Latest Government COVID-19 Financial Aid Updates

By May 22, 2020Coronavirus, News

Emergency Community Support Fund Update

The Government of Canada’s $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund is now open. The Emergency Community Support Fund supports community organizations helping vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis. Community organizations may seek funds to undertake a wide range of activities and to serve a wide range of vulnerable groups.  More information can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/emergency-community-support-fund.html 

Community organizations may apply for funds through either the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada or the United Way Centraide network. The right place to apply depends on the community organization’s type:

Community organizations of both types can apply to the Canadian Red Cross for training and equipment to help their staff and volunteers prevent disease transmission.

You can find more information on the Emergency Community Support Fund’s website https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/emergency-community-support-fund.html. If you would like to learn still more, you can register to join one of three webinars. We will hold the webinars at:

Thank you for your commitment to vulnerable people during this time.

Emergency Community Support Fund

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced the new Emergency Community Support Fund https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/21/prime-minister-announces-further-support-help-canadians-need to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need. This message aims at encouraging you to check the websites of the United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and Community Foundations of Canada to learn more about how and when to apply.

Emergency Community Support Fund

Federal Supports Announced For Students

Today, the federal government announced a $9 billion support package for students. The new Canada Emergency Student Benefit will provide students earning less than $1,000 a month who are in school now, starting school in September or graduated after 2019 with $1250 a month from May to August. Students who have a disability or a dependant will receive $1750. These payments will be retroactive to May 1, 2020.

The package will also create 7,600 new student jobs/grants for young people in sectors that need our help because of the pandemic. This is in addition to the Student Works Program. Other supports announced as part of the package include $75 million for Indigenous students, a $291 million grant extension for grad students and the Canada Student Service Grant program which will provide $1,000 to $5,000 to students who volunteer.

Government of Canada Emergency Business Account

The Government of Canada has updated the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account. It will deliver much needed financial relief by providing eligible businesses with access to a $40,000 loan.

Government of Canada Emergency Business Account

HAAC would like to thank Rustum Southwell for providing the important information below.

Provincial State of Emergency Extended

Government has extended the State of Emergency for another two weeks. The new order will take effect at noon, Sunday, April 5, when the current one was set to expire, and will extend to noon, April 19.

More Government Support for Workers and Businesses

Today, April 2, 2020, government announced two new programs valued at an estimated $40 million to further support small businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID 19 Worker Emergency Bridge – for workers ($20 million)

Nova Scotians have a long and proud history of helping each other in tough times. For some workers, Covid-19 has meant job losses and lay-offs and trouble paying bills and meeting basic needs like food and shelter. While we already have programs in place to help many people in need, we want to
prevent others from falling through the cracks. 

The Worker Emergency Bridge will help people who are no longer working and need help as soon as possible. Nova Scotians laid off or out of work on or after March 16, 2020 due to Covid-19, and ineligible for Employment Insurance, are eligible for a one-time, $1,000 payment to help them meet their basic needs.

Eligibility for the program is not affected by a person or business being enrolled in another provincial program or the federal initiatives. For example, this can be combined with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). 

Application portal will be available later next week.

Those eligible for Employment Insurance are not eligible for this program.

Small Business COVID 19 Impact Grant – for employers ($20 million)

Small businesses are highly valued in Nova Scotia. Their recovery from interruptions caused by Covid-19 is important for our economy and our communities. Small businesses ordered to close or with operations substantially curtailed by the Public Health orders can access support through the new Small Business Sustainability Grant.

This flexible, onetime, upfront grant can be used by the business owner as they determine, for their business to weather this unprecedented period.

Eligible small business can receive a grant of up to 15 per cent of their revenue from sales for either February 2020 or April 2019, at the option of the business owner, to a maximum of $5,000 per enterprise.

The Covid 19 Small Business Impact Grant can be combined with all other federal and provincial support for small business.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-extends-state-of-emergency-covid-19-1.5519078