[This page was last updated on April 9, 2021 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 November to now)
• Other information available: Archives from March to December 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.

• COVID-19 vaccination poles in local companies (Le Nord-Côtier, in French only)
• Wage subsidy to the rescue of the construction industry (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• The tourism industry faces an uncertain summer (La Presse, in French only)
• Quebec businesses worried about their future (Le Devoir, in French only)
• CFIB calls on provinces to help SMEs (La Presse, in French only)
• Some businesses want an extension of federal assistance (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Legault appeals to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Support to workers and families increases with the passage of EI legislation and the coming into effect of recovery benefit regulations (Government of Canada)
• Why managing your working capital is key to a successful recovery (BDC)
• Ambitious plan to stimulate economic recovery in Wemotaci (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Economic Development: Wemotaci in post-COVID mode (Le Nouvelliste, in French only)
• Supporting Entrepreneurs: Ensuring an inclusive recovery (Revue Gestion, in French only)
• International Women’s Rights Day – Minister Isabelle Charest announces an action plan to counter the impact of the pandemic on women (Gouvernement du Québec, in French only)
• Employment Insurance: SMEs are opposed to mandatory coverage for self-employed workers (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Business Assistance: Fitzgibbon disconnected from reality (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Government announces Wage and Rent Subsidy amounts to remain unchanged through to June (Government of Canada)
• Minister Fitzgibbon’s comments on AERAM raise discontent (Le Soleil, in French only)
• AERAM Program: Minister Fitzgibbon puts the facts on the table (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Increasing accessibility of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (Government of Canada)
• A majority of SMBs ask for more help from Quebec (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Waban-Aki Nation: an Indigenous organization with a big vision (Le Nouvelliste, in French only)
• Digital transformation during the pandemic: Missed opportunity for Quebec businesses (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Support for tourism businesses – Major changes to the pacte – Tourism component: Increased loan forgiveness and new support for energy costs (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Assistance to businesses: Associations shocked by the Quebec decision to not provide assistance retroactively (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Expenses incurred by companies between October and December 2020 are no longer covered by the Quebec government’s assistance (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Tax Tip – Tax information for Indigenous peoples (Government of Canada)
• No reimbursement required from CERB applicants affected by lack of clarity (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Commercial rental assistance: Owners audited, new program criticized (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• CERB and CRB: How much? What strategy? (La Presse, in French only)
• How do you explain the unpopularity of Quebec City forgivable loans? (Radio-Canada, in French n only)
• COVID-19 – Additional support for businesses (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Permitted or prohibited as of next Monday in Quebec (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Quebec City announces “a small deconfinement” (La Presse, in French only)
• Forget the Panier bleu… Let’s buy blue! (Les Affaires, in French only)
• The Canada Revenue Agency is acting to improve service to Canadians this tax filing season (Government of Canada)
• Reopening of shops everywhere and restaurants in the orange zone (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Pandemic: Two thirds of Quebec SME managers still concerned about the pandemic (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Double income for employees on forced leave (La Presse, in French only)
• Towards a reopening of non-essential businesses in Quebec (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• The MRCs and the Innu are calling for a lightening of measures (Le Nord-Côtier, in French only)
• Prolonged measures: Financial assistance will follow, Fitzgibbon promises (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Quebec retailers eager for stores to reopen – Even if by appointment only (Montreal Gazette)
• Minister Ng announces launch of Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (Government of Canada)
• Kahnawake retail stores to reopen in February (Le Soleil de Chateauguay, in French only)
• Quebec open to improve its assistance programs if the confinement is prolonged (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Panier bleu: A transactional platform to come (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Panier bleu: Regional distribution centers could be created (Le Quotidien, in French only)
• Employers get hit for Canada Revenue Agency errors (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Complaints against the Canada Revenue Agency are increasing, says Taxpayers’ Ombudsman (Le Devoir, in French only)
• COVID-19: An additional $50 million to help SMEs (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• CFIB fears increased business closures (La Presse, in French only)
• A W-shaped recovery without government assistance would have a serious impact, according to CMHC (Le Soleil, in French only)
• New requirements for masks in the workplace (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Government publishes draft legislative proposals to adjust certain deductions for employment insurance and COVID-19 benefits (Government of Canada)
• Entrepreneurs regain confidence, says BDC (La Presse, in French only)
• Choose the method of calculating teleworking expenses that is the most advantageous for you (Government of Quebec)
• Insolvency threatens more than 2 out of 5 businesses in Canada (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Government of Canada announces further reinforcement of COVID-19 supports for Indigenous communities (Government of Canada)
• CERB: A document for tax purposes sent by the Canada Revenue Agency (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Economic recovery plan for the cultural sector – The Government of Quebec increases support for 112 museums by more than $5 million (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Curfew: convenience stores also want to be able to deliver alcohol and food (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Paul Delean: If you received a CEBA loan, the forgivable amount is taxable (Montreal Gazette)
• E-commerce, the spare wheel for SMEs? (La Presse, in French only)
• Non-disastrous measures for the economy, according to Pierre Fitzgibbon (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Few slowdowns to be expected in the construction and manufacturing sectors (La Presse, in French only)
• Industrial and construction activities considered essential in Eastern Quebec (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Curfew: Grocery stores change their schedule for the first time in the era of COVID (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Confinement in Québec (Government of Quebec)
• The North Shore should be treated differently depending on the Chamber of Commerce (Le Nord-Côtier, in French only)
• Analysis: Containment and curfews: what economic impact can be expected? (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• A new worrisome containment for the Quebec economy (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Containment: Retailers and manufacturers feel like they’re saving furniture (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Merchants relieved by allowing pick-up (La Presse, in French only)
• Little hope for restorers and tenants (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Confusion around essential products (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• What will the work be done in 2021? (La Presse, in French only)

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

Virtual events and webinars

Note: Information is listed from newest to oldest.

• Economic Forum for Business Succession on the theme “And Now: In Action for Recovery! » (RJCCQ – Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec)
• What’s next? Managing your business’s finances in 2021
• BDC Small Business Week (BDC)
• 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.