Business Support

Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives

Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. This order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household.

Workplace safety plan - IMPORTANT

As an employer it’s your responsibility under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect a worker. This guide will help you use current public health and workplace health and safety information to develop a plan and put controls into place to help make the workplace safer for everyone.
All employers are encouraged to develop a COVID-19 workplace safety plan and to review and update it regularly. You can use the COVID-19 workplace safety plan template to help create your plan.

Moving to Yellow- Protect as of December 14, 12:01am

Moving to Yellow- Protect as of December 14, 12:01am
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will be moved to the Yellow – Protect level effective Monday, December 14, 2020 at 12:01am. Sector-specific changes that the Province requires in Yellow zones is outlined below, and one of the biggest changes is the requirement for a Workplace Safety Plan in all levels that are Yellow or above that you must be able to show when asked. A template is available from the Provincial Government’s website, along with guidance on how to complete your plan.

CANADA UNITED SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND

WE’VE EXTENDED THE CANADA UNITED SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND. APPLY TODAY!
To date, we’ve received applications from over 1,000 small businesses to reimburse them for COVID-19 related expenses, such as purchases of PPE, physical space renovations and developing website and e-commerce capabilities.
And we’re not done yet! With another $12 million contributed by the Federal Government, we’re extending our relief fund and accepting more applications from small businesses across Canada.

SOS NORTH GRENVILLE

Locally-owned businesses have been struggling with having to carry on with reduced staff, with a greater weight of responsibility in keeping their premises and customers free of infection through stringent hygiene regimes. At the same time, the volume of business they can enjoy has decreased significantly, as people are less inclined to go out to shop or dine; not to mention the reduced capacity most businesses, especially restaurants and coffee shops are allowed.

Nominate a small business owner (or yourself) for a free online store build!

Nominate a small business owner (or yourself) for a free online store build!
As a result of a partnership between the Federal and Provincial governments, the ShopHERE powered by Google program is available to businesses across Ontario at no cost! Business owners can sign up at the link below, and are only responsible for the monthly platform costs once the 90-day trial is up.