COVID-19 | Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Update
On July 17, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau, announced the most anticipated proposed changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program.
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WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
Purpose: Help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll.
Clientele: Corporations, individuals, registered charities, NPOs and partnerships.
Eligibility: 15% revenue drop for March 2020 and 30% drop for April, May and June 2020. Any revenue drop from July to December 31, 2020 qualifies for the subsidy.
Amount: Subject to a formula for March to June 2020. No cap per eligible entity. From July on the basic subsidy is based on the amount of revenue drop and an additional Top-Up subsidy for employers whose revenues are down 50% or more.
Period covered: Initial 6 four-week periods started on March 15, 2020 and which were to end on August 29, 2020, have been extended to December 31, 2020.
Availability of funds: Since April 27, 2020, the CRA platform is live. Processing time of an application is between 7 and 10 business days.
Purpose: Help businesses cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced
Clientele: CCPCs eligible to the small business deduction, individuals, registered charities, NPOs and partnerships
Eligibility: Having a payroll account with CRA as of March 18, 2020
Amount: 10% of remuneration subject to caps; up to $1,375 per employee (to a maximum of $25,000 per entity), for Canadian employees
Period covered: March 18 to June 19, 2020
Availability of funds: Reduction of Federal income tax deduction at source remittances due for period covered.
THE BUSINESS CREDIT AVAILABILITY PROGRAM (BCAP)
Purpose: Help small businesses meet operating expenses.
Clientele: Corporations and NPOs
Eligibility: 2019 payroll between $20,000 and $1,5M based on 2019 T4SUM summary of remuneration paid (payroll stream). Eligibility expanded to include applicant with remuneration under $20,000 if applicant has non deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1,500,000 in 2020 (Non deferrable expenses stream).
Amount: Up to $40 000 in the form of a line of credit
Tenor and interest rate: Interest- free for the first year, government-guaranteed; Repayment incentive/forgiveness of 25% of loan up to $10,000 if balance repaid by or on December 31, 2022.
Availability of funds: Apply with your financial institution
Purpose: To fund operational cash flow needs (including regularly scheduled principal and interest payments on existing debt).
Clientele: Canadian qualifying SMEs.
Amount: New additional credit up to $6,25M (Co-lender BDC 80% and financial institution 20%).
Tenor and interest rate: Commercial interest rate applies; 10-year repayment period.
Availability of funds: Available with most financial institutions until September 30, 2020.
Purpose: To finance operations and liquidity needs of the business only.
Clientele: Domestic businesses and Export-oriented Canadian businesses.
Eligibility: May be subject to conditions per your financial institution.
Amount: EDC guarantee of up to $80M (financial institution 100%).
Tenor and interest rate: Interest rate and repayment period to be determined by lending financial institution.
Availability of funds: TBD in cooperation with the applicant’s financial institution.
Purpose: To cover operational liquidity needs and business continuity.
Clientele: Domestic businesses and Export-oriented Canadian businesses.
Eligibility: May be subject to conditions per your financial institution.
Amount: New additional credit up to $60M.
Tenor and interest rate: Interest rate and repayment period to be determined by your financial institution.
Availability of funds: TBD in cooperation with the applicant’s financial institution.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Purpose: Help small business tenants meet operating expenses.
Clientele: Tenants whose have incurred a revenue drop of 70%.
Eligibility: Tenants must have a monthly gross rent under $50,000 $ and generate annual revenues under $20M. Landlords are not compelled to opt in.
Period covered: April, May, June, July and August 2020.
Amount: Tenant to only pay 25% of base rent. Landlord to receive 50% of based rent under the form of a forgivable loan – essentially absorbing the remaining 25%.
Additional amount: Quebec announced additional financial support representing 50% of the 25% gross rent landlord must absorb.
Availability of Funds: Government will deploy on May 25, 2020.
Purpose: Provides bridge financing to large businesses whose needs are not met through conventional financing and to keep their operations going.
Clientele: Large corporations with the exception of those in the financial sector with annual revenues over $300M, as well as certain not-for-profit businesses.
Eligibility: Applicant will have to demonstrate how they intend to preserve employment and investment activities as well as collective bargaining agreements and commit to protect workers’ pensions.
Period covered: TBD in cooperation with the applicant’s financial institution.
Amount: Minimum of $60M.
Availability of Funds: Government is in the final stages of establishing the program and further information will be provided shortly.
MAKING EDUCATED DECISIONS
As you can see, there are many programs available to you. However, your situation is unique: whether you need a simple consult or help to file applications, you need to make educated decisions, based on your current situation AND how you want to restart your activities. Regardless of the program you choose or the financial institution you are dealing with, you will need to demonstrate your loss of income and provide a proper company cash flow projection, prepared by a knowledgeable person.
KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN COUNT ON
Our Crisis Relief Team will:
CONTACT OUR COVID-19 CRISIS RELIEF TEAM
For more information and to discuss on our flexible terms and conditions of payment,
please contact one of our Crisis Relief Team members:
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