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Below you will find a summary of financial supports that are available to support people and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Subscribe to have them automatically delivered to your inbox.
Businesses – Families – Industries & Sectors – Housing – Income Assistance – Income (Workers) – Mental Health – Misc Personal Supports – Seniors – Students – Other
COVID-19 support for individuals and families
British Columbians can access COVID-19 income supports and direct funding from the provincial and federal governments.
(Last Update: February 11, 2022)
Provincial supports
All workers can take up to 3 hours of paid leave to be vaccinated agaist COVID-19.
- This is for workers receiving any dose of the vaccine as well as those taking a dependent family member to receive a vaccine
Eligibility
Part-time and full-time workers in B.C.
The following arrangements for youth have been extended until March 31, 2022:
- Youth living in foster care and related living arrangements can stay past their 19th birthday
- Youth in the Independent Living and Youth Agreement programs will continue to receive financial support past their 19th birthday
- More flexible criteria for the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) programs that offer access to mental health supports and life skills for young adults up to 27
- The hourly requirement for mental health and rehabilitation programs under AYA has been reduced to five hours per week
Eligibility
Youth in care or foster care and young adults who have “aged out” of care.
Independent living and youth agreements will be extended, and participants in the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program can continue to receive funding.
Learn more about COVID-19-related supports for youth in care or in the AYA program
ICBC clients currently on a monthly Autoplan can defer their payments for up to 90 days with no penalty.
Eligibility
Residential and commercial customers currently on a monthly Autoplan payment
Businesses with commercial and fleet vehicles
Apply for ICBC payment deferral online
Learn more about COVID-19 and ICBC services
Federal supports
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) provides income support at a rate of $300 per week to people who were unable to work due to recent public health lockdowns.
Eligibility
Workers who:
- Had their employment interrupted as a result of public health lockdowns since October 24, 2021
- Have earned at least $5,000 (before deductions) in 2019, 2020 or in the 12 months prior to applying
- Have not received, for the same period, more than one recovery benefit, Employment Insurance benefit or workers’ compensation benefit
This benefit is available until May 7, 2022.
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) provides $500 per week for up to 6 weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
Eligibility
Workers who:
- Have earned at least $5,000 (before deductions) in 2019, 2020 or in the 12 months prior to applying
- Have not received, for the same period, more than one recovery benefit, Employment Insurance benefit or workers’ compensation benefit
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) provides $500 per week for up to 44 weeks for people unable to work because they must care for a child under 12 years old or other family member requiring supervised care.
Eligibility
Workers who:
- Have earned at least $5,000 (before deductions) in 2019, 2020 or in the 12 months prior to applying
- Have not received, for the same period, more than one recovery benefit, Employment Insurance benefit or workers’ compensation benefit
Homeowners can contact their bank to apply for six months of mortgage payment deferral.
Eligibility
People with mortgages
Economic supports for businesses, non-profits and community groups
Access economic recovery and financial benefits for your business, industry, non-profit organization or community group from the provincial and federal governments.
Last updated: January 28, 2022
Find support:
Get help from Small Business BC
The B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service provides information and support to business owners to help navigate challenges from COVID-19.
Advisors are ready to help, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Loans and grants
Loans, grants and flexible financing solutions are available to businesses affected by COVID-19.
Provincial
The COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant will provide fully funded grants to businesses that had to close due to the December 22, 2021 Provincial Health Officer (PHO) order.
Eligibility
To be eligible, businesses must meet the following requirements:
- The business has been in operation and registered in B.C. as of February 1, 2021
- The business had to fully close to comply with the December 22, 2021 PHO order
The Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund provides one-time grants to help offset certain fixed costs for:
- Large accommodation providers
- Commercial recreation businesses operating on Crown land or in BC Parks
Eligibility
Funding will be awarded in 3 streams. You should review the eligibility requirements and application guidance for your preferred stream.
All eligible businesses must:
- Be majority-owned by one or more B.C. residents
- Not owe any tax payments from before the 2020 tax year
- Not have permanently ceased operations
Federal
Supports organizations in future-proofing their business, building resiliency and preparing for growth.
Eligible businesses with fewer than 500 full time employees may qualify for interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible not-for-profit organizations may qualify for non-repayable contributions for up to 90% of eligible costs. Indigenous-led organizations and businesses may qualify for up to 100% of eligible project costs.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted until funding is fully allocated
This fund supports tourism businesses and organizations in adapting their operations to meet public health requirements and invests in products and services to facilitate future growth.
Businesses may qualify for financial assistance, including:
- Non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000, for up to 50% of eligible costs
- Repayable contributions of up to $500,000, for up to 75% of eligible costs
Non-profit organizations and Indigenous entities will be eligible for non-repayable contributions.
Eligibility
Businesses, non-profit organizations and Indigenous organizations in the tourism sector
Learn more about the Tourism Relief Fund
This initiative supports major Canadian festivals and events to adapt and enhance their activities to ensure continued successful operations.
Major, recurring festivals and events with annual revenues exceeding $10 million may qualify for financial assistance, including:
- Generally non-repayable contributions to not-for-profit organizations
- Generally repayable contributions to for-profit organizations
Eligibility
Learn more about the support initiative here
The HASCAP supports the hardest hit businesses, including those in sectors like tourism and hospitality, hotels, arts and entertainment.
