PSA: Standing up for the business community

March 26, 2020 1:00 p.m.

Supporting entrepreneurs, consumers and citizens

During the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the City of Vaughan remains committed to working with all levels of government to stand up for entrepreneurs and small business owners, and to maintain the competitiveness of the local economy. 

On March 17, the City launched the Vaughan Business Action Plan – which includes a series of temporary measures to support businesses, consumers and all citizens. These include: 

  1. Support the restocking of store shelves – by suspending noise by-laws and weight restrictions on roads to assist with ensuring stores have items people need.
  2. Enhance the movement of goods – by suspending by-laws restricting the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles, transport trucks, and other vehicles between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. This will allow for 24-hour delivery.
  3. Improve business ground-transportation – by suspending the weight and size of vehicles that can travel on certain roads throughout Vaughan. To ensure the sufficient safe supply of goods to stores.
  4. Suspend the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) – to support the travel and tourism industry by not requiring accommodation providers to charge the MAT at Vaughan properties.
  5. Maintain small business services – by ensuring, where possible, Small Business and Entrepreneurship frontline services are continued (either online or by phone). 

A grace period of 90 days was recently established for business licence renewals. Licensees may defer renewal of their existing business licence up to 90 days past the expiry date of their licence. New businesses are still required to be licensed. New licence applications may be submitted by email to bylaw@vaughan.ca, along with scanned copies of required documentation. Payments can be made by cheque and mailed to Vaughan City Hall at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Vaughan, ON, L6A 1T1. 

The City is waiving the late penalty charge on interim property tax bills. These new measures apply to residential and non-residential properties. Payments for the March 26, April 27 and May 27 due dates will not be subject to any late payment fee or interest until June 1. Further extensions may be granted thereafter. 

Provincial Government 

In addition to what the City is doing, the Ontario government has launched a toll-free line at 1-888-444-3659 to provide support to Ontario businesses that have questions about the province's recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health. 

Through the Ontario Together initiative, the provincial government is calling on businesses and organizations that can supply emergency products and innovative solutions to support the response to COVID-19. 

Federal Government 

The Government of Canada has launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This is a taxable benefit that would provide $2,000 a month, for up to four months, for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CERB would be a simpler and more accessible combination of the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit. 

The CERB would cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures. The CERB would apply to: 

  • wage earners, contract workers and the self-employed
  • those still employed but not receiving income (allowing employers to keep employees) 

The portal for accessing the CERB will be available in early April. For the Canada Emergency Response Benefit news release, please visit the Government of Canada's website. 

LEARN MORE 

  • Economic and Cultural Development department at vaughan.ca/business
  • For more information about property taxes, visit vaughan.ca/PropertyTax.
  • Should you feel unwell and if you believe you have symptoms related to COVID-19, please contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information on COVID-19, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19. 

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