Last updated December 30, 2020

During this very challenging time for the hotel industry, the MHA has been reaching out to all levels of government seeking programs and assistance to help hotels. We are pleased to provide a summary of the programs that are currently available. We will continue to update this list as these programs change and grow. 

The most timely source of information for MHA hotel members is our bulletins. We send member bulletins often, sometimes multiples times per day, to ensure all our hotel members are kept informed of the latest developments affecting hotels. If you are not receiving the bulletins, or if you would like to access the library of our past bulletins, please contact the MHA office. 

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions about the programs and initiatives listed below. 

Open to the first 2000 applicants of all business types:    

City of Winnipeg Economic Support Grant Program:

The City of Winnipeg has launched the Winnipeg COVID-19 Economic Support Grant Program in order to assist Winnipeg small businesses and not-for-profit organizations that have been forced to prohibit access to their premises  due to COVID-19 public health restrictions effective November 12, 2020. The City will be distributing a total of $3 million to eligible local businesses and organizations with funding provided by the federal Safe Restart Agreement.  Small businesses and not-for-profit organizations can now apply online for a non-repayable grant of $1,500. The grant can be used for rent, utilities, wages, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizing equipment, or other business expenses incurred. 

Again, only the first 2000 businesses and organizations that apply will receive funding.  Your hotel should apply now. Click here for more information.

Tax Relief for Business 

At a special council meeting on Friday, April 3, Winnipeg City Council approved tax relief for businesses – most notably, a three-month deferral on penalties for business and property taxes. The City will also waive Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) program fees on both property and business taxes until October 1, 2020. Click here for more information. 

The 2021 Winnipeg budget includes a deferral of property tax payment penalties.  This measure will waive penalties for 2021 tax bills normally due on June 30, now extended until September 30, 2021.  It also waives penalties for 2021 business tax bills normally due on May 31, now extended until August 31, 2021.  It does not give any relief to any amounts already outstanding.  Properties on the TIPP program will see no benefit from this measure.

The Manitoba Hotel Association (MHA) has been working very hard this year on behalf of Manitoba hotels. We know what a challenging year this has been for all types of hotel properties, and we have been reaching out to government at all levels to make the case for assistance for our industry. 

Deadline to apply extended to January 31, 2021: 

Manitoba Bridge Grant: 

On December 21, 2020, the Province changed the grant criteria for the Manitoba Bridge Grant. Now all hotels, motels, resorts as well as lodges and outfitters, restaurants and bars, may apply for the Manitoba Bridge Grant. The deadline for the program has now been extended to January 31, 2021. The Manitoba Bridge Grant will provide $10,000 ($5,000 + an additional $5,000, as the public health orders remained in place on January 1.)  Recipients of the first $5,000 will automatically receive an additional $5,000 without needing to make a further application.  All hotels, lodging properties, restaurants & bars should apply.  There is a limit of onegrant per entity.  

APPLY HERE NOW:  https://forms.gov.mb.ca/bridge-grant

Eight-Week Layoff Period Extended 

The Province is making a temporary change to employment standards to provide employers with more time to recall employees laid off as a result of COVID-19. The change ensures any layoff period occurring after March 1, 2020, and until the state of emergency ends, will not be counted toward the period after which a temporary layoff would become a permanent termination. Click here for more information. 

Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP) 

(The intake window for the Manitoba Gap Protection Program is now closed.)

On April 22nd Premier Pallister announced the Manitoba government will provide up to $120 million for businesses that do not qualify for the various federal government assistance programs and wage subsidies created because of COVID-19. The Province will advance each eligible business a non-interest-bearing forgivable loan of $6,000. The loan will be forgiven on December 31, 2020 if the recipient attests at that time the business has not received any major non-repayable COVID-19 federal supports. If the applicant has received benefits under a federal COVID program, then the loan will be added to the recipient’s 2020 tax bill. Click here for more information. 

Back to Work Manitoba Wage Subsidy Program

(Applications for this program are closed.)

