Government Support for REALTORS® During COVID-19 Pandemic

The federal government has created a short questionnaire to assist Canadians in identifying COVID-19 relief programs they may be eligible to receive. To take the questionnaire click HERE.

This program is an evolution of CERB for workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) who still require income support. CRB provides $500/week for up to 26 weeks.

Available to workers who;

• • Earned a minimum of $5,000 in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 months preceding your first application through EI, self-employment income, EI maternity or parental benefits.
  • Have stopped working due to the pandemic andare available and looking for work; or are working and have had a reduction in employment income for reasons related to COVID-19.
  • Have seen at least a 50% reduction in employment income for reasons related to COVID-19.
  • Are notreceiving the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short term disability, or work
  • Reside and are present in Canada for the application period, are at least 15 years old, and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).

NOTE: The CRB closed to retroactive applications on December 23, 2021. You can no longer apply for this benefit. Click HERE for more information.

This program is an evolution of CERB for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. CRSB provides $500/week for up to two weeks.

Available to workers who;

• • Reside and are present in Canada for the application period.
  • Are at least 15 years old on the first day of the application period and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
  • Have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020 or in the 12 months preceding your first application for this benefit from one or more of the following sources: employment income, self-employment income, Employment Insurance (EI) maternity or parental benefits; or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits.
  • Have been unable to work for at least 50% of your normally scheduled work within a given week because of being sick or required to self-isolate for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
  • Are not in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.

NOTE: The CRSB ended on May 7, 2022. If you are eligible, you can only apply for open CRSB periods, up to 60 days after each period has ended. The last period for the CRSB is period 84 (May 1 to 7, 2022) which will be open for application until July 6, 2022. Click HERE for more information.

This program is an evolution of CERB for workers who cannot work because they must provide care to children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares or care facilities. CRCB provides $500/week for up to 26 weeks per household.

Available to workers who;

• • Reside and are present in Canada for the application period.
  • Are at least 15 years of age on the first day of the application period and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • Have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020, or in the 12 months preceding your first application for this benefit from one or more of the following sources: employment income, self-employment income, Employment Insurance (EI) maternity or parental benefits; or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits.
  • Have been unable to work for at least 50% of your normally scheduled work within a given week because of one of the following conditions:
    • • must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
        • because their school or daycare is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
        • who cannot attend school or daycare under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19
        • because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
      • must provide care to a family member who requires supervised care:
        • because their day program or care facility is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19
        • who cannot attend their day program or care facility under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
        • because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    • are the only individual from your household claiming this benefit for the week in which you are applying
    • are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
    • are not in in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.

NOTE: The CRCB ended on May 7, 2022. If you are eligible, you can only apply for open CRCB periods, up to 60 days after each period has ended. The last period for the CRCB is period 84 (May 1 to 7, 2022) which will be open for application until July 6, 2022. Click HERE for more information.

• • Provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours with their employers.
    

  • Click HERE for more information.

• • As an employer in Canada who was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic between March 15, 2020, and October 23, 2021, you may have been eligible for the CEWS. The last CEWS claim period was period 21 (September 26 to October 23, 2021).
    
    The deadline to apply for claim period 21 was April 21, 2022.
    
  • For more information click HERE.

• • There are no claim periods for the wage and rent subsidies after period 28 (April 10 to May 7, 2022)

  • Find all periods you can apply for.

• • Implemented and delivered through financial institutions in coordination with Export Development Canada (EDC).
  • Provided interest-free loans up to $60,000 to small businesses and non-profits to aid in covering operating costs. Note: As of June 26, 2020, businesses eligible included owner-operated small businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating through dividends.
  • Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31st, 2022 resulted in loan forgiveness of 33% (Up to $20,000).
  • Program application and funding deadlines have now passed for CEBA applicants.
    For further information click HERE.

• • The Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit provided payments of up to $10,000 to eligible small and medium businesses most affected by the pandemic and ongoing public health restrictions.
  • Businesses were able to use these funds as they saw fit to help offset the costs of re-opening and implementing public health measures.
  • Applications closed June 30, 2021.

Click HERE for more information on eligibility and benefit status.

• • Education property taxes will be frozen at last year’s level. They were set to be risen in Budget 2020, but the government has decided to forgo the population & inflation related increase.

• • Effective immediately, the government will defer education property tax for businesses for six months.

• • Private sector premium for WCB are now deferred until early 2021 (effectively for one year).
  • Employers who have already paid for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit.
  • Small and Medium businesses will receive additional assistance from the government of 50% of the premium when it is due.
  • Click HERE for WCB’s Premium relief for employers fact sheet