There are a number of government assistance programs and community supports that have been set up to respond to organizations and employees/individuals impacted by COVID-19.
On this page:
Support for organizations
Changes to Ontario's rules and regulations
- New Annual General Meeting regulations for Ontario. The Government of Ontario announced increased flexibility for non-profit meetings. An Emergency Order was approved and applies to not-for-profit corporations incorporated under the Ontario Corporations Act (CA). Read more here.
The Emergency Order allows organizations to:
- Extend the deadlines to hold Annual General Meetings to 90 days after the state of emergency is ended by the Ontario government.
- The Emergency Order is in effect province-wide and is retroactive to March 17, 2020, the day the Declaration of Emergency came into effect.
- If the government ends the state of emergency within 30 days before your current deadline, then you have until 120 days after the state of emergency ends.
- Hold meetings of directors and members electronically or over the phone. Meetings have to allow people to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously.
- Extend the deadlines to hold Annual General Meetings to 90 days after the state of emergency is ended by the Ontario government.
Loans for organizations
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The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
CEBA will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.Small businesses and not-for-profits should contact their financial institution to apply for these loans.
Paying and managing employees
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The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
CEWS provides a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020 -
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2020 temporary flexibilities for employers
Flexibilities include wage subsidies, part-time employment, employment period, changes to project and job activities
Funding for organizations
- Government of Canada funding
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The Government of Canada will provide $100 million of funding to food banks and local food organizations
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The Government of Canada announced an investment of $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need
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The Government of Canada recently extended Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) by an additional 12 weeks until August 2020. The CEWS provides a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers.
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Created by the Government of Canada, the new Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) commits to nearly $962 million to help more businesses and organizations in manufacturing, technology, and tourism among other sectors.
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Government of Ontario funding
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The Government of Ontario is investing $11 million to help Ontario’s most vulnerable, including seniors and persons with disabilities
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Ontario increasing mental health support during COVID-19
The province is providing emergency funding of up to $12 million to immediately expand online and virtual mental health supports and $2.6 million to hire new psychologists and other mental health workers to support Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) personnel. -
The Ontario Together Fund
The Ontario government is launching a new $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses provide innovative solutions or retool their operations in order to manufacture essential medical supplies and equipment, including gowns, coveralls, masks, face shields, testing equipment and ventilators. This new Fund will support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal. -
As progress is made in the fight against COVID-19, the government is also updating the information relevant to supporting businesses during the reopening of Ontario. Business owners are encouraged to share the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on their businesses with Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee through this survey.
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Other Funding
Webinars and articles
Live webinars
June:
- 25: Are Charities Ready for Social Finance?, Imagine Canada
Recorded webinars
- Managing staff and volunteers during COVID-19, ONN and Imagine Canada
- Running a nonprofit virtually during a pandemic, ONN
- Coping with a changing business environment, The Upside Foundation
- Cities in the Age of COVID: How can we strengthen community economies as we recover?, Canadian Urban Institute
- COVID-19 and Philanthropy's Response, Philanthropic Foundations Canada
- Agir efficacement face aux risques éventuels liés au Coronavirus! BNP Performance Philanthropique (delivered in French)
- Community Foundations of Canada’s Resource Library (includes recorded webinars)
Articles
- Working with donors in times of crisis by Blue Sky Philanthropy
- Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19, World Health Organization
- Moving Online in Pandemic: Ecocycle to Attend to What is Shifting, Full Circle Associates
- Are you leading through the crisis or managing the response?, Harvard Business Review
- Managing Change During the Pandemic: Thoughts for Collective Impact and Nonprofits, Collective Impact Forum
- 16 Tools to Ease the Transition to Remote Work for Indigenous Organizations, Animikii
Online Services
- Innoweave is offering micro-coaching to nonprofits
Support for employees/individuals
Employment Insurance Benefits
- Apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA
- The Government of Canada is extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by eight weeks. As the economy is beginning to restart, the Government is making changes to the CERB attestation, which will encourage Canadians receiving the benefit to find employment and consult Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service that offers tools to help with job searches.
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- all in person Service Canada Centres are closed until further notice. In the meantime, you can access programs and services online.
- The Work-Sharing Program (WS)
This program helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer. The program provides Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share the available work while their employer recovers. Work-Sharing is an agreement between employers, employees and the Government of Canada.
Paying your energy bills
- Low income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
$9 million in direct support to families for their energy bills by expanding eligibility for the LEAP and ensuring that their electricity and natural gas services are not disconnected for nonpayment during the COVID 19 outbreak
Students
- The Government of Canada announced comprehensive support of nearly $9 billion for post-secondary students and recent graduates
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Temporary deferral of OSAP payments: From March 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020, you will not be required to make any loan payments, and interest will not accrue on your student loans. - The Government of Ontario is supporting Online Learning During COVID-19 Outbreak through an “expanded seven-point summer learning plan for Ontario students” so that every student gets access to online learning and resources.
- The government of Ontario has shared its safety plan for the resumption of class for the 2020-21 school year. While the decision to return to the normal school day routine will still to be based on medical advice, boards and schools are requested to plan for alternative scenarios that may need to be implemented in September depending on the province's COVID-19 situation.
Parents
Seniors
- Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
On March 25, 2020, the Ontario government announced a temporary top-up to payments made through GAINS. Beginning in April 2020, monthly GAINS payment amounts will be automatically doubled for a period of six months.
COVID-19 Response Plans
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Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
The government's action plan is a first step in its response to COVID-19 and includes $7 billion in additional resources for the health care system and direct support for people and jobs. It also will make available $10 billion in support for people and businesses through tax and other deferrals to improve their cash flow, protecting jobs and household budgets. -
Ontario’s COVID-19 action plan: protecting vulnerable Ontarians
The Ontario government is taking immediate action and building upon previous measures to better protect our most vulnerable and the frontline staff who care for them. -
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the global COVID-19 outbreak.