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This Business Relief Portal is a self-selection tool that helps identify relief programs and incentives that best apply to specific business needs and links to the government source of support. This page is updated on a weekly basis. Please continue to monitor this page for new updates.
Business Advisory Services
Are you a business in Mississauga that would like one-on-one business relief guidance and support? Access the Business Advisory Services Program to receive:
- A FREE 1-hour consultation meeting with a Legal, Accounting, Business Operations, Sales or Digital Marketing Strategies professional to address your unique business needs
- Guidance related to key Provincial and Federal business relief programs
- Support available in various languages*
- Post-consultation resources
If you are interested, click here and fill out the Business Advisory Services Program inquiry form.
*Subject to specific services accessed. Languages include English, French, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Italian, Spanish, Albanian, Bengali, Portuguese, Cantonese, Gujarati, Mandarin, Kannada, Telugu, and Tami
Province of Ontario’s “Get Help with COVID-19 Costs – How to Apply for Funding”
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Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career)
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
The Ontario government is increasing financial supports available and simplifying the application process for individuals applying to the Second Career program. As the province’s economy begins to reopen, these changes will make it easier for laid-off and unemployed workers to pursue training and start new and better careers. Second Career funding helps laid-off, unemployed workers pay for the tuition of training programs of 52 weeks duration or less, including eligible university and college courses, micro-credential programs and other vocational training programs. The maximum funding support that a Second Career client can receive to help pay for their education and living expenses is $28,000.
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Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
The Employment Standards Act provides for two infectious disease emergency leaves relating to COVID-19. One leave is unpaid and one leave is paid. Employees may be eligible for up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave until July 31, 2022. There is no specified limit to the number of days an employee can be on unpaid infectious disease emergency leave.
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Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
On April 29, 2021, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to require employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19. This entitlement is in addition to employees’ rights to unpaid infectious disease emergency leave. Eligible employers must make their application for reimbursement to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board within 120 days of the date the employer paid the employee, or by July 29, 2023 (whichever is earlier). This program has been extended to March 31, 2023.
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Liquor Reforms to Support Businesses
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
The Government of Ontario has amended a number of regulations that affect the liquor industry, including making the allowance for liquor takeout and delivery with food from eligible liquor licensed establishments permanent. See link for more details on this change and other liquor reforms to support businesses.
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Canada Digital Adoption Program - Boost Your Business Tech
FEDERAL SUPPORT
This program focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses accelerate their digital transformation to fuel economic recovery. Through the Boost Your Business Tech stream, eligible businesses will receive:
Grants to help cover the costs of accessing advisory services to develop digital adoption roadmaps as well as technology planning; Access to a network of students to help them with their digital transformation
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Access to Tech Talent Pool
Mississauga has access to the fastest growing technology talent pool in North America, the Toronto-Waterloo Technology Corridor in Ontario. The Corridor saw a 40% increase in software developers and data analysts in the past five years. Toronto is the #3 tech talent market in North America behind SF Bay Area and Seattle
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| Program Name | Resource Provider | Description | Website | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Arts and Culture Recovery Program (CACRP) | Government of Canada | The Canada Arts and Culture Recovery Program (CACRP), which will provide $50 million in 2022-23 to help Canadian arts, cultural and heritage organizations who are experiencing reduced revenues while dealing with capacity reductions and audiences hesitant to return to in-person activities, due to COVID-19.This temporary support will be delivered through existing Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts and Telefilm Canada programs. | Business Financing & Income Support | Culture, | Learn More | |
| Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI) | Government of Canada | Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI) is a national program that will provide $250 million over three years to help the Canadian aerospace sector emerge from the pandemic and continue to compete on the global stage. Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the aerospace industry, and the organizations that support them through supply chains, are eligible to apply for funding for projects that will:- help them green their operations and adopt environmentally sustainable practices- improve productivity and strengthen commercialization and/or- strengthen integration into regional and global supply chains.Contributions to SMEs are generally repayable or conditionally repayable and contributions to not-for-profits are generally non-repayable. Program is open for applications through appropriate Regional Development Agency. | Business Financing & Income Support | Aerospace & Air Transportation | Start-Up/ Small or Medium Size Businesses | Learn More |
| Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit | Province of Ontario | On April 29, 2021, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to require employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19. This entitlement is in addition to employees’ rights to unpaid infectious disease emergency leave. Eligible employers must make their application for reimbursement to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board within 120 days of the date the employer paid the employee, or by July 29, 2023 (whichever is earlier). This program has been extended to March 31, 2023. | Government Regulations & Policy, Business Financing & Income Support | General | Learn More | |
| Short-Term Compensation Fund for Canadian Audiovisual Productions (STCF) | Telefilm Canada | The Short-Term Compensation Fund for Canadian audiovisual productions (STCF), administered by Telefilm Canada, provides a temporary measure to help minimize the consequences of the lack of insurance coverage for filming interruptions and the abandonment of productions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the sector of audiovisual production. | Business Financing & Income Support | Culture, Media | Learn More | |
| Property Assessment Cycle | Province of Ontario | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government has postponed the 2020 Assessment Update. They have indicated that property assessments for the 2022 and 2023 property tax years will continue to be based on the fully phased-in January 1, 2016 current values. This means your property assessment for the 2022 property tax year will be the same as the 2021 tax year, unless there have been changes to your property. | Tax & Payment Relief Measures | General | Learn More | |
