Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help workers and businesses

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$2,000/month for 4 months – Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help workers and businesses

To support workers and help businesses keep their employees, the government has proposed legislation to establish the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This taxable benefit 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, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).

Additionally, workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB. This would help businesses keep their employees as they navigate these difficult times, while ensuring they preserve the ability to quickly resume operations as soon as it becomes possible.

The EI system was not designed to process the unprecedented high volume of applications received in the past week. Given this situation, all Canadians who have ceased working due to COVID-19, whether they are EI-eligible or not, would be able to receive the CERB to ensure they have timely access to the income support they need.

Canadians who are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB. If their EI benefits end before October 3, 2020, they could apply for the CERB once their EI benefits cease, if they are unable to return to work due to COVID-19. Canadians who have already applied for EI and whose application has not yet been processed would not need to reapply. Canadians who are eligible for EI regular and sickness benefits would still be able to access their normal EI benefits, if still unemployed, after the 16-week period covered by the CERB.

The portal for accessing the CERB would be available in early April.

Canadians would begin to receive their CERB payments within 10 days of application. The CERB would be paid every four weeks and be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

Manitoba Budget Highlights for 2020 and COVID-19 Supplement

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On March 19th, 2020, Manitoba’s Minister of Finance Scott Fielding delivered the province’s 2020 budget along with a COVID-19 Emergency Supplement. Some of the highlights include:

  • PST will be reduced from 7% to 6 %

  • Film and Video Production Tax Credit will be enhanced

  • Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy threshold will be increased

  • Probate fees will be eliminated

  • Introduction of the Green Levy

Sales Tax Measures

Provincial sales tax (PST) rates

Effective July 1st, 2020, the Provincial Sales Tax will decrease from 7% to 6%. As well, the PST rates will be decreased on:

  • Electricity used by qualifying manufacturing, mining and oil well operators from 1.4% to 1.2%

  • Mixed uses of electricity and natural gas used for home heating, heating and cooling of farm buildings,

    and operating farm grain dryers, will decrease from 1.4 per cent to 1.2 per cent.

  • Mobile home, modular and ready-to-move homes will decrease from 4% to 3.5%

  • Prorated vehicle tax rates for commercial trucking will be adjusted for the lower general retail sales tax

    rate of 6 per cent.

Retail Sales Tax Exemption for Preparing Personal Income Tax Returns

The preparation of personal income tax returns will be exempted from retail sales tax effective October 1, 2020, as
was committed to under the Manitoba Government’s $2,020 Tax Rollback Guarantee. This ensures the preparation of personal income tax returns for the 2020 taxation year will be exempted from retail sales tax.

Tobacco Tax

The following tobacco tax rates will change, effective July 1, 2020:

  • cigarettes from 30.0¢ to 30.5¢ each

  • fine cut tobacco from 45.5¢ to 46.0¢ per gram

  • raw leaf tobacco from 27.5¢ to 28.0¢ per gram

  • other tobacco products from 29.0¢ to 29.5¢ per gram

This increase ensures the total retail price of tobacco will remain approximately the same once the sales tax rate decreases to six per cent on July 1, 2020.

Personal Tax Credits

Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit

Scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020, is made permanent.
This credit supports businesses by providing a seven per cent tax credit (six per cent refundable and a one per cent non-refundable) that acquire qualified plant, machinery and equipment for use in manufacturing or processing in Manitoba.

Mineral Exploration Tax Credit

Scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020, is extended for three years to December 31, 2023.
This credit supports Manitobans who invest in flow-through shares of qualifying mineral exploration companies engaged in mineral operations in Manitoba and is equal to 30 per cent of investments in flow-through shares.

Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit

Scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020, is extended for one year to December 31, 2021.
This program supports Manitoba resident investors to invest in business opportunities in their communities and assist community-based enterprise development projects to raise local equity capital by providing a 45 per cent refundable tax credit on eligible shares.

Cultural Industries Printing Tax Credit

Scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020, is extended for one year to December 31, 2021.
This tax credit promotes the growth of Manitoba’s printing industry, with a 35 per cent refundable credit on salary and wages paid to Manitoba employees.

Elimination of Probate Fees

When an estate of a deceased person requires probating, probate fees are payable on the value of that person’s estate. The current probate fee is $70 on the first $10,000 value of the estate and then $7 per $1,000 or portion of a $1,000 thereafter. Beginning on July 1, 2020, applications made to the Court of Queen’s Bench for the probate of an estate of a deceased person will no longer require the payment of any probate fees.

Green Levy

Manitoba will introduce a green levy at a flat rate of $25 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions, effective July 1, 2020. It will apply to gas, liquid, and solid fuel products intended for combustion (referred to as fuels).

