Connecting businesses with the support they need
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COVID-19 Updates
City of Vaughan news is released on a daily basis and kept on vaughan.ca for reference purposes. For the most recent updates and news as they happen, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
As COVID-19 continues to impact local businesses and entrepreneurs, the City of Vaughan remains committed to working with all levels of government to provide support and resources during these unprecedented times.
In 2020, the City took many steps to provide relief, including establishing a business licence renewal grace period of 90 days, deferring the annual stormwater charge for 60 days, cancelling the planned 2020 water and wastewater rate increases as voted on by Vaughan Council and waiving the late penalty charge on interim property tax bills, among others.
Most recently, on March 10, 2021, Vaughan Council approved waiving late fees for all businesses that have not renewed their business licence and allowed businesses that are closed due to COVID-19 to cancel their licence until they reopen. This business licence relief program supports the local economy while recognizing the ongoing need to maintain the regulatory framework that protects the public.
The City’s Economic and Cultural Development department is here to support Vaughan’s business community as they navigate different support and funding options offered by the Provincial and Federal governments.
Government of Ontario
The Ontario government has several programs and supports for businesses and families, including toll-free hotlines to provide support to businesses that have questions about the impact of Provincial COVID-19 measures (1-888-444-3659) and to protect consumers with anti-price gouging measures (Protection Ontario at 1-800-889-9768).
Government of Canada
The Federal government is offering assistance to the business community through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Throughout the pandemic, income supports like the wage subsidy have helped families and workers across Canada know where their next paycheque is coming from and keep communities strong.
Other programs offered by the Federal government:
- The $73-billion Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program provides interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.
- The Government of Canada is investing more than $2 billion through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) – 25 per cent of which is earmarked for the tourism sector. In total, $536.4 million of RRRF funding has been allocated to southern Ontario. This expanded funding allows the RRRF to continue to be a backstop for eligible applicants, mirroring the support offered by other Federal support programs as they evolve to meet the needs of businesses.
- Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on Sept. 27, 2020, until June 2021. The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners without requiring the participation of the landlord.
- The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals that are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
The Economic and Cultural Development team continues to offer advisory consultations to entrepreneurs and businesses of all stages and sizes via tele- or video-conference, email and phone. For information, additional resources or to book a consultation, visit vaughanbusiness.ca.
Businesses and entrepreneurs can use the City as a resource to find ongoing training and education to move their business online, pivot their strategy or start anew. Through programs like Digital Boost, Activate!Vaughan and Summer Company, businesses can grow and leverage the tools to be successful.
The team also promotes virtual webinars, seminars and classes from different organizations. There is something for everyone. To learn more about upcoming events, visit vaughanbusiness.ca/events.
To keep up with the City of Vaughan’s newest business resources and initiatives, sign up for the Economic and Cultural Development department’s eNewsletter at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters.
To receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn channels.
Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
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