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Read MoreCOVID-19 INFORMATION
This is where you will find important documents and other resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it effects us all here in Oshawa. If there's anything you're looking for that's not available here please contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Business Support
Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) Business Advisory and Support Services are currently free of charge
Special support for entrepreneurs from BDC
Export Development Canada supports and capital access
Canadian Federation of Independent Business - COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery.
Details on employment insurance, the temporary foreign worker program, and other Federal employment programs: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Employment and Social Development Canada
Durham College/Employment Ontario Community Employment Services- open virtually
Travel Advisory - Government of Canada
Business Continuity Planning & Pandemic Responses - Durham.ca
Pandemic Preparedness for Business - Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit for Ontario Businesses - Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Start-up Business Tools and Resources, eg: Cash Flow, Supply Chain -MaRS
BDO Guide to Adapting to COVID-19
BDC has a guides for Business continuity plan and templates for entrepreneurs as well as 8 steps for planning your emergency and disaster plan
June 1: Business community outlines needs on road to recovery
May 29: Health Department launches online toolkit to provide information on safe reopening of services
May 7: Businesses prepare to reopen; new site helps them source PPE
May 5: Online survey seeks feedback from local businesses on recovery efforts
April 24: Durham Economic Task Force letter to ask for support for small business
April 20: News Release Durham's business community unites during COVID-19
Prime Minister announces support for farmers and agri-food businesses under Canada's response to COVID-19
Employee Support - Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
Government Support/Financial Assistance - Farm Credit Canada
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council resources - Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Business Support - Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Health Information - World Organization on Animal Health
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) - A Guide for Direct Sales to Consumers during COVID-19 and Beyond
Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Guidance for Food Premises
Agriculture and Food Jobs in Ontario
Durham Farm Fresh Press Release: Essential Food Items Available at Many Local Shops, Farms and Markets
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) - Summary of government financial assistance for Ontario farm businesses
Durham Region recognizes the importance of the agriculture sector - Statement issued on behalf of Regional Chair and CEO John Henry.
Governments Invest $2.5 Million to Grow Agri-food e-Business During COVID-19
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) - Crisis Management Tools by Farm Life
Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster launches funding program to help scale - announcement, and funding details
Ontario and Canada are looking for help from businesses to make or supply healthcare products and innovative solutions. Learn how your organization can help.
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - COVID-19 Updates Page
Regional Development Agencies COVID-19 Info sheet
Tourism Industry of Canada - Current situation review and sign up for email updates related to COVID-19 Supports
Destination Canada - COVID-19 Updates
Destination Canada: Visitor Economy Webinar
Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) - details on Force Majeure Insurance claims
Festivals and Events Ontario - Call for virtual content
Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) - Information for CSTA members during COVID-19
Department of Canadian Heritage - Information for Canadian Heritage grants & contributions recipients related to COVID-19
Central Counties Tourism (CCT) ‐ Information for the CTT (Durham, York, Headwaters) business community
Restaurants are encouraged to join the #TakeOutDay movement - https://canadatakeout.com/
Durham Tourism Monthly Stakeholder Enews: April Edition
Canadian business leaders and tech workers Slack channel: Enabling the sharing of best practices for business continuity amidst disruptions.
Start-up Business Tools and Resources, eg: Cash Flow, Supply Chain - MaRS
Planning Checklist for Retailers: Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Retail Council of Canada
Restaurants are encouraged to join the #TakeOutDay movement - https://canadatakeout.com/
Information and avocacy for those in the Health and Wellness industry (representing coaches, personal trainers, group instructors, yoga instructors, pilates instructors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists and sports and recreation centers and staff.) https://www.healthandwellnessrelief.ca/
For upcoming scheduled webinars, visit the Invest Durham calendar
The below are available to watch on-demand.
- EDC Webinar: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing the impact on global supply chains
- Free BDC Webinar: How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business
- Free BDC Webinar Collection: Marketing and digitizing your content
- Conference Board of Canada: Effective Crisis Communication: Effective Crisis Communication: Moving Crisis to Opportunity
- Conference Board of Canada: You're It: You're It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most
- Conference Board of Canada: Creating a Respectful Virtual Workplace
- Conference Board of Canada: Increasing Resilience Through Times of Change
- Destination Canada: Visitor Economy
- Events Industry Council: COVID-19: Moving online: How to transition your live event to an engaging virtual experience
- Events Industry Council: COVID-19: Discussion of critical insurance and legal considerations for event professionals
- Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade - Cash is King ‐ Creating a Cash Forecast
- Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade - Social Distance Marketing ‐ Building Awareness When Your Customers are in Crisis
- Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade - Employers Options and Obligation in Responding to COVID-19 and accompanying slide deck from Christine Ashton, a lawyer and partner with Wilson Vukelich LLP
Webinar Series:
- Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation: Webinar Series on Cybersecurity
Mental Health Resources from the Province of Ontario
You can find information about programs that may be right for you based on your mental health and addictions needs, and the type of support that you prefer. You can:
- find public mental health or addiction programs
- connect with peers for support
