Prime Minister announces expansion of support for workers and small businesses

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an expansion to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include many owner-operated small businesses.

The program will now be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll.

As not-for-profit organizations, chambers are encouraged to apply for CEBA by contacting their financial institution.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce issues statement regarding criteria expansion for CEBA

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce issued a statement in response to today's CEBA announcement.

Canada-U.S. border to remain closed until June 21

This morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel until June 21. Watch here

Alberta government providing additional relief for tourism industry

The Alberta government is providing new supports for hotels and other lodging providers that allow them to keep tourism levy amounts collected between March 1 and December 31, 2020. This measure will free up between $16 million and $27 million in additional cash flow for the hospitality sector, which employs 30,000 Albertans.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund for SMEs

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund is now available to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) located in non-metropolitan regions in Western Canada.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund Fact Sheet (PDF)

For more information, chambers and their members should contact their local Community Futures office.

Deloitte Economic Recovery Dashboard

Deloitte has put together an Economic Recovery Dashboard to provide a real-time, full picture view of the country’s situation as businesses, governments and others continue to respond to the COVID-19 global health crisis. 

ACC pulse check survey

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce, Economic Developers Alberta, and Community Futures Alberta have launched a short pulse check survey as Alberta begins the process of relaunching its economy. The survey will help our network gather insights on the barriers businesses face reopening in phase one of Alberta's relaunch as well as ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices.

 

Please take the survey and share your insights. The survey will be open through Friday, May 22. To share the survey with other job creators, please copy and paste the link https://albertaperspectives.vision-critical.com/c/r/ab-covid-pulsecheck2-2020-chambers rather than sharing your unique URL.

In an effort to keep these bulletins focused on new daily developments, we have moved key COVID-19 resources to our website . This list is updated daily as new information becomes available.

If you have permission to share experiences from your members on navigating the new federal support programs, especially challenges or gaps businesses have found, please email [email protected]. The ACC will use these stories to inform our feedback and advocacy on behalf of Alberta's business community.

On behalf of all of the ACC executive and staff, we thank you for all that you do. Please know we are here for you and wish you and yours good health and a timely end to the current situation. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a federation of 124 community-based chambers of commerce representing more than 25,000 job creators.