COVID-19 Update for April 18, 2020 – 12:07pm
Assistance for Indigenous Businesses
In his daily briefing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $306 million to help indigenous-owned businesses, including short-term interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions. This aid will be administered through the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association. He called this a “first step,” with additional measures to be announced soon.
Canada-U.S. Border Closure Extended
Trudeau confirmed that Canada and the United States have agreed to keep the border closed to non-essential travel for another 30 days. Essential goods and services, including personal protective equipment, will continue to move across the border.
Airline Travellers
Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced yesterday that air passengers flying in Canada will be required to wear non-medical masks while in transit. Beginning April 20, passengers arriving in or departing from Canada will have to prove they have a non-medical mask or a face-covering with them during boarding. Those who can’t may be prevented from continuing their journey. A complete list of measures can be found here.
Support for Canada’s Journalism Industry
As a follow-up to the Budget 2019 announcement, the federal government has released draft legislative proposals that would adjust tax measures to support Canada’s news and broadcasting sector. Changes include increasing access to tax credits and reducing eligibility requirements for government grants. A full list of proposed changes can be found here.
We hope you are finding these COVID-19 updates useful. In addition to trying to keep on top of the fast-changing situation, Enterprise is also working to support local charities during these challenging times. If you are able, your contributions to this
effort would be deeply appreciated.
To donate, please click on the link.
- Toronto – https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/
- Hamilton/Niagara – https://www.hamiltonfoodshare.org
- Alberta – https://hopemission.com/
Many thanks.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
The Enterprise Team