The Back to Work Manitoba Initiative is open to all private-sector and non-profit employers and covers 50 per cent of wage costs between July 15 and Oct. 31. Employers can be supported to hire up to 10 workers to a maximum of $5,000 per worker and $50,000 per employer. This program is open to applicants of the Summer Student Recovery Jobs program and Back to Work this Summer Program. The application deadline is Oct. 1. Click here for more information. 

Workers Compensation Board – 20% Refund and Deferral of Premium Payments 

On April 21st the Province announced that the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) will be returning a $37-million surplus to employers. Each eligible employer will receive a refund of approximately 20 per cent of their 2019 premium. The payments will be sent out in May. 

The Province also announced previously that the WCB will defer premium payments until the end of May, waive late payment penalties until further notice, and extend the payroll reporting deadline without penalties until the end of May. Click here for more information. 

Summer Student Recovery Plan 

The Summer Student Recovery Plan was a wage subsidy program to support employment of high school and post-secondary students in the private and non-profit sectors. 

Under the program, up to $120 million is available for employers to access a $7 per hour wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $5,000 per student. The program is open to Manitoba students aged 15 to 29, with an employment period from May 1 to September 4. Employers can be subsidized for up to 5 students. Reimbursement will be provided at the end of the employment period, upon proof of payment of student wages. Click here for more information. 

Manitoba Job Restart Program (MJRP) 

The Manitoba Job Restart Program (MJRP) provides a taxable financial benefit to a maximum of $2,000 to Manitobans who:

•  safely return to work for a cumulative 30 hours/week with one or more eligible employers
•  voluntarily stop collecting Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Emergency 

Student Benefit (CESB) or similar COVID-19 financial support programs delivered by the federal government.  Individuals must return to work for a cumulative 30 hours per week during the period of June 26, 2020 to July 31, 2020.  Click here for more information. 

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

Despite the name, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) is about more than rent. Accommodation properties now qualify to claim a portion of mortgage interest, property tax and commercial property insurance.  This program is of substantial help to properties of all sizes.  Every Manitoba accommodation property, with any amount of revenue decline in 2020, should consider applying.  

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-rent-subsidy.html

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – Up to 75% Wage Subsidy for Employers 

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy offers  a 75 percent wage subsidy for qualifying small businesses, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020. 

Program Criteria:

The subsidy amount for a given employee on eligible remuneration paid between March 15 and June 6, 2020 would be the greater of:

1. 75 per cent of the amount of remuneration paid, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week; and
2. the amount of remuneration paid, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week or 75 per cent of the employee’s pre-crisis weekly remuneration, whichever is less.

• Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, and 30% in April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019 would be able to access the subsidy.
• Alternately, employers can use January / February of 2020 as reference points to show the 30% drop in revenue.
• An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees.
• Employers are expected to make best efforts to top up salaries to 100%
• Companies that don’t qualify for the CEWS can still apply to the previously announced wage subsidy of 10 per cent of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

Click here for more information. 

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Expanded in November 2020

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) was expanded. An additional $20,000 loan is now available, of which $10,000 is forgivable; for a total of $60,000 loan available, of which $20,000 is forgivable. This expansion is available to all eligible previous and new CEBA applicants.  To apply, ask your primary financial institution.

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)

This program will offer 100% government guaranteed loans of up to $1 million over extended terms, up to ten years, with low interest rates.

Extended Tax Filing and Payment Deadlines 

The Canada Revenue Agency has extended tax filing and payment deadlines (for individuals, the self-employed, corporations and charities), including GST payments and remittances, until the end of June 2020. Click here for more information. 

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

The Canada Emergency Business Account provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover operating costs. Expanded eligibility criteria now makes the program open to businesses with 2019 total payroll between $20,000 and $1,500,000. Full loan repayment by December 31, 2022 will see a 25% loan forgiveness up to $10,000. Loans will be available through eligible financial institutions and will be fully guaranteed and funded by the Government of Canada. The financial institutions are beginning to roll this out now. Please contact your financial institution to find out if they have been approved to offer the program.

Click here for more information. 

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for Employees 

If you have questions about the CERB program, EI, or how to best help your employees, call the MHA office.

Click here for more information. 

Additional information and resources for the hotel industry can be found at:

http://www.hotelassociation.ca/coronavirus/

Additional information about COVID-19 in Manitoba can be found at:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html