Green Levy rate per unit for fuel types:

  • Gasoline: 5.30 ¢ / L

  • Diesel: 6.74 ¢ / L

  • Natural Gas: 4.74 ¢ / m³

  • Propane: 3.87 ¢ / L

The green levy on natural gas and coal will be exempt from PST

Business Measures

Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy

Effective January 1, 2021, the exemption threshold is raised from $1.25 million to $1.5 million of annual remuneration. In addition, the threshold below which employers pay a reduced rate is raised from $2.5 million to $3.0 million.

Film and Video Production Tax Credit

Effective for principal photography that begins after May 31, 2020, a new Manitoba Production Company Bonus of eight per cent is added to the 30 per cent cost-of-production credit under the Film and Video Production Tax Credit, increasing the total cost-of-production credit up to 38 per cent.

Child Care Centre Development Tax Credit

Effective after budget day, the existing child care spaces limit is increased by 474 spaces, from 208 to 682 spaces, to support growing interest in work place child care. In addition, the maximum daily amount that can be charged is eliminated, allowing eligible corporations to partner with for-profit child care centres and permit non-profit child care centres developed under the tax credit, to establish parent fees that support their business.

Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit

Effective for qualifying property acquired and available for use after June 30, 2020, the refundable portion of the Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit is reduced from seven per cent to six per cent, to align with the sales tax rate reduction. The one per cent non-refundable portion is not impacted by this change.

The Optometry Act

Amendments will be made to allow optometrists to provide their professional services through a professional corporation.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENT

Rainy Day Fund Re-Investment

Manitoba’s Rainy Day Fund is currently funded to $571 million. The balance will grow to $800 million before the end of this month, and to $872 million by the end of the 2020/21 fiscal year.

Federal Support

The federal government has committed $500 million of aid to provinces and territories, of which $18 million will be available to Manitoba. It has indicated that further aid is likely to be forthcoming, and has also announced that $10 billion in credit will be made available for businesses through the Business Development Bank of Canada and the Export Development Bank of Canada. Manitoba will work with the federal government to identify business sectors that require assistance as a result of harm caused by COVID-19.

For the full details of the budget and the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement, follow the links below:

Full 2020 Manitoba Budget
COVID-19 Supplement

How to apply for EI benefits for COVID-19 quarantines and other support programs

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What are EI benefits for those quarantined with COVID-19?

Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury or quarantine, to allow them time to restore their health and return to work. Canadians quarantined can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits.

Is there a waiting period?

For quarantine because of COVID-19, the one week waiting period is waived. Contact the new dedicated toll-free phone number if you are in quarantine and seeking to waive the one-week EI sickness benefits waiting period so you can be paid for the first week of your claim:

  • Telephone: 1-833-381-2725 (toll-free)

  • Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742

What benefits does EI offer?

Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can provide you with up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you cannot work for medical reasons. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week.

Who qualifies for EI sick-leave benefits?

Employed Canadians who pay EI premiums and self-employed people registered for access to EI may be eligible for sickness benefits.

There are a number of factors that determine eligibility. You need to demonstrate that:

  • you’re unable to work for medical reasons

  • your regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week

  • you accumulated 600 insured hours* of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim or since the start of your last claim, whichever is shorter

*As an example, 600 hours are equivalent to 20 weeks of work at 30 hours a week.

While you’re receiving sickness benefits, you must remain available for work if it weren’t for your medical condition.

If you are self-employed and pay into EI, you have to wait at least 12 months from the date of your confirmed registration before you are eligible for sickness benefits. You must also meet all of the following conditions:

  • The amount of time you spend on your business has decreased by more than 40% for at least one week because of your medical condition

  • You earned a minimum amount of self-employed earnings during the calendar year before the year you apply for benefits. To receive benefits for 2020, you need to have earned at least $7,279 in 2019

What if I don’t qualify for EI?

In April, the government will be introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:

  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.

  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.

  • Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.

Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians will select one of three channels to apply for the Benefit:

  1. by accessing it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal;

  2. by accessing it from their secure My Service Canada Account; or

  3. by calling a toll free number equipped with an automated application process.

Do you need a Doctor’s note?

According to the Government of Canada’s website, people claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate.

How do I get started with the application for EI to see if I qualify?

The application for Employment Insurance can be found here:

Apply for EI Benefits

Support for Business Owners and Employees Covid 19

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We know that clients have questions about the Federal government’s economic response plan, we have included a summary of the information below for business owners, employees and other support that’s available. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here for you.

