To help our members sort through the information available regarding assistance for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Energy NL will post relevant information on this webpage.
We have heard from many of you and we recognize this is a challenging time for our members. Energy NL will continue to offer support, and if you have suggestions about information that should be included on our COVID-19 page or resources that could help your organization, please forward them to [email protected]
If there are specific issues that are challenging your operation during this time that you would like Energy NL to look into, please send them to [email protected].
During this ever-evolving situation, the information below represents a snapshot in time and will be updated regularly and to the best of our ability. This site is not intended to replace relationships that members have established with government agencies or banking institutions and we recommend you remain in contact with your connections there. We intend for the site to provide information and important links to various programs available and suggest you follow up with the relevant entity to learn more.
View Energy NL member companies which may be able to assist you during this difficult time.
Government of Canada
General COVID-19 information
Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website for the latest information on COVID-19, including updates, prevention and risk, symptoms and treatment, being prepared, travel advice and Canada’s response. A self-assessment tool is also available here.
Economic Response Plan
Visit Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan web page to access full details on the following:
Support for Canadian Businesses, including:
Avoiding layoffs and rehiring employees
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy
Extending Work-Sharing program
Access to credit
Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
Rural Businesses and Communities
Innovative and Early Stage Business
Young Entrepreneurs
Other small and medium sized businesses
Supporting financial stability
Launch an Insured Mortgage Purchase Program
Bank of Canada actions
Lowering the Domestic Stability Buffer
More flexibility
More time to pay their income taxes
Deferral of sales tax remittances and customs duty payments
Waiving Tariffs on Certain Medical Goods
Support for the air transportation sector
Waiving ground lease rents
Canada Summer Jobs program
Changes to Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians
Support for Individuals, including:
General Support for individuals and families
Extra time to file income taxes
Mortgage support
Support for people facing loss of income:
New Canada Emergency Response Benefit
Apply for Employment Insurance
New support to protect Canadian jobs (April 17, 2020 announcement)
Support for Canadians working in Canada’s energy sector
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
This fund could provide your business with working capital to avoid employee layoffs and/or bankruptcy due to COVID19.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Beginning Monday, April 27, employers will be able to apply to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. The Government of Canada has launched a new calculator on the Canada Revenue Agency website so businesses can determine the amount they can expect to claim.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Telephone 1-800-561-7862 or visit the ACOA COVID-19 webpage, where you will find additional information relating to the following:
- The Government of Canada has announced that all regional development agencies (RDAs), including ACOA, will apply a deferral of three months on all payments due to the government, as of April 1, 2020.
- If you are a tourism operator or a small- or medium-sized business or organization and have received RDA funding and COVID-19 is affecting your operations, you are encouraged to contact your local RDA office. Your local RDA office can review your situation and provide guidance.
- You may be eligible to receive additional funding and/or flexible arrangements.
- Further support will be determined on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.
- If you are a tourism operator or a small- or medium-sized business or organization impacted by the sudden shifts in the economy and need pressing assistance, the RDAs could assist you with:
- Access to federal funding to help you stay in business.
- Advice and pathfinding services to other federal programs and services available.
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Free Webinar — COVID-19: Get financing and support for your business
If you’re a Canadian company whose business has been disrupted or decreased by the COVID-19 pandemic, EDC’s free webinar will provide guidelines on how you can access the financial relief and safeguards available to you right now.
Brought to you in partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), this webinar is airing live on Thursday, Apr. 16, 2020 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET. Register to attend or to receive a link to the on-demand version. You’ll learn:
• The assistance programs and resources available to your company through your financial institution, the federal government, and EDC
• How to determine what assistance you qualify for, how to apply, and the timing you can expect
• How EDC is helping our customers with capital, insurance and knowledge in our newly-expanded role
• Where to get information and who to contact
Get more information or register
Other Government of Canada links:
Further information to help you may be found here:
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
- Employment Insurance and Sickness Benefits
- Economic Development Canada
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
For general inquiries related to provincial government services, call 1-833-771-0696 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday or email [email protected] at any time.
COVID-19 Information
View the provincial government’s COVID-19 information page, which includes the COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool
WorkplaceNL
Workplace NL has announced it will defer assessment payment from employers until June 30, 2020. Learn more.
Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
New provincial actions for eligible business clients were announced May 6.
Current deferral of loan payments, under the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation’s Business Investment Fund, has been increased to six months. This measure sees an additional three months added to the original three-month deferral action announced on March 18, which started with April payments.
The hiring eligibility for commercial Research and Development (R&D) projects will be temporarily increased. Specifically, salary support for up to six positions may be considered for eligible commercial R&D projects. The positions may include existing employees, new or a combination of both. This temporary policy pertains to applications approved between April 1 and September 30, 2020.
Contribution levels have been temporarily increased for eligible project applications under R&D commercial and Business Development Support. Eligible costs will now be covered up to 75 per cent, up from 50 per cent, for applications approved between April 1 and September 30, 2020.
Information for clients of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation can be found here.
