 per cent revenue decline compared to 2019. Eligible applicants will receive a rebate of 50 per cent up to a maximum of $5,000 for a $10,000 expenditure, with amounts being determined based on business expenditures for changing business models to adapt to the current environment brought about due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The SRAR program will be launched and applications will be available in the coming weeks.  Learn more about SRAR

       

      Home Renovation Tax Credit

      • The Home Renovation Tax Credit will make the cost of home renovations more affordable and will help drive Saskatchewan’s economic recovery. Under this non-refundable tax credit, Saskatchewan homeowners may save up to $2,100 in provincial income tax by claiming a 10.5 per cent tax credit on up to $20,000 of eligible home renovation expenses. Eligible expenses include the cost of labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, equipment rentals and permits. Renovation expenses must be incurred between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022, and the renovation must be substantially completed by December 31, 2022. “This new tax credit is an incentive to spend, build and hire,” Harpauer said. “Combined with the PST reduction on new home construction in the June 2020 budget, this new credit will increase construction activity in the province, create jobs, and help drive Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.” Learn more about the Home Renovation Tax Credit

       

       

        Updates from the City of Regina

        Regina Economic Recovery Grant

         

        Important COVID-19 Information for the Local Residential Construction Industry

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