For Business Owners

  • Wage Subsidy: To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. Employers benefiting from this measure will include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations and charities. Eligible for those with payroll under $1M.

  • Work-Sharing Program to support your Employees

  • BDC Loan Expansion Facility– Details and contact information on tapping into the expanded credit. You must have been in business for at least two years;  You must have more than $100,000 in annual gross revenues and should be profitable under normal operating conditions;  Owners and/or business should have good credit history; The program enables business owners to apply for a Loan or Line of Credit with BDC for up to $100,000 to be repaid within five years. The interest rate is set today at 3.3%, which is very low for a business loan. The application is done on-line, and applicants would need to have various financial documents available to upload to complete the application. The processing time is about 2-3 weeks at present.

  • Purchase Order Financial available through BDC

  • Facebook announces $100M grant program for small businesses– Facebook announced yesterday that it’s creating a $100 million grant program for small businesses. Applications aren’t open yet, but the company says this will include both ad credits and cash grants that can be spent on operational costs like paying workers and paying rent. It will be available to up to 30,000 businesses in the 30-plus countries where Facebook operates. Facebook has also created a Business Hub with tips and resources for businesses trying to survive during the outbreak.

For Employees

Tax support: 

  • Extending the tax filing deadline to June 1

  • Allowing taxpayers to defer tax payments until after August 31 (for amounts that are due after today and before September)

  • Temporarily boosting of the Canada Child Benefit payments

  • Banks deferring mortgage payments for up to 6 months- RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank & National Bank.

  • Emergency Care Benefit” which offers up to $900 biweekly (for up to 15 weeks) to provide income support to workers who have to stay home and don’t have access to paid sick leave.

  • Six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments. 

Coronavirus & Market Uncertainty – $82 billion in aid for Families and Businesses

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On March 18th, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced a further $82 billion in support including $27 billion in direct support for Canadian workers and businesses. This is in addition to the $20 billion announced days earlier which includes $10 billion available through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help small and medium-sized businesses.

To Support Canadians

Temporary Income Support for Workers and Parents

For Canadians without paid sick leave (or similar workplace accommodation) who are sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for children, the Government is:

  • Waiving the one-week waiting period for those individuals in imposed quarantine that claim Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. This temporary measure will be in effect as of March 15, 2020.

  • Waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI sickness benefits.

  • Introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:

    • Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.

    • Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not quality for EI sickness benefits.

    • Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.

Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians will select one of three channels to apply for the Benefit:

  1. by accessing it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal;

  2. by accessing it from their secure My Service Canada Account; or

  3. by calling a toll free number equipped with an automated application process. Number to be provided

Longer-Term Income Support for Workers

For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the Government is:

  • Introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5.0 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.

  • Implementing the EI Work Sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hour as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers, by extending the eligibility of such agreements to 76 weeks, easing eligibility requirements, and streamlining the application process. This was announced by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2020.

Income Support

For low and modest income families, the federal government will double the maximum annual Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC), providing an average income boost of:

  • $400 for low-income income individuals and

  • close to $600 for couples.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The Government is proposing to increase the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment amounts, only for the 2019-20 benefit year, by $300 per child. The overall increase for families receiving CCB will be approximately $550 on average; these families will receive an extra $300 per child as part of their May payment.

Together, the proposed enhancements of the GSTC and CCB will give a single parent with two children and low to modest income nearly $1,500 in additional short-term support.

Retirees

For Retirees, the required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) will be reduced by 25% for 2020, in recognition of volatile market conditions and their impact on many seniors’ retirement savings.

Students

6 month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans for all individuals currently in the process of repaying these loans.

Tax Filing Deadline deferred

For individuals (other than trusts), the return filing due date will be deferred until June 1, 2020.  However, the Agency encourages individuals who expect to receive benefits under the GSTC or the Canada Child Benefit not to delay the filing of their return to ensure their entitlements for the 2020-21 benefit year are properly determined.

For trusts having a taxation year ending on December 31, 2019, the return filing due date will be deferred until May 1, 2020.

The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all taxpayers to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

For Tax preparers and Taxpayers to reduce the need to meet, Digital Signatures will be accepted.

Mortgage Payment Deferral

Canada’s large banks have confirmed that this support will include up to a 6-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.

To Support Businesses

Helping Businesses Keep their Workers

To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. Employers benefiting from this measure will include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations and charities.

Flexibility for Businesses Filing Taxes

The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.  This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period. 

The Canada Revenue Agency will not contact any small or medium (SME) businesses to initiate any post assessment GST/HST or Income Tax audits for the next four weeks. For the vast majority of businesses, the Canada Revenue Agency will temporarily suspend audit interaction with taxpayers and representatives.