- Offers 100% government-guaranteed loans ranging from $25,000 to $1 million
- Loans are low-interest and include terms of up to ten years
- There is up to a 12-month postponement on principal repayments at the start of the loan
HASCAP is available at participating financial institutions until March 31, 2022.
Eligibility
Qualifying businesses
Provides short-term liquidity help through interest-bearing term loans to large Canadian employers who have been affected by COVID-19. LEEFF continues to provide bridge financing to employers to help these enterprises to preserve their employment, operations and investment activities.
Eligibility
Large Canadian employers that
- Have a significant impact on Canada’s economy, as demonstrated by having significant operations in Canada or supporting a significant workforce in Canada
- Can generally demonstrate approximately $300 million or more in annual revenues
- Require a minimum loan size of about $60 million
Review eligibility requirements and apply
Wage and rent support
Federal programs are available to help employers avoid layoffs, rehire employees and temporarily reduce rent.
A wage subsidy is available to employers who have experienced a decline in revenue of at least 10% due to COVID-19.
The CRHP has been extended to May 7, 2022.
Eligibility
Businesses and non-profits
Wage and rent support are available to businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector that meet all of the following criteria:
- They have experienced a decline in monthly revenue of at least 40% over the past 12 months
- They have a current-month revenue loss of at least 40%
- They have been affected by a qualifying public health restriction
Eligible businesses and organizations will receive a subsidy of up to 75% of lost revenue.
The program will be in place until March 12, 2022.
Eligibility
Businesses and organizations in the tourism sector, including:
- Hotels, bars and restaurants
- Travel agencies and tour operators
- Convention centres
- Convention and trade show organizers
Wage and rent support are available to businesses and organizations that:
- Do not qualify for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
- Have experienced a decline in monthly revenue of at least 50% over the past 12 months
Eligible businesses and organizations will receive a subsidy of up to 50% of lost revenue.
The program will be in place until March 12, 2022.
Eligibility
Business and non-profits
Financial assistance is available to businesses and organizations that suffer a decline in revenue of at least 25% and a capacity reduction of 50% or more due to local public health restrictions.
Eligible businesses will receive subsidy support up to the maximum rates under the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, regardless of sector.
The program will be in place until March 12, 2022 with current eligibility requirements in place until February 12, 2022.
Eligibility
Business and non-profits
Supports for business sectors and community groups
Federal
Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund
The Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund supports the industry in accessing new consumer markets and helps people working in the fish and seafood sector by creating jobs and developing more opportunities for products.
Eligibility
In general, not-for-profit industry organizations operating on a national or sector-wide basis
Loan deferrals and financing through Farm Credit Canada
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is offering loan payment deferrals and other financing products to the agriculture and food industry.
Support includes:
- A deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans
or
- A deferral of principal payments up to 12 months
Eligibility
Producers, agribusinesses and food processors
Review eligibility requirements
Contact your local office or call 1-888-332-3301
Essential service organizations can apply for temporary, urgent access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies, including KN95 respirators, surgical masks, non-medical cloth and disposable masks, gowns, face shields, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and gloves.
Eligibility
Organizations identified as essential service providers as defined by Public Safety Canada
Visit the Public Services Procurement website for more information or to apply
Federal
Tourism Relief Fund
Supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations while investing in services to facilitate their future growth.
Non-repayable contributions up to $100,000 and fully repayable contributions up to $500,000 are available.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors, such as businesses, not-for-profit organizations, band councils or other Indigenous organizations and cooperatives
Provincial
British Columbia Tourism Resiliency Network
One-on-one support for tourism businesses to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards eventual recovery. The BC Tourism Resiliency Network is led by the Regional Tourism Secretariat.
Register for the program to access one-on-one meetings with program advisors, webinars and other resources.
Food delivery fee cap
The food delivery fee cap limits fees that delivery companies can charge food establishments, helping restaurants continue to operate and build their recovery. The cap limits fees charged to restaurants at 15%, with a 5% cap for other fees associated with the use of these services.
The temporary cap was extended though the COVID-19 Related Measures Act and will now expire on December 31, 2022.
Federal
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support
The program provides a subsidy directly to eligible charities and non-profit organizations that have suffered a decrease in revenue to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses.
Organizations eligible for the base subsidy may also be eligible for lockdown support if their location is significantly affected by a public health order for a week or more.
Eligibility
Provincial
BC Employer Training Grant Impacted Worker Training Stream
Offers employers 100% of eligible training costs, up to a maximum of $10,000 per participant per fiscal year, to support British Columbians that are employed or have been employed in a sector where job opportunities have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides income support at a rate of $300 per week to people who were unable to work due to recent public health lockdowns. This benefit is available until May 7, 2022.
Eligibility
Workers whose employment was interrupted as a result of public health lockdowns since October 24, 2021
Taxes
Some provincial taxes have been deferred, delayed or reduced.
- PST rebate on select machinery and equipment is a temporary provincial sales tax (PST) program to help corporations recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19
Questions? For federal items, contact your local MP. Otherwise, contact your local MLA.
Businesses – Families – Industries & Sectors – Housing – Income Assistance – Income (Workforce) – Mental Health – Misc Personal Supports – Seniors – Students – Other
