FEDERAL
For the most up to date information, or to follow new announcements, be sure to check the Government of Canada's website for Coronavirus information.
Funding for Arts, Heritage and Culture
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program -
The Tourism and Hospitality Program provides wage and rent subsidies to select tourism and hospitality businesses still facing pandemic related challenges, with a subsidy rate up to 75%.
Museum Assistance Program:
The Museum Assistance Program provides funding to museums and other heritage-related organizations that work to preserve and present heritage collections in Canada. Deadline: December 22, 2021
- COVID-19 Emergency Support for Heritage Organizations - CLOSED – provided support to allow for the continuous care of heritage collections, which might have been impacted by COVID-19.
- Access to Heritage – provides funding to heritage organizations for travelling exhibitions in Canada to promote access to heritage across different geographic regions.
- Exhibition Circulation Fund – assists museums with costs of circulating travelling exhibitions from another museum or a federal heritage institution. Open deadline.
- Indigenous Heritage – supports the preservation, presentation, and management of Indigenous Cultural Heritage in Canada.
- Collections Management – aims to improve professional knowledge, skills and practices to strengthen skills related to museum collection management.
- Canada Community Revitalization Fund - help communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sports Sectors - provide organizations and individuals with the financial means to help build organizational resilience and pursue business innovation and transformation. This will also contribute to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in these sectors, as well as greening activities.
- Reopening Fund - help Canada’s festivals, cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events and more. It will support organizations and projects that deliver in-person experiences or events that draw visitors to our communities.
Tourism Relief Fund - A $500 million national program that is part of the $1 billion package proposed in the 2021 Budget to support Canada's tourism sector.
Jobs and Growth Fund in Western Canada
The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), provides $700 million nationally over 3 years, which includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.
Top up funding to support providing via Canada Periodical Fund, Canada Book Fund, Canada Music Fund (via FACTOR and Musicaction), Canada Arts Training Fund, Canada Arts Presentation Fund, and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program.
Canada Council for the Arts Funding Programs –
- Digital Strategy Fund for Short Term Activities - CLOSED - provides grants for strategic initiative that help Canadian artists, groups and arts organizations understand the digital works, engage with it and respond to the cultural and social changes it produces. Provides up to $50,000 for digital initiatives proposed as strategic responses to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Other Canada Council grants – many regular Canada Council grants still open.
Funding for Employers
For the most up to date information, or to follow new announcements, be sure to check the Government of Canada's website for Coronavirus information.
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
Designed to support organizations in selected sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry that have been affected by the pandemic and that continue to struggle. Examples of eligible organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry include hotels, restaurants, bars, festivals, travel agencies, tour operators, convention centres, convention and trade show organizers, and others.
Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program
Hard-hit organizations that do not qualify for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and that have been deeply affected since the outset of the pandemic would qualify for rent and wage support under the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program.
Jobs and Growth Fund in Western Canada
The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), provides $700 million nationally over 3 years, which includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria.
Canada Recovery Hiring Program
Designed to help hard-hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen. The program would provide a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of eligible salary or wages. It would be available to eligible employers who have experienced qualifying revenue declines so they can hire more workers, increase workers’ hours, or increase wages.
Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
HASCAP provides businesses an interest-free loan to support operational cash flow for businesses and non-profits who can demonstrate a 50% or more revenue decline within the last eight months.. Government guaranteed loans for $25,000 to $1 million dollars per legal entity, are available through local financial institutions.
Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) - CLOSED
CEWS provides employers a subsidy of 75% of each employee’s wages, up to a maximum of $847 per week, per employee. Currently CEWS is currently supporting employers who are working o return workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19.
Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (TWS) - CLOSED
TWS provides a three-moth measure that allows eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions they need to remit to the Canadian Review Agency (CRA). The subsidy is equal to 10 % of remuneration an employer pays from March 18 to June 2020 up to $1,375 per employee, up to $25,000.
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
CEBA provides interest-free loans up to $60,000 (increased from $40,000 to $60,000 on Dec.4, 2020). Expansion available for those who applied prior to this amount. Repayment of loan on or before Dec. 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 33% (up to $20,000). Eligibility criteria updated. Available from most financial institutions.
Work-Sharing Program – COVID-19 - CLOSED
This program helps employer and employees avoid lay-offs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer. It provide EI benefits to eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours (minimum of six weeks) and share available work while their employer recovers. Available from March 15, 2020 to March 14, 2021. Expanded eligibility.
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) - CLOSED
CERS provides support to businesses, non-profits organizations or charities who have seen a drop in revenues or their location has been significantly affected by public health orders, due to the CVOID-19 pandemic. This subsidy will cover part of commercial ren or property expenses, staring September 27, 2020 to June 2021.
SME Loan and Guarantee Programs
The Economic Development Canada (EDC) and Business Development Canada (BDC) will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow through term loans through local financial institutions available to small and medium size organizations for amounts up to $6.25 million. Visit EDC and BDC for more information.
Administrative Tax Measures
Deadline extensions for deferral of tax until June 1, 2020, available for businesses and charities. Audit and debt collection services suspended.
Funding for Individuals
For the most up to date information, or to follow new announcements, be sure to check the Government of Canada's website for Coronavirus information.
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
Would provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers should they be unable to work due to a local lockdown anytime between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.
Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB) - CLOSED
CRB supports employed or self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and not entitled to the Employment Insurance (EI) benefit. Those eligible receive $1,000 ($900 after tax) for a two-week period. Available from September 27 to September 25, 2021. (This program replaces the CERB program which closed December 2020.)
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
CRSB provides $500 per week, for a maximum of two weeks to workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week due to contracting COVID-19, quarantining for 14 days, or caring for family members who have contracted COVID-19. You may apply for up to two weeks between September 2020 and September 25, 2021.
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) - CLOSED
CESB provides support of up to $1,250 for a 4-week period, for post-secondary students, and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who were unable to find work due to CVOID-19.
PROVINCIAL
Funding for Employers
For the most up to date information, or to follow new announcements, be sure to check the Government of Saskatchewan's website for COVID-19 information.
Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program No. 2 (STSSP 2)
Two streams of funding are available through the STSSP to support tourism businesses that have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic:
The STSSP 2 provides financial assistance for tourism businesses in the accommodations and major event facilities sectors that have seen a significant drop in sales revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The STSSP 2 provides financial assistance for tourism businesses in the event, attraction or tour sectors that have seen a significant drop in sales revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program (SSBEP)
SSBEP provides financial support to small Saskatchewan business who have been ordered to temporarily close or curtail operations due to a public health order. Open until March 2021.
Strong Recovery Adaption Rebate (SRAR)
SRAR is intended to encourage and support businesses to innovate and adapt to new operational requirements. The program reimburses business for 50% of total eligible business adaptation investment made between April 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 to a maximum of $5,000.
Re-Open Saskatchewan Training Subsidy
The training subsidy allows approved employers to access up to $10,000 to provide existing employees with training that supports economic recovery by addressing increased health and safety requirements and/or adoption of innovative practices that align with social distancing protocols.
Funding for Individuals
For the most up to date information, or to follow new announcements, be sure to check the Government of Saskatchewan's website for COVID-19 information.
Self-Isolation Support Program (SISP) - CLOSED
SISP provides financial assistance for individual employees who are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 and cannot earn all of their work income, and who are not eligible for another employee benefit program.
Saskatchewan Temporary Wage Supplement Program (STWSP) - CLOSED
STWSP provides temporary wage supplement to eligible workers helping Saskatchewan’s most vulnerable citizens through the COVID-19 pandemic.