The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses.
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Canadian cultural, heritage and sport organizations are facing significant financial losses due to COVID-19. They have lost potential revenues from closed facilities or cancelled events. Meanwhile, they are facing challenges accessing Canada’s broader support measures such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy because of unique seasonal revenues and costs.
The new COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations will provide $500 million to help address the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so they can continue to support artists and athletes. The Fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage with the support of its partners – in particular, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund, FACTOR, Musicaction, and Telefilm Canada. Canadian Heritage and its partners will distribute funds with the following details:
INFORMATION FOR CANADIAN HERITAGE GRANTS RECIPIENTS
The Government of Canada has announced details on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This program will provide $500 per week (up to 16 weeks) for those who have lost income due to COVID-19.
The benefit will be available to workers who:
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The Canada Revenue Agency is adapting its Liaison Officer service to support small businesses and self-employed individuals during COVID-19. Liaison Officers will be available exclusively by phone to provide the key information that small businesses and self-employed individuals need most urgently, including filing and payment deadlines and proactive relief measures.
Events Nova Scotia staff at the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage have developed a number of guides and resources for those in the arts & culture sector and those involved with hosting or planning advanced focused on prevention and planning during COVID-19.
VIEW ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR GUIDE TO WORKPLACE PREVENTION
VIEW FESTIVAL & EVENT PLANNING GUIDE
The NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage has developed guidelines to provide a framework to help arts, events and culture organizations and businesses develop plans to safely reopen. All businesses, organizations and employees need to follow the Health Protection Act Order and public health directives to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Each organization, event or business is responsible for creating a plan that outlines what they’re doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Your plan needs to be customized for your organization. Consider how your organization can effectively control the spread of COVID-19. You may need to change workflows or how you interact with customers, artists, performers, suppliers and clients.
This document is designed to help you create a COVID-19 prevention plan and begin to offer services to the public.
This document includes examples of the types of information you should include but may not capture everything that applies to your situation. You know your venue, event and organization best.
The NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage has also developed a guideline document for organizations, performance venues, live theatres, event organizers, faith-based gatherings, cinemas and drive-in events. It is meant to help
reduce the risks related to COVID-19 and plan to adhere to public health guidelines.
VIEW COVID-19 PREVENTION GUIDE FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS, THEATRES, AND PERFORMANCE VENUES
The Province of Nova Scotia has announced a program to aid citizens and businesses affected by the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The $20 million Worker Emergency Bridge Fund will help the self-employed and those laid-off workers who do not qualify for Employment Insurance. Government will provide a one-time, $1,000 payment, to bridge the gap between layoffs and closures and the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. is taking applications for the Productivity Innovation Voucher Program. The program helps small and medium sized companies access direct assistance to help make their business more productive and innovative. The program helps businesses find expertise within post-secondary institutions to improve productivity, develop a new product, service, or process, and create growth.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. has also developed a form and tool to connect businesses with independent consultants across the province to address your immediate business challenges as a result of COVID-19 and beyond.
Nova Scotia Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness Business Navigators are available to help businesses with any questions you may have. They can be reached Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm at 1-844-628-7347, or by email at BusNavigation@novascotia.ca.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NS BUSINESS NAVIGATORS
CBC has compiled a number of resources that Canadian artists can use during COVID-19 and the resulting shutdowns.
The Canada Council for the Arts has developed a resource page on their website to aid those in the creative sector.
The Canadian Network for Arts and Learning has developed a resource page on their website to aid those in the creative sector.
The Canada Media Fund has put together an information hub for Canada’s screen-based industries, as well as news from the CMF and information on the impact of COVID-19 on our industry. The page also includes an assistance programs directory.
Arts Nova Scotia has developed a resource page on their website to aid those in the creative sector.
Visual Arts Nova Scotia has developed a resource page on their website to aid those in the creative sector.
The Event Safety Alliance had developed a Reopening Guide as a collective work by event industry professionals to help its peers who are planning to reopen during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.