Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Novel Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Outbreak

The Hotel Association of Canada is monitoring developments around COVID-19 closely and is working in partnership with Public Health to bring you the latest developments.

 

What has become clear over the past few weeks is that the situation is evolving daily and having a significant impact on our industry.

 

Understanding that our hotels in Canada are seeking the latest data and guidelines to support hotel operations during an outbreak like COVID 19, the Hotel Association of Canada has aggregated some of the best data available and will be updating materials regularly during this period.

R E C E N T   D E V E L O P M E N T S
Updated March 31, 2020

Hotels Declared Essential Service In Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

 

Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba announced that all businesses that are not considered “essential services” must close their businesses. Hotels in these provinces are included on the list of essential services that can continue to operate. Prince Edward Island also considers hotels as an essential service.

 

Essential Services in British ColumbiaEssential Services in Ontario
Essential Services in Quebec  |  Essential Services in Prince Edward Island
Essential Services in Manitoba  |  Essential Services in Saskatchewan 

March 26, 2020

 Relief Proposal for Tourism, Hospitality & Foodservice

 

The Hotel Association of Canada has joined forces with Restaurants Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to propose stronger relief measures to help businesses across our sectors survive the impacts of COVID-19. Our joint proposal has been submitted to Canada’s Minister of Finance and is now under review. In a press briefing on March 25, Minister Morneau recognized the needs of the hospitality industry as a sector that is need of further economic relief (watch the video clip here), further signaling that our asks are being heard and considered at the Federal level. Contact us to learn how you can help ensure our asks are heard loud and clear.

 

Contact Us

March 25, 2020

Media: COVID-19’S Effects On The Hotel Industry

 

The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) and its provincial and city hotel association partners have been driving headlines about the impact of COVID-19 on hotels, explaining to the public and governments that relief for our industry means relief for owners, small business and employees. As a result, HAC’s message was covered on every major national news network, earning 150 million impressions nationally.

 

Read the Headlines

March 20, 2020

Provinces Declare State of Emergency
to Protect the Public

Provincial governments across Canada have announced enhanced measures will help contain spread of COVID-19.

 

 British Columbia   |   Alberta   |  Saskatchewan  |   Manitoba  |  Ontario  |   Quebec    |   New Brunswick  |  Nova Scotia

March 20, 2020

 RDA Resources Available to Tourism Operators & SMEs

 

If you are a tourism operator, a small business or an organization affected by COVID-19 and need pressing assistance,
the regional development agencies (RDAs) could assist you with access to federal funding and services.

 

More Information

March 19, 2020

Canada Business App

 

Download the Canada Business App to find tailored supports to address your specific needs and questions about
COVID-19. There are direct and quick-access links to apply for the various loans available, contact information to
access support for tourism operators and SMEs through the Regional Development Agencies,
government resources, and more.

 

More Information

March 17, 2020

Hotel Industry COVID-19 Economic
Recovery Key Asks

Together with our members, we identified the top issues of concern
and developed our key asks of government.

 

More Information

March 17, 2020

Quebec Announces Measures for Individuals
and Businesses

 

To simplify the lives of individuals and businesses affected by the exceptional situation
stemming from COVID-19, the government has asked Revenu Québec to apply flexibility
measures for individuals and businesses in Québec during income tax filing season.

 

More Information

March 13, 2020

COVID-19: FAQ Download

The Hotel Association of Canada shares FAQ: Taking Care of Employees & Guests

 

Download

Resources

General Information

Information for Hotels

Business Continuity & Protocols

Travel Advice

Current Situation

Best Practices

Public Health Agency of Canada: 
World Health Organization (WHO):

Provincial Health Authorities & Resources

Provincial Hotel Association Resources

Mental Health Support

Other Resources

Government of Canada novel coronavirus information line:
Tel: 1-833-784-4397

 

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC):

 

World Health Organization (WHO)

Support Measures for Businesses

For Businesses: Deferred GST & HST payments, and duties and taxes on imports until June 2020

This payment delay will allow hotels to have more liquidity on hand to survive the financial impact of COVID-19.

 

This announcement was made on March 27, 2020. More details will follow.

For Businesses: Canada Emergency Business Account

  • Banks will offer $40,000 loans, guaranteed by the Government to qualifying businesses and loans will be interest free for the first year. This measure allows hoteliers to easily access loans directly through their banking institution instead of a third-party.
  • For qualifying businesses, the first $10,000 of this amount will be forgivable.

 

This announcement was made on March 27, 2020. More details will follow.

For Businesses: New Access to Credit

New Access to Credit through Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

  • The Government announced $12.5 billion of additional support and access to credit through EDC and BDC to help small and medium-sized enterprises with cashflow requirements.
  • Hoteliers can apply for a guaranteed loan through your banking institution to access this additional financial support.

 

This announcement was made on March 27, 2020. More details will follow.

For Businesses: Deferral of Corporate Income Tax Payments

The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.  This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period. This measure, to be implemented immediately, frees up to $55 billion in temporary tax relief, resulting in businesses having more money available during this period.

For Businesses: Mortgage Payment Deferral

The six big banks are offering up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages and the opportunity for relief on other credit products. Priority will be given to small business owners on a case-by-case basis, with strong consideration for those demonstrating financial need.
We encourage you to inquire with your banking institution to determine if you qualify. 

