[This page was last updated on October 26, 2020 and will be updated as new information becomes available]

The preventive measures implemented by the governments of Canada and Quebec to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have an impact on all of us, but especially on businesses. To help you manage these effects, the FNQLEDC will publish on this page all the information that could be useful for the entrepreneurs of our communities and for those who offer them services locally, the Community Economic Development Officers (CEDOs).

Summary of this toolbox:

• Tools offered by the FNQLEDC to support individuals and businesses
• Other information available (from August to now)
• Other information available: Archives from March to July 2020
• Virtual events and webinars
• Articles from our blog on this subject

Tools offered by the FNQLEDC to support individuals and businesses

The FNQLEDC team developed an application to inform entrepreneurs, CEDOs and First Nations members about the financial support programs and initiatives provided by the governments of Canada and Quebec and certain private institutions, adapted to their situation.

Click here (or on the image opposite) to access this application now to evaluate your eligibility for these programs.

The FNQLEDC has also developed a list of assistance programs for individuals and businesses. Due to the many changes made to the programs since their launch, this list has not been updated since March 31, 2020. Access our application to get the updated information.

The FNQLEDC invites all business owners, community economic development officers and economic development directors to complete a survey on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on indigenous economic development.

The FNQLEDC supports entrepreneurs who wants to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial that will show you how to apply.

Other available information

Note: Information is listed from newest to oldest.

• Canada Emergency Business Account now open to businesses using personal banking accounts (Government of Canada)
• Coronavirus updates, Oct. 22: ‘Chances are low’ that restaurants in red zones can reopen next week – Legault (Montreal Gazette)
• The tourism industry is mobilizing (La Presse, in French only)
• Minister Boulet favours a telework policy (La Presse, in French only)
• The pandemic has accelerated the digital revolution (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Minister Ng announces support for small businesses through the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (Government of Canada)
• Quebec releases $70 million in support for sport (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Economic recovery plan for the cultural sector – Quebec creates a $3 million regional emergency fund to support cultural organizations affected by the pandemic (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Government announces new, targeted support to help businesses through pandemic (Government of Canada)
• The Government of Canada launches applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit (Government of Canada)
• Agility will be even more important in the new economic landscape (BDC)
• CFIB fears closure of businesses (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Commercial rents: assistance promised in June still awaited (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Backgrounder: The COVID-19 Response Measures Act (Government of Canada)
• Government of Canada expands Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to provide further support for businesses in Quebec (Government of Canada)
• The Legault Government invests an additional $50 million to help the cultural sector (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Fish Harvester Benefit and Fish Harvester Grant application deadline extended to October 19 (Government of Canada)
• Emergency assistance for bars and restaurants (Le Devoir, in French only)
• COVID-19 Pandemic – New assistance for businesses in high-alert regions (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• New federal benefit available (La Presse, in French only)
• COVID-19: Quebec offers small business loan forgiveness (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Ottawa launches an Infrastructure Plan for $10 billion (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• COVID-19: Ottawa adds $600 million for businesses (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Partially “forgivable” loans for Quebec bars and restaurants (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• What is the role of the Canada Infrastructure Bank in recovery? (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• The CERB is dead, let’s go for the CRB (Canada Recovery Benefit)! (La Presse, in French only)
• Quebec prepares a plan for unemployed of the pandemic (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• More federal support in red zone? (Journal de Montréal, in French only)
• Quebec forgets First Nations in the economic recovery, according to the AFNQL (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Government provides update on support for furloughed employees under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (Government of Canada)
• Investissement Québec wants to encourage entrepreneurs to innovate (La Presse, in French only)
• The end of CERB for all Canadians (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Government of Canada introduces legislation to support Canadians through Recovery Benefits and extend access to funds for emergency measures (Government of Canada)
• 5 steps to manage your operations for the COVID-19 recovery (BDC)
• A second wind for distressed businesses in Canada (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• The mining sector will contribute to the economic recovery of resource regions (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• COVID-19: no full economic recovery for SMEs for a year and a half (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Fish Harvester Benefit and Fish Harvester Grant application deadline extended to October 5. (Government of Canada)
• Quebec will maintain economic objectives despite pandemic: minister (Montreal Gazette)
• The tourism sector is calling for the continuation of the wage subsidy (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• A sustainable Canadian recovery would require $55 billion in investment (Le Devoir, in French only)
• 3 ratios to monitor the long-term financial health of your business after COVID-19 (BDC)
• A grey area of CERB that puts beneficiaries in the red (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Government announces extension of rent relief for small businesses (Government of Canada)
• Canada to extend rent-relief program for small businesses into September: Report (Montreal Gazette)
• The economy after the pandemic: a return to normal by mid-2022, Desjardins predicts (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• The federal government finances women’s entrepreneurship in Quebec (La Presse, in French only)
• Government announces greater flexibility and extension of Canada Emergency Business Account (Government of Canada)
• Ottawa extends Canada Emergency Business Account (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Small businesses call for renewal of Ottawa’s Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Flawed rent relief program overdue for a fix, even as it is set to come to an end (CFIB)
• Quebec’s economy recovered in May (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Advice to adapt your operations to a new reality (BDC)
• Fish Harvester Benefit and Fish Harvester Grant now open for applications (Government of Canada)
• Government of Canada announces plan to support Canadians during the next phase of the recovery (Government of Canada)
• Backgrounder: Supporting Canadians through the next phase of the economy re-opening: Increased access to EI and recovery benefits (Government of Canada)
• CERB extended until September 27, new measures after that (La Presse, in French only)
• Towards the end of CERB: A $37 billion transition over one year (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• CERB would be replaced by existing programs (La Presse, in French only)
• Nearly $3 million for Indigenous organizations in urban areas of Quebec (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• New initiative to support local innovative solutions to safe community reopening (Government of Canada)
• Indigenous Community Business Fund (Government of Canada)
• Quebec will grant $70 million to community organizations affected by COVID-19 (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Government of Canada launches updated Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy calculator to support employers (Government of Canada)
• Le programme d’aide du fédéral à l’industrie touristique ne suffit pas (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Government of Canada temporarily sets a minimum unemployment rate for the Employment Insurance Program (Government of Canada)

