Dear Dames,
These are unprecedented times in the wine, food and hospitality industries, and the world as a whole. I want you to know that during this difficult and stressful time that I am thinking of you and our chapter’s commitment to the mental and physical health of our members and families.
 
As much as we all love Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario and support its mission, we have to put our events on hold at this time. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be monitoring the state of affairs and deciding how to proceed.
 
Doris and I are currently working on a “In The Wine Cellar” bi-monthly call. It will be our virtual “Happy Hour” This will give us all an opportunity to stay related, share ideas and good things in our lives. Details will follow shortly.
Les Dames d’Escoffier was initially established as a way for women to support other women. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or there is anything that either I or we as an organization can do to help you or your business.

With warm regards,
Liz Palmer
Dame Liz Palmer
President
Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario


Resources
This is a very tough time for member businesses and employees. Our board members will be here to continue to identify information and resources.This list is just a starting point and will be update regularly. If you know of an initiative that should be included, please reach out to me at liz@liz-palmer.com

https://www.restaurantscanada.org
Restaurants Canada website has lots of great resources, including lobbying efforts for the Industry. They are closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19 to ensure that our industry has all necessary information associated with this evolving public health situation.
 
https://www.agco.ca
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has released an information bulletin March 26th that effective immediately, licensed restaurants and bars in Ontario can sell alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. Key requirements are noted on their website.
 
City of Toronto, Province of Ontario and Canadian Government Programs
 
Note: Many of these programs are awaiting approvals at different levels of government. We will be updating our website accordingly.

Small Business Tax Deferral: The CRA will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after March 19, 2020 and before September 2020.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html#Support_for_Businesses
Status: Available
Provided by: Federal Government via Canada Revenue Agency
Beneficial to: Businesses

Grace Period for Municipal Property Taxes: The City of Toronto will provide a grace period for property tax payments and payment penalties for businesses for 60 days, starting March 16, 2020:
  • For businesses on the three-instalment payment plan: the April 1 tax due date is extended to June 1, 2020;
  • For property owners on the 11-instalment pre-authorized payment plan, the 2020 due dates will be extended by 60 days;
  • Late payment penalties are waived for 60 days (as of March 16, 2020).
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/economic-support-recovery/economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/ 
Status: Available
Provided by: Municipal Government
Beneficial to: Businesses, Property Owners

Grace Period for Municipal Utility Bills: (Water/Sewer Service and Solid Waste Management charges where applicable): The City is extending the due date for all utility bills issued to businesses by an additional 60 days in addition to the current 21 days to give utility customers an additional 60 days to make payment to take advantage of the early payment discount.
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/economic-support-recovery/economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/
Status: Available
Provided by: Municipal Government
Beneficial to: Businesses, Property Owners

24-hour Retail Delivery Noise Exemption: All retail businesses are noise exempt from the City’s Noise Bylaw to facilitate after-hour deliveries. Retailers can receive deliveries 24 / 7 to ensure goods remain in stock.
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/economic-support-recovery/economic-support-recovery-for-businesses/
Status: Available
Provided by: Provincial, Municipal Government
Beneficial to: Businesses

Employer obligations for workers infected with COVID-19: Currently under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, if an employer is advised that a worker is ill resulting from an exposure at work (including COVID-19), or a claim has been filed with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) with respect to COVID-19 exposure at work, the employer must notify the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in writing within four days. The employer must also notify the workplace joint health and safety committee or a health and safety representative and trade union, if any.
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/employment-standards-amendment-act-infectious-disease-emergencies-2020.html
Status: Available
Provided by: Provincial, Municipal Government
Beneficial to: Businesses

The Employment Standards Amendment Act 2020: Provides job-protected leave for employees who are in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, or those who need to be away from work to care for children because of school or daycare closures or to care for other relatives. Retroactive to January 25, 2020, and employees cannot be required to show sick notes.
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/employment-standards-amendment-act-infectious-disease-emergencies-2020.html
Status: Available Retroactive to January 25, 2020
Provided by: Provincial Government
Beneficial to: Workers

Temporary Business Wage Subsidy: A subsidy equal to 10% of employee remuneration paid for a period of 3 months up to a maximum subsidy of $1375 per employee and $25,000 per employer between March 18, 2020 and June 20, 2020. The subsidy is provided to businesses through employers reducing their payroll remittances of federal and provincial income tax by 10% of qualified employees’ salaries, not including CPP or EI. The Temporary Business Wage Subsidy can be utilized by corporations that are also eligible to receive the small business deduction when filing their corporate taxes, as well as non-profit organizations and charities.
Note 1: Businesses that qualify for the small business deduction are Canadian-controlled private corporations with taxable capital employed in Canada of less than $15 million.
Note 2: Businesses must manually calculate the subsidy based on the CRA guidelines – companies must keep records of all information used to determine the subsidy, including total remuneration and taxes that were deducted during that time, and the number of employees who were paid.
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html#h1
Status: Available immediately, supporting legislation to follow.
Provided by: Federal Government via Canada Revenue Agency
Beneficial to: Businesses

