JANUARY 12, 2022

COVID-19 GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS

PROVINCIAL

For a full overview of programs provided by the Ontario provincial government, click here.

To contact the government with questions about the supports, call 1-866-668-8297 (1-866-ONT-
TAXS).

Call centres are open Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

•   Tel: 416-325-6691

•   Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090

•   TTY: 416-325-3408

•   Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095

Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant

•   Small businesses that are subject to closure under the modified Step Two of Roadmap to
      Reopen may be eligible to receive a one-time grant of $10,000.

•   Eligibility:

o   Businesses that were required to close due to the public health orders implemented
      on January 5, 2022; and

o   Have fewer than 100 employees.

•   If an organization previously qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, they
      will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and do not need to apply for this modified program.

•   The following small businesses may be eligible:

o   Restaurants and bars

o   Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres
      and gyms)

o   Performing arts venues and cinemas, museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science
      centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens, and similar attractions

o   Meeting or event spaces

o   Tour and guide services

o   Conference centres and convention centres

•   Timeline: Applications will open on Jan 18, 2022 
Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program

•   Organizations impacted by lockdown measures and closures can receive a portion of their
      property tax and energy costs in form of rebate payments during the period of being
      subjected to lockdown measures.

o   Organizations with capacity reduced to 50% will obtain 50% in rebates for their
      costs.

o   Organizations closed will obtain 100% in rebates for their costs.

•   Eligibility: A comprehensive list of eligible business types will be available in mid-January.

•   Timeline: Applications open January 18, 2022, with retroactive payments dating back to
      December 19, 2021.

Cash Flows

•   Organizations will have a six-month interest and penalty-free period for most provincially
      administered taxes.

•   Timeline: January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2022.

•   Eligibility: The option to delay tax payments applies to the following taxes:

o   Employer Health Tax

o   Beer, Wine & Spirits Taxes

o   Tobacco Tax

o   Insurance Premium Tax

o   Fuel Tax

o   International Fuel Tax Agreement

o   Gas Tax

o   Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts & Benefit Plans

o   Mining Tax

o   Race Tracks Tax

COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit Program

•   Ontario employers must provide eligible employees with up to three days of paid infectious
      disease emergency leave due to COVID-19 related reasons.

•   Direct hotline for questions: 1-888-999-2248

•   Timeline: Extended to July 31, 2022. Electricity-Rate Relief

•   As of January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set to the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents
      per kilowatt-hour for 24 hours a day.

o   This is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate.

o   The updated rate will be in effect for 21 days

•   This will be applied automatically to residential, small businesses, and farms who are paying
      regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility.

o   Applies to both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.