Federal Government Response to COVID-19 Crisis

The federal government outlined economic and health measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

LATEST NEWS – MARCH 20, 2020

Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry

Today, the Prime Minister announced that the federal government is launching Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to Fight COVID-19 to ensure that we can quickly produce, here in Canada, the things we need to prevent the spread of the virus. This initiative will help companies that are already making equipment like masks, ventilators, and hand sanitizer massively scale up production. It will also provide support to those who want to retool their manufacturing facilities to contribute to this fight.

Canada is home to some of the best innovators in the world and with this new initiative, we will harness their talent and expertise to get through these challenging times.

Services for Canadians

The COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly and we’re taking measures to ensure we can continue to deliver critical services to Canadians.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’ Client Service Unit will now be moving to email only. Phone services are expected to resume April 2, 2020.

Small businesses

The Business Development Bank of Canada is hosting a webinar on March 25, at 12:00PM. This webinar is for entrepreneurs looking for advice on how to manage their business through this difficult time.

Service Canada

Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits. They are committed to improving services for Canadians by working with partners to provide access to the full range of government services and benefits that Canadians want and need through the Internet, by telephone, in person or by mail.

To apply for Employment Insurance (EI), click here. Are you in quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19? You can inquire about your EI application by calling this Service Canada number: 1-833-381-2725.

To help Service Providers provide information regarding Employment Insurance (EI), actions required for maintaining benefits, earnings while on claim and other resources to support return to work endeavors Service Canada will be presenting a 1-hour (no cost) Service Canada webinar on March 24, 2020 at 11AM.  To register for Service Canada webinar, please use Service Canada’s general email address: [email protected]

CANADA’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, our government will keep taking necessary actions to prevent the spread, protect our economy, and support Canadians every step of the way. Over the past few weeks, we have been announcing a progressive series of measures responding to current challenges Canadians are facing, and preventing the escalation of economic and health-related problems for the coming days, weeks and months.

Supporting Canadians’ Health 

Our government has undertaken significant communications and public education efforts on COVID-19 to inform Canadians of our measures, in order to help them make informed decisions and to enable them to take action to protect their health and their communities. Canadians have access to information, updated daily, through:

• The Canada.ca/coronavirus website, which includes information resources that Canadians are able to download concerning the novel coronavirus, as well how to be prepared and how to limit the spread of the virus. 

• The Government of Canada’s coronavirus information line (1-833-784-4397), which is available from 7:00 a.m. to midnight (EST) seven days a week.

Economic and financial support

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

We understand that many Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs are anxious about how to get help in these trying times. Here are a few good places to start:

1. Visit our government’s website where all the resources you may be looking for are only one click away.

2. Download the Canada Business App to find tailored supports to address specific needs of SMEs and questions about COVID-19.

3. Consult the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s pandemic preparedness guide to help businesses prepare in the days and weeks to come. 

4. Contact your financial institution. Canada’s banks have made a commitment to support businesses and individuals through these difficult times in a responsible, fair, and compassionate way. To help provide some stability for businesses through this time of uncertainty, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) is lowering the Domestic Stability Buffer requirement, releasing more than $300 billion of additional lending capacity for Canadian financial institutions.

Helping Canadians abroad 

To help Canadians abroad return home, our government is creating a special financial assistance program, the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad. With this program, Canadian abroad who are directly impacted by COVID-19 will have the option of applying for an emergency loan of up to $5,000 to help secure their timely return to Canada, as well as temporarily cover their life-sustaining needs while they work toward their return.

We encourage all Canadians abroad to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to get the latest updates on the situation at their destination.

Eligible Canadians currently outside Canada who need financial assistance can contact Global Affairs Canada at [email protected].

For Your Awareness: Travel Advisories

Avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. Our government will be denying entry to non-Canadians citizens and permanent residents. This will carve out some designated exceptions including for aircrews, diplomats, immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

Our government has also issued a pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice with travel health advice for Canadians.  

All travellers entering Canada are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days upon entry with exceptions for workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people. The continued global movement of goods and people and the ongoing delivery of essential services will be important for Canada’s response to COVID-19.

Updates: Province of Ontario and City of Ottawa

These are extraordinary times, and as this situation continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: it’s all hands on deck.

The Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa are also implementing different measures and sharing guidelines to make sure that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

For more information on the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health’s measures and recommendations, please visit their website with the latest on the current situation across the city.

The Province of Ontario has enacted a declaration of a state of emergency to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public. For more information on this and on the Province of Ontario’s latest measures, please visit their website with the latest on the current situation across the province.

If you are experiencing symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus:

Contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, your local public health unit or your primary care provider.

Please do not visit an assessment centre unless you have been referred by a healthcare professional.

Do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

We know that these are stressful times. That’s why it’s important to take the right steps, like staying home and working remotely, to help flatten the curve. And as you do, know that your government is right there with you, every step of the way. We’re in this together.