New Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance | Canada Emergency Business Account Expanded

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Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

On April 16th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced support for to help small businesses with their rent for the months of April, May and June.

The program is being worked out with the provinces and more details will be available shortly.

“Businesses and Commercial property owners are also facing specific challenges because of COVID-19 so we plan on introducing the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance. This program will provide support to help small businesses with their rent for the months of April, May and June. To implement this program we have to work with the provinces and territories as they govern rental relationships and we hope to have more details very soon” – PM Justin Trudeau

Canada Emergency Business Account

The eligible amounts are being expanded to include businesses with 2019 total payroll between $20,000 – $1.5 million.

There are restrictions on the funds can be used. From their website https://ceba-cuec.ca/:

“The funds from this loan shall only be used by the Borrower to pay non-deferrable operating expenses of the Borrower including, without limitation, payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, property tax and regularly scheduled debt service, and may not be used to fund any payments or expenses such as prepayment/refinancing of existing indebtedness, payments of dividends, distributions and increases in management compensation.”

Click to Get Full Details

Expanded eligibility for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) & Boosted wages for Essential Workers

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From his speech this morning (April 15th), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced:

“Today, we’re announcing more help for more Canadians. This includes topping up the pay of essential workers. At the same time, we’ll also be expanding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to reach people who are earning some income as well as seasonal workers who are facing no jobs and for those who have run out of EI recently. Expanding the CERB to include people who earn up to $1,000 per month. Maybe you’re a volunteer firefighter, or a contractor who can pickup some shifts, or you have a part-time job in a grocery store.”

Eligibility for CERB

On eligibility for CERB, the Prime Minister stated:

“If you earn $1,000 or less a month, you’ll now be able to apply for CERB.

If you were expecting a seasonal job that isn’t coming because of COVID-19, you’ll now be able to apply.

If you’ve run out of EI since January 1st, you can now apply for CERB as well

And for others who still need help, including post secondary students and businesses worried about commercial rent, we’ll have more to say to you very soon.”

Wage Boost for Essential Workers

On topping up wages for Essential Workers, PM Justin Trudeau said:

“Our government will work with the provinces and territories to boost wages for essential workers who are making under $2,500 a month, like those in our long-term care facilities”

The government website is being updated with the new qualifications, for full details and to apply click below:

Apply for CERB

Applications for the Canada Emergency Business Account starts TODAY!

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The new Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is available starting TODAY and is available through major banking institutions: TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, RBC, National Bank, HSBC and Canadian Western Bank.

The 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 until December 31, 2022. Up to $10,000 of that amount will be eligible for loan forgiveness if $30,000 is fully repaid on or before December 31, 2022.

Eligibility

Organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019

How do I apply?

Prior to applying, please make sure you have this information readily available:

  • Canada Revenue Agency Business Number (BN 15 digits)

  • 2019 T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid (T4SUM)

Apply online at the financial institution your business banks with:

Rules changed to allow more struggling business owners access to CERB, Wage Subsidy. Summer jobs program increased to 100%

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Accepting Applications starting April 6th – Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

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The sheer volume of applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will likely overwhelm the system. If you or someone you know need to apply for this benefit, we suggest you prepare TODAY before the applications begin:

  • Double check your myCRA account username and password

  • Direct Deposit is setup

    • 3 – 5 days via Direct Deposit vs 10 days via cheque in the mail

You should double check your myCRA username and password by signing in at:

CRA website

If you do not have direct deposit setup with CRA, you can set it up TODAY at:

setup direct deposit with cra

To help manage the volume, the CRA has setup specific days for you to apply based on month of birth.

If you were born in the month of:

  • January | February | March: Mondays – Best day to apply is April 6th

  • April | May | June: Tuesdays – Best day to apply is April 7th

  • July | August | September: Wednesdays – Best day to apply is April 8th

  • October | November | December: Thursdays – Best day to apply is April 9th

  • Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are open for any birth month

Eligibility

The benefit will be available to workers:

  • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;

  • Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits;

  • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and

  • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment or self-employment income.

Alberta: Emergency isolation support

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Eligible working Albertans can receive a one-time emergency isolation support payment of $1,146 if they are required to self-isolate or are the sole caregiver of someone in self-isolation and they have no other source of pay or compensation.

This is a temporary program to bridge the gap until the Federal Emergency Care Benefit is available in April.

Eligibility

You are eligible for the emergency isolation support program if you:

  • have experienced total or significant loss of income and are not receiving compensation from any other source because you:

    • have been diagnosed with COVID-19

    • have been directed by health authorities to self-isolate

    • are the sole caregiver of a dependent who is in self-isolation

You are not eligible for this program if you:

  • were not working immediately before you were advised to self-isolate

  • can work from home

  • are not experiencing a significant loss of income as a result of self-isolation

  • are currently collecting other forms of income support or employer benefits while self-isolated, such as:

  • are staying home to care for a dependent who is home for a reason other than self-isolation

  • reside outside of Alberta

If you are not eligible for this program, other supports are available.