- access self-led telephone or online therapy for stress, anxiety and depression
- find services for children and youth
- talk to or text a professional counsellor if you are a post-secondary student
- find culturally appropriate support for Indigenous people
- get support if you are a health care worker
Webinars Available-On-Demand
- Mental Health Commission of Canada: Stress, the Brain and Mental Health Hygiene
- Conference Board of Canada: COVID-10 Job Loss
- Conference Board of Canada: Fear and COVID-19
- Conference Board of Canada: Dealing with Isolation and COVID-19
- Conference Board of Canada: COVID-19 - Self-compassion, empathy, love and fun
- Conference Board of Canada: Mental Health and COVID-19
- Conference Board of Canada: Coping in the age of social distancing
Blog Articles
- Ontario Shores: COVID-19: Supporting Mental Health of Employees is Good Business
- Ontario Shores: COVID-19: Frustration, Guilt and Working from Home in a Pandemic
- Ontario Shores: COVID-19: Tips to Prevent Burnout of Essential Workers
Workplace PPE Supplier Directory: CLICK HERE
Invest Durham Supplier Directory: CLICK HERE
Province of Ontario: Health and Safety Association Guidance Documents for Workplaces During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Government Support and Funding
Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan - Government of Canada
The Federal Response Programming includes support programs for business:
- Avoiding layoffs and rehiring employees
- Access to credit
- Deferred payments
- Support for self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Supporting financial stability
- Sector Specific Support
Up-to-date announcements: The Prime Minister's News Releases
Canada Business App - A dedicated COVID-19 tile has been added to the this app providing links to government announcements and information for businesses.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator
Take the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions (Read more about the survey here)
Regional Development Agencies COVID-19 Info sheet and details
Government introduces Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help workers and businesses
Employment Insurance, Work Sharing, and other Employee services - Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses
- Guide: How to complete a record of employment
- Guide: How to Apply for Employment Insurance and Service Information Sheet
- Guide: Worksharing guide for Employers
- Handout: COVID-19 Federal Economic Initiatives
- Guide: Federal Relief Measures Guide
- Resources for Canadian Businesses and Employees - Trade Commissioner Service
- Guide: Baker Tilly Guide to CEWS
Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
- Ontario's COVID-19 support for businesses - Tax and financial relief for businesses and other guidance during COVID-19
- Ontario's COVID-19 support for Individuals - learn what other support is available in addition to relief from federal government and employment insurance
- Ontario Providing Electricity Relief to Families, Small Businesses and Farms During COVID-19
- Service Ontario: Ontario extending validation periods for Driver, Vehicles and Carrier Products, Services and Health Cards.
Up-to-date announcements: Ontario Newsroom
Ontario Enacts Declaration of Emergency to Protect the Public
Ontario Protecting Critical Front-Line Justice Services in Response to COVID-19
Enhanced Measures to Protect Ontarians from COVID-19
Ontario Protecting Supply Chains To Support COVID-19 Emergency Response
Ontario Helping Businesses Overcome the Unique Challenges Created by COVID-19
Ontario Dedicated COVID-19 Website
Ontario Together: Help Fight Coronavirus. Offer emergency products, and innovative solutions or volunteer to support the provincial response to COVID-19.
Reopening Ontario after COVID-19
PDF Guide: A Framework for Opening our Province
View the Durham Region COVID-19 Data Tracker for number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Durham Region
See COVID-19 Response and Updates from Municipalities on local programs and financial reliefs:
- No application fees. Online application process. Repayable over 5 years.
- Use to: buy equipment, purchase extra software or hardware, apply for a patent, trademark or, other intellectual property protection.
- Eligibility: Canadian company in operation for at least 24 months.
- Apply online. Provide all required information and get approved within 5 days. Receive results or funds in 2 to 5 business days.
- Get a loan to complement your line of credit in order to boost inventory and take advantage of supplier discounts.
EDB-BDC: Purchase Order Financing
- Loans to fulfill large international orders.
- Get financing to cover up to 90% of the purchase order amount of contracts with international buyers.
- The loan is dispersed directly to you, allowing you to pay your suppliers on time and fulfil contracts as promised. You can pay the loan back as you get paid by the buyer.
To find other grants and funding programs, Innovation Canada's online search tool allows companies to search for relevant funding.
Effective immediately, 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.
This support will include up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.
More information is available at Canada's Six Biggest Banks Take Decisive Action To Help Customers Impacted by COVID-19
Province of Ontario suspends time of use rate
- Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation assistance and payment flexibility
- Elexicon Energy assistance and payment options
- Hydro One assistance and payment options
- Water Billing assistance and payment options
- Mortgage deferral information from CMHC
- Mortgage deferral information from Canadian Bankers Association
- CMHC Insured Mortgage Program
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA): CLICK HERE
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses
Opportunities to Help
Help the Government of Canada produce COVID-19 health products
Help Canada fight COVID-19 - Federal Government call for suppliers
Government of Canada - COVID-19 Challenge: Made in Canada filtration material for the manufacture of N95 respirators and surgical masks
National Research Council seeking solutions to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ontario Together: help fight Coronavirus. Offer emergency products, and innovative solutions or volunteer to support the provincial response to COVID-19.
Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) COVID-19 Collaboration Platform
COVID 19 - Urgent PPE Requirements for COVID 19 Emergency for the Region of Durham - visit the Bid and Tender opportunities with Durham Region website.
Make a donation to the Lakeridge Health Foundation
Ontario Shores Personal Protective Equipment Community Drive
Local community agencies are actively seeking volunteers and donations to provide help to vulnerable members in our communities in a safe way during this crisis. See Durham Region Community Resources for more details.
