Here is what we know so far about Canada’s Emergency Wage Subsidy, a government program helping businesses avoid having to lay-off their employees during the Covid-19 Pandemic. We will be updating this article as new details are released. 

• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is for businesses small and large – there is no minimum employee requirement

• In order to be eligible, companies must have seen a reduction in gross revenue of at least 15% in the month of March, 2020 and 30% in the following months, and you do have the option to choose January and February of this year as a reference period

• Non-profit organizations and charities are eligible to apply, and they have the option to include or exclude government subsidies when calculating loss of revenue

• The government of Canada will be subsidizing up to 75% of an employee’s salary on the first $58,700 that the employee earns. In other words, the maximum weekly subsidy would be equivalent to $847

• This subsidy is retroactive as of March 15, 2020

• Businesses may use this subsidy for up to three months (i.e. 12 weeks)

• In the interest of all Canadians, the Government of Canada is asking business owners to use this subsidy in good faith and ONLY apply for the wage subsidy if there is a need for it. They ask that if you are still able to continue paying your employees their salary without the government’s help – to please continue doing so. They also ask companies to make up the other 25% if they are able to – with the Prime Minister stating on April 1, 2020 that those companies who do not pay the employee’s remaining 25% salary will have to “attest” or prove that they were unable to pay that balance

• Businesses who do not meet the eligibility requirements but still apply for this government assistance – or otherwise make fraudulent claims in order to be deemed eligible – will have to repay the money given to the business plus additional penalty charges – and may even be subject to criminal charges

• Businesses will apply for the Canadian salary subsidy via the Canada Revenue Agency

*SOURCE: Prime Minister Trudeau press briefings as well as the Government of Canada website.

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