The system is running periodically to manage the flow of applications. Check the link below periodically:

Apply for Emergency Isolation Support

Protecting Investments for Your Heirs

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Many investors over the age of 60 find themselves in a quandary regarding investments that they intend to leave to their heirs.  The primary concern involves the desire to conserve the investments they are bequeathing while at the same time earning a reasonable rate of return.  As we all know, the volatility of the equity markets can be cruel and this can be most detrimental when investments do not have time to recover after a downturn.  As a result, many mature investors choose to accept low rates of return in order to avoid loss in the funds they wish to leave to family members.

If you share these concerns, then Segregated Funds (also known as Guaranteed Investment Funds) may be the solution.  Segregated Funds are similar in performance and cost to Mutual Funds but come with some very attractive advantages.  Since Segregated Funds are offered by life insurance companies, they contain guarantees both at maturity and at death.  Upon maturity the value of your investment is guaranteed to be the higher of the market value or up to 100% of the amount invested. At death, the guarantee is the higher of the amount invested (less withdrawals), fair market value or a previously reset market value.  It is this death benefit guarantee that is particularly appealing for estate planning.

This guarantee allows for the potential of higher returns without taking on more investment risk.  Without the alternative of segregated funds, a mature investor wishing to protect capital might be forced to invest in a low interest rate fixed income vehicle, which after income tax, may return less than inflation.  With Segregated Funds that same investor could select a well managed investment fund guaranteeing that the beneficiaries could receive no less than 100 % on the funds invested regardless of market performance.

Segregated Funds usually contain a provision which will lock in gains made prior to death.  Depending on the insurance company these resets automatically occur every one to three years up until age 80.

Market volatility is not the only challenge to investments being willed to heirs.  The process of probating a will can also be of concern.  This process can be a lengthy one, sometimes lasting months, occasionally even years.  The cost of probate is also not insignificant especially if lawyers are required to assist.  Also, assets left in a will can be subject to challenge in court causing even further delays not to mention anxiety (and legal fees). Segregated Funds, however, being a product offered by a life insurance company pass by way of a beneficiary designation.  This not only by passes probate, but also does not incur any administrative or executor costs. 

The beneficiary designation also avoids any court challenges such as would be the case in a will’s variation action.  Another important consideration is that, with a named beneficiary, it can be creditor proof and not subject to litigant claims.  The confidential nature of the beneficiary process compared to the public aspect of probate is also be worth considering.

In order to assess if Segregated Funds are right for you as a mature investor, ask yourself the following:

  • Do I want better returns without taking on more investment risk?

  • Do I want to avoid probate fees and administrative costs which will reduce the inheritance I leave to my family?

  • Do I wish to avoid any delays in my heirs receiving the funds I wish them to have when I die?

  • Do I want to avoid any creditor or litigant claims on the funds I am leaving to my heirs?

  • Do I want to keep bequests that I make at my death completely confidential?

If you have answered “yes” to any of the above, then you should investigate the use of Segregated Funds in your estate planning.

Do I Qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit & EI?

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To help Canadians through this difficult time, the Federal Government created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and made changes to the Employment Insurance Program (EI). For those whose employment has affected by the Coronavirus, we have created a chart to help you figure out which program you qualify for and provide links to apply for each program.

The Federal Government has already made numerous changes to these programs so we will be updating this document whenever a change to the program is made.

Stay home and stay safe.

Help for Small/Medium Businesses & Entrepreneurs – 75% wage subsidy, $40,000 interest-free loan & more

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March 27, 2019 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced programs and measures focused on helping Small & Medium Sized Businesses and Entrepreneurs cope with the economic consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With these new measures, our hope is that employers being pushed to laying off people due to COVID-19 will think again,” Trudeau said. “And for those of you who have already had to lay off workers, we hope you will re-hire them.”

Wage Subsidy increased to 75%

The Prime Minister has been under pressure from the small business community to boost the wage subsidy beyond the 10% initially announced to help keep people employed. Today, Mr. Trudeau announced the government will increase the wage subsidy from 10% to 75% to help keep employees on the payroll. This increase will be backdated to Sunday, March 15th.

“It is clear we have to do more, much more so we are bringing that percentage up to 75 per cent for qualifying businesses”

– Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

The CEBA will allow banks to offer $40,000 loans that will be interest-free for the 1st year which will be guaranteed by the government. If you meet certain conditions, $10,000 of the loan can be forgivable.

“To help you bridge to better times, we are launching the Canada Emergency Business Account. With this new measure banks will soon offer $40,000 which will be guaranteed by the government”

Defer GST, HST, Duty

The government will defer GST & HST payments, as well as duty and taxes owed on imports until June 2020.

“This is the equivalent of giving $30-billion of interest free loans to businesses”

Bank of Canada Rate Cut

Bank of Canada slashed its key overnight interest rate to 0.25%.

Full details and qualification requirements will be available on Monday.

Details on how to access federal financial help

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The federal government is rolling out $27 billion in new spending and $55 billion in credit to help families and businesses get past the Covid-19 pandemic, which has reduced consumer spending, interrupted work life and caused financial pain.

Read more