COVID-19: Recent Federal Updates
You Should Know About
NEW! CANADA RECOVERY HIRING PROGRAM
Budget 2021 proposed to introduce a new Canada Recovery Hiring Program for eligible employers that continue to experience qualifying declines in revenues relative to before the pandemic.

The subsidy will offset a portion of the extra costs employers take on as they reopen, either by increasing wages or hours worked, or hiring more staff.

This support would only be available for active employees and will be available from June 6 to November 20, 2021. Eligible employers would claim the higher of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or this new subsidy. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for businesses to hire new workers as the economy reopens. For details, click here.
New legislation has been introduced as part of the 2021 Federal Budget to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
for four additional four-week periods, beginning June 3 and ending Sept. 25, 2021.

There are no significant changes to the overall calculations of the CEWS in these additional four periods; however, the percentages used to calculate the CEWS will result in a decline in the amount of government support over Periods 17 to 20.

The reduction in CEWS support reflects the expected recovery of the Canadian economy over the next few months. Beginning in Period 18 (July 4 to July 31, 2021), a business must demonstrate a revenue decline of over 10% to be eligible for the CEWS.

For details, click here...
New legislation has been introduced as part of the 2021 Federal Budget to extend the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to Sept. 25, 2021, with support gradually being phased out beginning July 4, 2021.

Beginning with Period 17*, only employers with a revenue decline in excess of 10% will be eligible for the CERS. The maximum subsidy rate of 65% will be extended to period 17 (June 6 to July 3, 2021) and then gradually decrease to:
  • 60% for Period 18 (July 4 to 31, 2021)
  • 40% for Period 19 (August 1 to 28, 2021)
  • 20% for Period 20 (August 28, 2021, to Sept. 25, 2021)

The Lockdown Support Program rate of 25% will be extended from June 4 to Sept. 25, 2021. If the minimum requirement of a revenue decline of over 10% is not met, the business will be precluded from eligibility for both the base subsidy and the top-up subsidy.

For details, click here...
NOW OPEN! BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOAN FUND

Applications have officially opened for the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, the third pillar of the Government of Canada’s previously announced Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP).

The fund aims to reduce some of the systemic barriers faced by Black Canadian entrepreneurs and business owners by providing them with the financing they need to start and grow their businesses. The fund is set to provide financing of up to $250,000 to eligible Black entrepreneurs and business owners. Alongside this core loan program, the federal government has also launched a new pilot microloan program that aims to offer loans between $10,000 and $25,000. For more info, click here.
SENSORY MARKETING: HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR BRAND EXPERIENCE
Your five senses can define emotional memories and your perception of any experience—be it visiting a certain location, eating a certain food, or interacting with a brand.

Sensory marketing involves creating a series of cohesive brand touchpoints that appeal to your audience’s five senses, urging them to form positive perceptions of your brand. It's time to consider how to use sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch in your marketing strategy to make a positive and unforgettable impression on new and loyal customers. Read more....


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Check your mail!

Printed copies of our COVID-19 resource guide, "Business is Unusual: A Coronavirus Survival Guide for Manitoba Business," have been arriving to business throughout Manitoba! Watch for yours, and be sure to keep the guide handy, as you'll want to refer to it often. Or, if you have IDEAS for future content, let us know! Email Carolynne Jansen, Director of Business Development & Partnerships at cjansen@mbchamber.mb.ca
VIRTUAL HR: How to Leverage Remote Interviewing to Grow Your Team

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Remote interviews (by phone or video chat) were once considered a pale comparison to in-person discussions for this mutual evaluation. But since the rise of pandemic-driven social distancing, they’ve not only become a necessity; they’ve forced HR professionals to get creative and have inspired more intentional communication on both sides. In this issue, CPHR Manitoba provides four ways to optimize remote interviews for your own team and your potential hires. Read more...
COVID-19: Recent Manitoba Updates
You Should Know About
NEW! The City of Winnipeg has opened a second intake of the COVID-19 Economic Support Grant Program in order to assist Winnipeg small businesses and not-for-profit organizations that have been forced to restrict access to their premises due to COVID-19 public health restrictions that came into effect on May 9, 2021 or thereafter.

