Taking action for local businesses
Image
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 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.
-30-