Taking action for local businesses

April 15, 2020 10:00 a.m.
Vaughan business community rising to the challenge of COVID-19
 
The Vaughan Business Action Plan is building momentum with progress being made on many fronts to bolster the local economy. Launched on March 17, it includes a series of measures to support businesses, consumers and all citizens during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
 
One of those measures was the proactive suspension of noise by-laws to support retailers’ restocking efforts and enhance the movement of goods. On March 19, the Province of Ontario announced a similar directive through the Municipal Emergency Act, 2020. This ensures that the delivery of goods to Ontario's businesses and consumers, and the timing of deliveries, isn't impacted by municipal noise by-laws.
 
The City’s Economic and Cultural Development (ECD) department is offering guidance on how to potentially adapt business models to generate revenue online. They are also linking businesses that can supply personal protective equipment (PPE), medical equipment and other essential supplies with organizations and people in need.
 
Vaughan businesses are rising to the challenges presented by COVID-19. Many local companies are converting their manufacturing capabilities to produce essential supplies and medical devices. The ECD department is connecting with organizations producing and distributing Public Health-approved sanitizer, such as Last Straw Distillery, Magnotta Winery and Perla Soaps and Detergents, and industrial manufacturers like Proto3000 are producing face masks, face shields, ventilator components and other medical equipment, among many other businesses.
 
Vaughan Public Libraries has also provided two of its Ultimaker 3D printers to 1to1 Rehab to produce a component for face shields – a re-usable "headband" that sits on the wearer's forehead. An acrylic sheet is then attached to the headband which covers the entire face.
 
Organizations that are producing essential goods during this pandemic, and would like to co-ordinate and connect their endeavours with other agencies, may contact ECD@vaughan.ca, visit yorklink.ca and email edo@york.ca with details on how their business is supporting the COVID-19 response, or offer emergency products, services and innovative solutions via the Ontario Together initiative. Since its launch by the province on March 21, the Ontario Together portal had received more than 14,000 submissions (as of April 11) offering everything from hand sanitizer, gowns and coveralls, to masks, face shields and testing equipment and ventilators.
 
The City’s ECD department is also focused on helping businesses access federal and provincial government supports to attain small business loans and programs that support maintaining their workforce. Visit vaughan.ca/business for more information.
 
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua also recently launched the new #ShopVaughanLocal campaign. Residents looking to do their part to support the local economy can do so by shopping remotely with local businesses and restaurants with #ShopVaughanLocal. Citizens are encouraged to do any of the following to show their support for small businesses in Vaughan: 
  • Order take-out or delivery from a local restaurant
  • Buy gift cards for use at a later date
  • Order from local businesses online
  • Share your local love #ShopVaughanLocal
  • Access government supports for businesses at vaughan.ca/business
As well, the City has taken a number of approaches to support citizens, 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.
 
Provincial Government 
In addition to the City’s initiatives, the Ontario government has launched several programs and supports for businesses and families, including:
  • 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. 
  • the Ontario Together initiative that calls on businesses and organizations that can supply emergency products and innovative solutions to support the response to COVID-19. Further to this, on April 1, Premier Doug Ford announced a $50-million Ontario Together fund to help companies build capacity or adopt the technological changes needed to produce required supplies and equipment.
  • a one-time payment of $200 per child younger than 12 years of age — and $250 for those under 21 with special needs — to help parents cover additional tools needed to keep kids mentally active while schools are closed.
Federal Government 
The Government of Canada has launched the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This is a taxable benefit that provides $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 is a simpler and more accessible combination of the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit. 
 
The CERB covers 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 applies to: 
  • wage earners, contract workers and the self-employed
  • those still employed but not receiving income (allowing employers to keep employees) 
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced the CERB will be expanded to cover more workers, such as those working part-time or whose working hours have been reduced because of the pandemic.
 
The portal to access the CERB is available here.
 
The Prime Minister also announced changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program that will help employers hire summer staff. He also announced changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which reimburses qualifying employers 75 per cent of an employee’s wages, up to $847 per week, for 12 weeks. Now, businesses will need to show a 15 per cent drop in March revenue to qualify — initially, the cut-off was 30 per cent.
 
The ECD department is closely tracking new information regarding government programs providing financial support to businesses and is monitoring the list of essential and non-essential workplaces to ensure the safe operation of businesses in Vaughan. To receive these updates, subscribe to the ECD department newsletter.
 
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 and Instagram channels.
 
LEARN MORE
  • For more information about support for businesses and entrepreneurs, please visit vaughan.ca/business.
  • For more information about property taxes, visit vaughan.ca/PropertyTax.
  • Ontario Together website
  • Vaughan Business Action Plan statement
  • If a local business has questions about what will be open or impacts to their operations or employment, please call the Ontario government’s Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
  • For more information about the City’s response efforts to COVID-19, visit vaughan.ca.
  • For additional information and resources on COVID-19, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
  • For more information about City matters, including cancellations, disruptions and postponements, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca.
  • 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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