Measures to Ease Pressures on Local Businesses
To assist the business community in Newfoundland and Labrador during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the provincial government announced on May 22, 2020 the deferral or waiver of a number of fees, as well as steps to reduce regulatory burden. These initiatives are in addition to a broad suite of initiatives previously actioned by the Provincial Government to assist the provincial business community. Effective immediately, the following measures are in place:
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- Collection of WorkplaceNL assessments from employers has been deferred to after August 31, 2020, with no interest or penalties;
- Clearance letters will continue to be provided during the payment deferral period to allow contractors that meet certain reporting criteria to continue to bid on work and operate;
- The interest-free payment plan for workplace injury insurance is extended beyond 2020 to March 31, 2021 to allow employers more flexibility to pay;
- Safety training certificates are extended to August 31, 2020 for confined space entry, fall protection, mine rescue, power line hazards, traffic control person, first aid and Occupational Health and Safety Committee members;
- Elimination or offer of rebates on aquaculture licence fees, and deferral of annual Crown Lands fees for aquaculture sites;
- Full rebate of base fish processor and buyer licensing fees to assist fish processing plants and fish buyers;
- Licences will not be cancelled for non-application for renewals until the public health restrictions have been lifted for real estate salespersons and agents; mortgage brokers; insurance companies; insurance adjusters, agents, representatives and brokers; and prepaid funeral services;
- New licence applications will be processed for real estate salespersons and agents; mortgage brokers; insurance companies; and insurance adjusters, representatives, agents and brokers;
- Businesses are eligible to have a portion of vehicle registration fees for vehicles registered to the business refunded, if they are not in use;
- Commercial vehicles of 4,500 kilograms or greater are not required to have their safety inspection completed while they are not operational;
- Deferral of the requirement for businesses to file yearly returns under Companies and Deeds Online (CADO) and remittance of the accompanying filing fee; and
- Payment of water use charges for 2019 related to microbreweries and wineries and aquaculture due in the 2020-21 fiscal year have been waived. Payment of water use charges for all other industries will be deferred until March 31, 2021.
Additionally, a red tape reduction portal will be launched in June where businesses can suggest opportunities to ease regulatory pressures.
Municipal Government
City of St. John’s
The City of St. John’s has created a web page for all City of St. John’s news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes information on the City no longer charging interest on commercial and residential property taxes or water meter tax up to and including August 31, 2020.
City of Mount Pearl
The City of Mount Pearl has created a web page for all city news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes information on the waiving of all interest on business tax, commercial property tax, residential tax, and water bills until September 30, 2020.
Town of Paradise
The Town of Paradise has created a web page for all town news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes information about the deferral of all tax payments until the end of June and no interest charged until June 30. This applies to residential, commercial, and business taxes.
Town of Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s
The Town Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s has created a web page for all town news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes information about the extended tax deadline, including the deadline to receive a discount on property taxes. In addition, effective immediately, all tax payments are deferred until September 30, 2020. There will be no interest charged during this time. This applies to residential property taxes, commercial property taxes, and general business taxes.
Town of Conception Bay South
The Town of Conception Bay South has created a web page for all town news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The town is now offering tax relief for residents and businesses through deferred tax payments. Upon request, any resident or business who has signed up for the town’s Equal Payment Plan is eligible to have their payments deferred until July 2020, without penalty.
Town of Torbay
The Town of Torbay has created a web page for all town news and announcements related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The town is deferring all tax payments, including residential, commercial and business taxes, until the end of June and there will be no interest charged until June 30. Residents who already have pre-authorized debit plans or post-dated cheques in place can take advantage of this tax payment deferral by completing the Tax Payment Deferral Form.
City of Corner Brook
The City of Corner Brook recognizes the significant impacts the COVID-19 outbreak is having on residents and businesses and has put targeted tax relief measures in place to help during this difficult time. These include residential and commercial property tax interest relief, business tax interest relief and two-month business tax holiday for businesses most significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Financial Institutions
Six banks have announced they will defer mortgage payments up to 6 months and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.
Bank of Montreal: 1-877-788-1923
Bank of Nova Scotia: 1-800-4SCOTIA
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: 1-800-465-2422
National Bank of Canada: 1-888-835-6281
Royal Bank of Canada: 1-800-769-2511
TD Bank: 1-866-222-3456
Business Development Bank of Canada
BDC is taking additional measures to provide relief to Canadian entrepreneurs during these difficult times. BDC has also provided a compilation of federal and provincial government support measures, which can be viewed here.
BDC Webinar: How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 poses important challenges to Canadian businesses. View this webinar to hear from BDC experts as they share short-term economic perspectives and to get advice on how to manage through the crisis
Health
HealthLine 811: Call 811 if you develop symptoms. A self-assessment tool is available on this website.
Public Health Agency of Canada
Canadian Red Cross: For anyone having issues or concerns regarding self-isolation, please call the Canadian Red Cross COVID-19 help line at 1-800-863-6582, which is available 8:00am to 8:00pm daily.