Financing for Businesses

The BDC provides financing for:

  • Small Business Loans – up to $100,000 can be obtained online – here

  • Get extra funds to bridge cash flow gaps and support daily operations with Working Capital Loans

  • Increase your cash flow to fulfill domestic or international orders with Purchase Order Financing

See More on BDC support for entrepreneurs
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response

Previously Announced Measures

To further support businesses and households, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, cut the overnight rate to 0.75%.

For those with mortgages, the president of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Evan Siddall, announced that they are working with lenders to allow deferral of mortgage payments for up to 6 months

More details on mortgage deferral will be made available later this week.

For people quarantined due to COVID-19, the government eliminated the waiting period for EI Benefits; you can get up to $573 a week for an entire 14-day quarantine.

EI Benefits Details

If you need further, please contact me by clicking below:

Contact

Coronavirus & Market Uncertainty – Federal Government $20 billion economic aid package

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On March 13th, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, outlined Canada’s response to COVID-19 including new investments to help protect Canadians and businesses. The total value of the aid package could be up to $20 billion across the country which includes $10 billion available through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help small and medium-sized businesses.

The BDC provides financing for:

  • Small Business Loans – up to $100,000 can be obtained online – here

  • Get extra funds to bridge cash flow gaps and support daily operations with Working Capital Loans

  • Increase your cash flow to fulfill domestic or international orders with Purchase Order Financing

See More on BDC support for entrepreneurs

To further support businesses and households, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, cut the overnight rate to 0.75%.

For those with mortgages, the president of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Evan Siddall, announced that they are working with lenders to allow deferral of mortgage payments for up to 6 months

More details on mortgage deferral will be made available later this week.

For people quarantined due to COVID-19, the government eliminated the waiting period for EI Benefits; you can get up to $573 a week for an entire 14-day quarantine.

EI Benefits Details

If you need further, please contact me by clicking below:

Contact

Coronavirus & Market Uncertainty- What you should do.

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Over the last week, the financial market has taken a downturn amidst fears over Coronavirus. The S&P 500 had its worst weekly drop since the financial crisis in 2008, after setting all-time highs the prior week.*

Understandably, investors are anxious about their money. If you are concerned with your portfolio, you’re not the only one, however during times of market volatility, it’s important to stay levelheaded to avoid making financial missteps.

Keep Calm

In situations like these, it’s important to keep perspective. This is not the first time the market has taken a downturn, market corrections are a natural part of the investment cycle and over long term, individuals that remain invested can use the volatility as an opportunity to buy will be rewarded.

The media can make it seem like each market downturn is worse than before. In reality though, volatility doesn’t hurt investors but if selling in a downturn, it will lock in losses.

Keep Up-to-Date

Currently, there isn’t enough information to know how the Coronavirus will affect the market, over the short, medium and long term however it’s important to know that the financial market doesn’t like uncertainty. Therefore, as further developments come to light, there will likely be a correction to the market.

How have markets reacted to virus outbreaks in the past?

The table and chart below, show how the S&P 500 has performed during similar virus outbreaks in the past. While the impact can be negative, the long-term impact has been limited. In all past scenarios markets were higher 12 months after the virus was identified.**

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P., CitiResearch, FactSet. As at February 27, 2020. The starting date for the 12-month return is
the month each virus was identified.

Keep in mind your portfolio is diversified

We know market downturns can be stressful and being bombarded by media reports doesn’t help but keep in mind your portfolio is diversified It’s important to remember that your portfolio is tailored to your unique investment time horizon, personal situation and financial goals. If you do have questions about your portfolio, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Review your investments

This is a good time to review all your investment accounts including your TFSA, RRSP or RRIF to ensure you are diversified. If you haven’t reviewed the accounts that we don’t manage, please reach out to our office and we can provide you with recommendations that align with your financial goals.

Keep in touch

We’re here for you and hope to serve you by helping you make objective and educated financial decisions. These decisions will help you stay the course so you can achieve your financial goals.

If you have friends or family that need help with their investments, we are happy to offer a complimentary review. We will discuss what their financial goals are and what makes the most sense for their situation. Often by working with a financial advisor, it can help them feel more confident about their finances.

At any time, should you wish to discuss or review your investments, please contact us. We’re here to support you.

Contact

Salary vs Dividend

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As a business owner, you have the ability to pay yourself a salary or dividend or a combination of both. In this article and infographic, we will examine the difference between salary and dividends and review the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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5 Reasons for an RRSP – 2020

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There are some great reasons to open a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to save for your retirement. Here are the top 5 reasons to open an RRSP:

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