COVID-19 information for businesses

The Province of Ontario has ordered that all at risk businesses/non–essential businesses close by March 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. Click Here for the list of Essential Workplaces.

Downtown Brampton BIA E-News

• Member eNews March 26, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 25, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 24, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 23, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 20, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 19, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 18, 2020: COVID-19 Update
• Member eNews March 17, 2020: COVID-19 Update 
• Member eNews March 16, 2020: COVID-19 Update 

 City of Brampton

• City of Brampton – Emergency Management page
• Brampton Means Business: Support for Your Business | COVID-19
• City of Brampton announces Mayor’s COVID-19 Economic Support and Recovery and Social Support Task Forces

Business Resources

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses
• Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe
• BDC Funding Support for entrepreneurs impacted by the coronavirus COVID-19
• Pandemic Preparedness Guide for Business
• Business continuity plan and templates for entrepreneurs
• Planning Checklist for Retailers – COVID-19
• How to find out if your business qualifies for the COVID-19 wage subsidy

OBIAA Business Resources

• Tools to help your business adopt digital technology
• The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative – Free digital skills workshops

HOW TO APPLY FOR EI DURING COVID-19

Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. If you wait
more than 4 weeks after your last day of work to apply, you may
lose benefits.

Scenario 1 – You are under isolation or quarantine: Apply to EI NOW as SICK BENEFITS.

Scenario 2 – You are laid off from work due to shortage of work due to Covid– 19 – Apply for EI NOW under Regular EI benefits – Shortage of Work

Scenario 3 – You are laid off from work due to your place of business closing due to Covid -19 – Apply for EI NOW under Regular EI Benefits – Involuntary Leave

Scenario 4 – You are NOT ELIGIBLE for EI benefits but want to apply for the new Package announced for those not eligible for EI – you must wait until this passes the House of Commons – which should be by April and applications and money will flow by May. You will be given application instructions once the applications are approved for production.

Click Here for the Employment Insurance benefits and leave website

Safety Checklist for Businesses

For businesses whose operations are closed during this time, Ottawa Police have created a safety checklist to ensure your shop or restaurant remains secure. Police recommend the following guidelines:

• Keep the lights on
• Remove ALL cash and receipts
• Do not leave any valuables clearly visible or accessible
• All safes and tills should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
• Keep all cash drawers open to show that nothing is in the drawers
• All ATM’s should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
• All alcohol products removed from bar and put in secured storage areas (no alcohol left visible from outside)
• Consider posting “NO CASH or Valuables on Premises” signage
• Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings (ie. Cleaners, deliveries, etc)
• Disconnect all kitchen gas lines from their gas source

Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the times this is done to not establish a pattern)

Survey

• City of Brampton – Economic Support Task Force – Business Impact Survey for COVID-19

Region of Peel

• Region of Peel

 Government of Ontario

• Government of Ontario
• Coronavirus: All non-essential workplaces ordered to close in Ontario

 Government of Canada

• Government of Canada
• Prime Minister Update- March 25, 2020
• Resources for Business
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Helping Canadians With the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Calling All Suppliers – Help Canada combat Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• ROE Guidelines for Issuing EI
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Benefits and services

 World Health Organization

• World Health Organization

 OBIAA Letters

• OBIAA Letter – Value of BIA’s during this Critical Time
• OBIAA letter to Premier Doug Ford
• OBIAA Letter to Primer Minister Trudeau
• TABIA Proposal for Main Street Bailout
• OBIAA Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford

Additional Resources

• Tax Filing Deadline has been extended by at least 1 month
• Uber has waived all its delivery fees and will allow same day payouts to for Local Restaurants everywhere
• Skip the Dishes
• Facebook is offering cash grants and ad credits
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses 

We are making every effort to keep this page updated. To report errors, please email downtownbia@brampton.ca