Small businesses and not-for-profit organizations can now apply online for a non-repayable grant of $1,500 through the second intake of the program. Recipients of the first intake will need to re-apply to participate.

The grant can be used for rent, utilities, wages, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizing equipment, or other business expenses incurred. Program application deadline for the second intake is July 31, 2021. Eligible applications will be prioritized on a first come, first serve basis.

  • For program details, click here.
  • Grant applications are now being accepted online here.
On May 11, 2021, the Province of Manitoba introduced changes to the Employment Standards Code that would allow Manitoba workers to take a three-hour paid leave to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The proposed amendments would make it mandatory for employers to allow employees up to three hours of paid leave each time the employee requires a dose of vaccine.

The wage rate would be fixed at an employee’s regular wage rate, or the average wage for employees whose wage varies, such as those paid on commission.

This paid vaccination leave complements the recently announced Manitoba Pandemic Sick Leave program, which is a voluntary program to reimburse eligible employers for providing paid time off to employees who are absent for reasons related to COVID-19. Read more...
CANADA-MANITOBA JOB GRANT LAUNCHED

The Manitoba government has opened intake for the Canada–Manitoba Job Grant and increased investment to $8 million this year to help more employers with employee training. This grant helps employers offset the costs of training new employees, or costs associated with developing the skills of their existing workers to meet the requirements of their present job, or to attain a promotion.

  • To access an Employer Fact Sheet, click here.
  • To access the grant application form, click here.     
MANITOBA YOUTH JOBS
PROGRAM LAUNCHED

The $15 million Manitoba Youth Jobs Program will provide employers a 50% subsidy on wages paid to eligible employees during the program period of May to September 2021, with a maximum of up to $25,000 per employer.

Eligible employers can request to receive advance payments equal to $750 per eligible employee hired under the program. Employers will be able to request up to 10 advance payments to a maximum advance payment of $7,500 (30 per cent of maximum funding cap - same percentage as under Back to Work Manitoba). Advance payment requests must be made by June 30, 2021 to be eligible.

  • For program details, click here.
  • The online application portal is now open; employers have until Aug. 31, 2021 to apply. To apply, click here.
VACCINATION UPDATES

Current eligibility at vaccine supersites:
  • Ages 12 and up
  • If you are eligible to be immunized, you can book your vaccine appointment online for any of the supersites. Create an account with your email address and health card number. You can link more than one person to the same account, so that you can book for family members and loved ones as they become eligible. Only first-dose appointments should be booked at this time. You can also call 1-844-MAN-VACC.

Current eligibility at doctors' clinics & pharmacies: The AstraZeneca vaccine is used in doctors’ offices and pharmacies, and it has different eligibility criteria than mRNA vaccine formulations:

NEW! Manitobans will soon be able to get Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations at local pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Starting this week, health officials say roughly 5,000 doses of both mRNA vaccines will be sent to some 25 medical clinics and pharmacies across the province. Going forward, health officials say a weekly allocation of both Moderna and Pfizer will continue to be available at the more than 500 participating doctors’ offices and pharmacies in Manitoba, although locations and vaccine availability may vary.

NEW! Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization announced this week that those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose can get either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second shot. It is not recommending AstraZeneca after a first shot of Pfizer or Moderna because of safety concerns and limited data on the use of this combination. People who have received a first dose of an mRNA vaccine should be offered the same vaccine for their second dose, NACI said. But mRNA vaccines can be interchangeable if the same product is not readily available for the second dose.

NEW! Today, Manitoba health officials also lowered eligibility for second-dose appointments to include anyone who received their first AstraZeneca shot on or before April 20.
Chuck Davidson, President & CEO
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
t: 204-948-0107
e: cdavidson@mbchamber.mb.ca
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