Archive for category: Uncategorized

Cases of COVID-19

As of July 7, Nova Scotia has four active cases of COVID-19. No new cases were identified on July 6. All told, the province has reported 1,065confirmed cases of the virus. Read the full release from the Province here.

New Gathering Limits Announced

The new gathering limits are now in effect.  If a recognized business or organization is planning an event outdoors, 250 people can attend with physical distancing in place. For an indoor event, the limit is 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 200 – with physical distancing. Click here for further details from the updated Health Protection Order.

Tracking Visitors to Atlantic Canada

People entering Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada must complete a tracking form to enter the province in addition to providing an address where they will be staying and self-isolating for 14 days and a phone number where they can be reached 24/7.

Nova Scotia’s borders, while restricted, are not closed. People from outside of Atlantic Canada are welcome to the province, but they must self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive. For more details, read the full release from the Province.

Access Nova Scotia Open for Walk-in Services

Walk-in service is now available at Access Centres. Depending on your transaction, this means you can either go online (click here), make an appointment, or drop in. Please note: a high volume of walk-in traffic is expected. If you can, complete your transaction online or make an appointment first to avoid a long wait.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced Tuesday, June 16, that the federal government will extend eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit by 8 weeks. Over 8.4 million Canadians have signed up for the program so far.  The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel until July 21.

Small Business Reopening and Support Grant
Applications for the Provincial Small Business Reopening and Support Grant are now OPEN for group 1 and group 2 businesses and you can apply here. Apply soon, this will close at the end of June.

Stores and retailers without a physical shop are not eligible. If your business needs of a consultant, please check out our member directory to find highly qualified consultants.

Canada Emergency Business Account accepting more applications
This means that owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll will become eligible this week.

To qualify under the expanded eligibility rules, CEBA applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 will need:  

• A business operating account at a participating financial institution;
• A Canada Revenue Agency business number;
• A 2018 or 2019 tax return; and  
• Eligible non-deferrable expenses of between $40,000 and $1.5 million.

More information can be found on the CEBA program’s website.
 
Extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit(CERB)
Prime Minister Trudeau announced on June 15 that the federal government would be extending the CERB. Read the full statement from the government here.