 

 

Here are the helplines for each institution, which they have bolstered with more support:

BMO: 1- 877-788-1923
CIBC: 1-877-454-9030
RBC: 1-800-769-2511
Scotiabank: 1-833-315-4357
TD: 1-888-730-0075
National Bank of Canada: 1‑844‑394‑4494

 

 

Please let HAC know if you run into challenges or are denied flexibility. We can take these cases back to Government.

For Businesses: Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

This program will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses (as defined by 499 employees or less). Implemented immediately, this money should be available for hoteliers.

 

New relief measures for qualified businesses include:

  • Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses;
  • Postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less; and
  • Reduced rates on new eligible loans.

 

Hoteliers should also qualify for up to $100k in as little as 48 hours from BDC. The direct online application can be found here. 

Note that the program does not make funds available to businesses which operate an onsite a bar or lounge, however restaurants would be acceptable.

If you have any issues with this application, please reach out to us. The Government has asked us to flag gaps in the system that need fixing, and are willing to review hotel accounts with issues for us.

For Businesses: 75% Wage Subsidy for Small Business Employers

  • The government’s previously announced wage subsidy of 10% has been increased to 75%. Qualifying businesses will include all hotels that have seen a 30 per cent decline in revenue.
  • CEWS will cover 75% of first $58,700 of workers’ salaries, or up to $847/week.
  • This subsidy will be available for up to three months and retroactive until March 15, 2020, allowing members to keep or potentially re-hire laid off staff.

This announcement was made on March 27, 2020. More details will follow.

Support Measures for Individuals

For Individuals: Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Details: 

  • CERB will be backdated to March 15, 2020
  • CEBB is a taxable benefit which will provide $2,000 a month to be paid in four week instalments for up to 16 weeks.

 

Eligibility: 

  • CERB includes workers who are employed but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19. This measure allows our industry to not have to resort to lay-offs and keep furloughed employees with the company and ready to quickly return to work once our industry recovers.
  • The CERB would also cover those without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in a four-week period for reasons related to COVID-19, including if they lost their job, are sick or in quarantine, or need to care for a child or a family member.
  • Temporary foreign workers who do not qualify for EI, but who meet any of the above criteria, are also eligible for this benefit.

 

Qualification:

  • To qualify, applicants must have had $5,000 in 2019 or year preceding in employment income, self-employment income, or maternity or parental leave benefits and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP).
  • The online application is expected to be available April 6 until October 3, 2020. Benefits should be delivered 10 days after submission of the application form. Applicants can apply in one of these three ways:

 

Information for those that have already applied for EI benefits:

  • If a claimant has already applied for EI they do not need to reapply for the CERB. The claim will be automatically moved over to the CERB, and benefits paid from this program first. If still unemployed after October 3, 2020,  claimants can use their hours to apply for EI benefits after this date.
  • Additionally, those who are already receiving EI benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB. If the EI benefits end before October 3rd, 2020, and the claimant is still unable to return to work, they can apply to the CERB once the EI benefits run out.
  • EI eligible employees who have recently lost their job can continue to apply for EI here.
  • Employers should also note to continue to file EI Records of Employment (ROEs) for employees correctly for the reported circumstances (e.g. quarantine/sickness, shortage of work).

 

Measures to expedite the EI process:

  • The one week waiting period has been waived for claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. There is a newly established toll-free telephone number to assist those who would like to waive the one week waiting period: 1-833-381-2725.
  • People claiming EI due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate.
  • People who cannot complete their claim for EI sickness benefits due to quarantine may apply later and have their EI claim backdated to cover the period of delay.

For Individuals: Employment Insurance

Measures to expedite the EI process:

  • The one week waiting period has been waived for claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. There is a newly established toll-free telephone number to assist those who would like to waive the one week waiting period: 1-833-381-2725.
  • People claiming EI due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate.
  • People who cannot complete their claim for EI sickness benefits due to quarantine may apply later and have their EI claim backdated to cover the period of delay.

 

 

Information for those that have already applied for EI benefits:

  • If a claimant has already applied for EI they do not need to reapply for the CERB. The claim will be automatically moved over to the CERB, and benefits paid from this program first. If still unemployed after October 3, 2020,  claimants can use their hours to apply for EI benefits after this date.
  • Additionally, those who are already receiving EI benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB. If the EI benefits end before October 3rd, 2020, and the claimant is still unable to return to work, they can apply to the CERB once the EI benefits run out.
  • EI eligible employees who have recently lost their job can continue to apply for EI here.
  • Employers should also note to continue to file EI Records of Employment (ROEs) for employees correctly for the reported circumstances (e.g. quarantine/sickness, shortage of work).

For Individuals: EI Work-Sharing (WS) program

EI Work-Sharing (WS) program, which helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer, has new temporary measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

For Individuals: Other Federal Measures

  • The tax filing deadline is extended for individuals to June 1, 2020.
  • Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily increasing Canada Child Benefit payments up to $300 per child.
  • Government of Canada will provide additional assistance to individuals and families with low and modest incomes with a special top-up payment under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit. This will include up to $400 for single adults and $600 for couples.
  • Canadian banks have committed to work with their customers on a case-by-case basis to find solutions to help them manage hardships caused by COVID-19. Canadians who are impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing financial hardship as a result should contact their banking institution regarding flexibility for a mortgage deferral.

Questions & Member Support

Contact the Hotel Association of Canada
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