Employment Insurance Work Sharing Program: A program that helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer (such as COVID-19) provides a 10% percent wage subsidy for the next 90 days, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing/guide-applicant.html#hb3
Status: Available
Provided by: Federal Government via Employment Insurance
Beneficial to: Businesses, Workers

Banking Solutions: The Bank of Canada has cut the interest rate to 0.75%, and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions announced the release of an additional $300 billion in lending capacity by the major banks with the expectation that they will support Canadian businesses and households.
In turn, the big six Canadian banks: Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank have made a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/maintaingrowimprovebusiness/resources-for-canadian-businesses.html
Status: Available, Case by Case
Provided by: Federal Government via the Bank of Canada, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Major Canadian Banks.
Beneficial to: Businesses, Property Owners, Workers

Business Development Bank Financing: Small business loans up to $100,000 that can be obtained in as little as 48 hours, working capital loans, and purchase order financing loans.
https://www.bdc.ca/en/about/mediaroom/public_statements/pages/useful-advice-help-entrepreneurs-plan-respond-impacts-coronavirus.aspx
Status: Available, Existing Program
Provided by: Federal Government via Business Development Bank of Canada
Beneficial to: Businesses

Business Credit Availability Program: Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses.
https://www.bdc.ca/en/about/mediaroom/public_statements/pages/useful-advice-help-entrepreneurs-plan-respond-impacts-coronavirus.aspx
Status: Coming Soon
Provided by: Federal Government via Business Development Bank of Canada
Beneficial to: Businesses

Employment Insurance (EI) – Regular Benefits: Employees who lose their job through no fault of their own, and have been without work and pay for at least seven consecutive days, and have worked for the required number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks since their last claim.
Note: individuals should apply for EI as soon as soon as they lose their job, even if their Record of Employment (ROE) is not yet available.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html
Status: Available immediately, Existing Program
Provided by: Federal Government via Employment Insurance
Beneficial to: Workers

EI Sickness Benefit: People who qualify for employment insurance and cannot work for medical reasons, including COVID-19, or whose regular weekly earnings have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week, and has accumulated 700 hours of work over the preceding 52 weeks since their last claim, can claim this benefit without the need of a medical certificate or record of employment under the new rules. The week waiting period has also been waved.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html
Status: Available, Existing / Updated
Provided by: Federal Government via Employment Insurance
Beneficial to: Workers

Emergency Care Benefit: For workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for the EI sickness benefits, provides income support up to $900 bi-weekly for up to 15 weeks. It also applies for non-EI-qualified workers who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, or parents of children who require supervision due to school closures. The government hopes to have applications open by early April and people will apply with their Canada Revenue Agency account, and on-line. There will also be a toll-free number when applications open. The emergency support benefit is specifically for those who do not qualify for employment insurance.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html
Status: Early April
Provided by: Federal Government via Employment Insurance
Beneficial to: Workers

Enhanced Canada Child Benefit: An increase to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the 2019-20 benefit year, by $300 per child.
NOTE: persons who expect to receive the Enhanced Canada Child Benefit are encouraged not to delay the filing of their taxes due to the personal tax fileing deferral in order to ensure that their entitlements are properly determined for 2020-21.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html
Status: Early May
Provided by: Federal Government via the Canada Revenue Agency
Beneficial to: Workers
Enhanced GST Credit for low & modest income families: A one-time special payment to families with low to modest incomes in early May through the Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC) providing families with close to $400 for single individuals, and close to $600 for couples.
NOTE: persons who expect to receive the Enhanced GST Credit are encouraged not to delay the filing of their taxes due to the personal tax fileing deferral in order to ensure that their entitlements are properly determined for 2020-21.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html
Status: Available
Provided by: Federal Government via the Canada Revenue Agency
Beneficial to: Workers

Digital Main Street one-on-one support for getting businesses online: Digital Main Street is a program provided by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of BIA’s to help businesses develop their online footprint. They have made their staff person Bashar Sqar available to support Waterfront BIA Businesses increase their online business presence through free one-on-one online consultations.
WBIA members can book their free consultations with Bashar Sqar through the below link, or by email: bashar@digitalmainstreet.ca
https://calendly.com/bashar-dms
Status: Available
Provided by: Municipal Government via the Toronto Association of BIA’s
Beneficial to: Businesses

Ontario Providing Electricity Relief to Small Businesses: The provincial government has suspended time-of-use hydro rates for a period of 45-days, holding electricity prices to the off-peak rate of 10.1 cents-per-kilowatt-hour. This discount will be applied automatically for all customers.
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/ontario-providing-electricity-relief-to-families-small-businesses-and-farms-during-covid-19.html
Status: Available
Provided by: Provincial Government via the Ontario Engergy Board
Beneficial to: Businesses, Workers, Property Owners
​
Additional Resources & Guides  
 
Liz Palmer