| Ontario’s Safe Employers Receiving up to $1.5 Billion Rebate | Province of Ontario | Ontario's safe employers are receiving a rebate of up to $1.5 billion as Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surplus funds are returned for the first time. | Government Regulations & Policy, Business Financing & Income Support | General | Learn More | |
| Business Advisory Services | City of Mississauga | One-on-one business relief guidance and support for Mississauga businesses. The program provides:- A free 1-hour consultation meeting with a Legal, Accounting, Business Operations, Sales or Digital Marketing Strategies professional to address your unique business needs- Guidance related to key Provincial and Federal business relief programs- Support available in various languages- Post-consultation resources | Business Development Planning & Advisory Resources | General | Start-Up/ Small or Medium Size Businesses | Learn More |
| Digital Main Street Mississauga | City of Mississauga, Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association | The Digital Main Street (DMS) program continues to support main street small businesses in Mississauga. Digital Main Street is a program that helps main street businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. This program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of digital experts who help main street businesses grow and manage their operations through digital tools and technology. | Business Development Planning & Advisory Resources | General | Start-Up/ Small or Medium Size Businesses | Learn More |
| Museums Assistance Program | Government of Canada | The Federal government announced $41 million to support heritage organizations across Canada in 2021–22 as they reopen and safely welcome back visitors. The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) will be accessible to a broad range of organizations through a streamlined online application process. It builds on the $53 million provided by the government as part of the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Heritage Organizations in support to organizations with heritage collections. In addition, the Government of Canada is also investing $23 million over three years to help museums across the country digitize information and collections. This funding will be delivered through a new component of the MAP to support the development of original content such as educational materials, apps or other virtual activities aimed at enhancing the visitor’s experience in person and online. | Business Financing & Income Support | Tourism, Culture | Learn More | |
| Temporary Outdoor Businesses | City of Mississauga | A temporary use by-law to permit outdoor retail sales and display and outdoor recreational and entertainment establishments was passed by Council on December 9, 2020. This initiative allows certain businesses and charitable ventures to operate outdoors in a safe and responsible manner until December 31, 2023. Temporary outdoor businesses must follow Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions and the Region of Peel’s public health measures. | Government Regulations & Policy | General | Learn More | |
| Ontario Supporting Home-Based Food Businesses During COVID-19 | Province of Ontario | The Ontario government has introduced a guide on how to start a home-based food business, which includes an overview of public health requirements that need to be followed as a food operator. To further support these entrepreneurs, the government has also made regulatory changes to allow more flexibility to sell low-risk, home-prepared foods. See link for more information, including Ontario's guide on how to start a home-based food business. | Government Regulations & Policy, Business Development Planning & Advisory Resources | Food & Beverage | Start-Up/ Small or Medium Size Businesses | Learn More |
| Better Jobs Ontario | Province of Ontario | The Ontario government is increasing financial supports available and simplifying the application process for individuals applying to the Second Career program. As the province’s economy begins to reopen, these changes will make it easier for laid-off and unemployed workers to pursue training and start new and better careers. Second Career funding helps laid-off, unemployed workers pay for the tuition of training programs of 52 weeks duration or less, including eligible university and college courses, micro-credential programs and other vocational training programs. The maximum funding support that a Second Career client can receive to help pay for their education and living expenses is $28,000. | Workforce Development Opportunities | Information Communications and Technology, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Learn More | |
| Liquor Reforms to Support Businesses | Province of Ontario | The Government of Ontario has amended a number of regulations that affect the liquor industry, including making the allowance for liquor takeout and delivery with food from eligible liquor licensed establishments permanent. See link for more details on this change and other liquor reforms to support businesses. | Government Regulations & Policy | Food & Beverage, Hospitality | Learn More | |
| Ontario Onwards | Province of Ontario | The Ontario government released Ontario Onwards: Ontario's COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government, an action plan to make government services simpler, easier to use, and more convenient and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The plan includes 30 projects, where some key initiaitives to support businesses include:- Reducing red tape and simplifying policies while protecting public health and safety, such as reducing barriers to development and construction approval by allowing a digital application process to get shovels in the ground faster on transit and housing projects- Improving government purchasing by leveraging the combined bulk-buying power of the province, while taking advantage of the world-class capabilities of local Ontario businesses, to transform how the government purchases goods and services, so the province can have the supplies it needs. | Government Regulations & Policy | General | Learn More | |
| Emergency Survival Fund for LGBTQ2S Artists, Performers, Tip-Based Workers and Glad Day | Glad Day Lit | Administered by Glad Day Bookshop in Toronto, this fund will help cover emergency aid and paid work for LGBTQ2S artists, performers and tip-based workers. | Business Financing & Income Support, Employment Income Support | Culture, Media, Hospitality | LGBTQ2S | Learn More |
| COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers | Province of Ontario | Businesses working to retool their operations to produce health-related products, or those that want to continue their operations in this new environment of physical distancing, can submit any potential roadblocks to the website. | Government Regulations & Policy, Business Development Planning & Advisory Resources | General | Learn More | |
| Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020 | Province of Ontario | The Employment Standards Act provides for two infectious disease emergency leaves relating to COVID-19. One leave is unpaid and one leave is paid. Employees may be eligible for up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave until March 31, 2023. There is no specified limit to the number of days an employee can be on unpaid infectious disease emergency leave. | Government Regulations & Policy | General | Learn More | |
| COVID-19 Implications for Canada and the Economic Impact | Conference Board of Canada | A go-to resource for insights and analysis on COVID-19 to include updates, data, forecasts, research on the growing spread of coronavirus, and useful tools that will help you and your organization navigate these challenging times. Paid and free resources are listed on this page. | Business Development Planning & Advisory Resources | General | Learn More |
Government of Canada - COVID-19 Business Relief Portal
The Government of Canada is also offering a Relief Portal aimed at supporting businesses. Find COVID-19 support and other programs and services related to your business.