For more information, we invite you to consult the archives from March to July 2020.

Virtual events and webinars

Note: Information is listed from newest to oldest.

• [UPCOMING] BDC Small Business Week (BDC): From 18 to 24 October, 2020
• Webinar “Creating impactful digital marketing to move into e-commerce” (SADC – Société d’aide au développement des collectivités des Laurentides, in French only)
• Post-COVID e-commerce and online customer experience (Infopresse, in French only)
• Webinar “COVID-19: How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal” (BDC)
• Webinar “Planning for recovery: How to restart your business in the wake of COVID-19” (BDC)
• Catalyse, a Series of Webinars for Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery (Université Laval, in French only)
• Webinar “COVID-19: How to adapt your business to succeed in the new normal” (Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, in French only)
• Webinar “COVID-19: How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal” (BDC)
• Conference “The Quebec of Tomorrow, for an ecological and social transition” (PôleCN, in French only)
• Free conferences to support entrepreneurs in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region (INKUB Desjardins, Centre en entrepreneuriat multi-ressources and La Suite Entrepreneuriale Desjardins, in French only)
• Webinar “On the Move for Recovery!” (Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins, in French only)
• Conference to discuss issues surrounding Indigenous tourism in a time of profound change (QAT – Quebec Aboriginal Tourism) [Reserved for QAT members only]
• Conference “Now, what economy should we give ourselves?” (Pôle d’économie sociale Outaouais and Chantier de l’économie sociale, in French only)
• Discussion “How to prepare your social media strategy for a prolonged crisis?” (Infopresse, in French only)
• Webinar “How to operate a business with physical distance and health rules” (Détail Québec and Conseil québécois du commerce de détail, in French only)
• Webinar “Business management in crisis times” (Réseau M, in French only)
• Webinar “Liquidity management in crisis times” (CDRQ – Coopérative de développement régional du Québec, in French only)
• Webinar “The impact of COVID-19 on the manufacturing industry” (CCMM – Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, in French only)
• Webinar “COVID-19: How to get through the crisis with an online strategy” (BDC)
• Webinar “COVID-19: Business recovery essentials” (Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, in French only)
• Lunch conference “Post-COVID: A new business model?” (PôleCN, in French only)
• Webinar “How to deal with COVID-19” (CAEQ, in French only)
• Web conference “Acting and bouncing from Covid-19” (Réseau M and Réseau M France, in French only)
• All webinars “How to deal with COVID-19” (CAEQ – Clinique d’accompagnement entrepreneurial du Québec, in French only)
• Discussion “Best practices for your emailing” (Gonzo Marketing, in French only)
• Panel discussion “How to adjust your marketing to get through the crisis” (Cyberimpact, in French only)
• Webinar “Practical advice for SMEs: Business continuity essentials” (Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, in French only)
• Discussion “Challenges in crisis management issues” (Gonzo Marketing, in French only)
• Webinar “Communicating in crisis times” (Institut de Leadership, in French only) [Summary sheet to download]
• Webinar “How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business” (BDC)
• COVID-19 podcasts (CRHA, in French only)

Articles from our blog on this subject

Note: Articles are listed from newest to oldest.