[This page was last updated on October 22, 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 March 2020 to March 2021)
• Other information available: Archives from March 2020 to March 2021
• 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.

• Government announces targeted COVID-19 support measures to create jobs and growth (Government of Canada)
• Targeting COVID-19 Support Measures (Government of Canada)
• The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (Government of Canada)
• Soutien aux entreprises Ottawa injecte 7,4 milliards pour des mesures plus ciblées – Ottawa injects $7.4 billion for more targeted measures (La Presse, in French only)
• La PCRE prendra bien fin, d’autres programmes prolongés – The CRB will end, other programs extended (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Ottawa will extend programs until November 20 (La Presse, in French only)
• Ottawa’s silence on the future of pandemic assistance programs weighs on businesses (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Federal government leaves small firms in the cold during Small Business Week: Wage and rent subsidies expire Saturday (CNW)
• COVID-19: Ottawa evaluates support measures for businesses and individuals (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Self-employed workers feel neglected by Ottawa (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• The major conferences: an expected return, but full of challenges (Le Devoir, in French only)
• COVID-19 pandemic – New flexibility measures for restaurants and bars (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Is it time to cut back on financial assistance to others? (Le Devoir, in French only)
• COVID-19: SMEs call for further extension of federal assistance (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Tourism Industry Recovery Program: Launch of the first call for projects (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• “Inconsistent” rules with other sectors (La Presse, in French only)
• Still unemployed due to the pandemic (Le Devoir, in French only)
• Adjustments to the Tourism Attraction Development Program to support the recovery of the tourism industry (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Extension of the Own-Source Revenue in Indigenous Communities Initiative until September 30, 2021 (Government of Canada)
• Enhanced Recovery Assistance Program – More support for Quebec women entrepreneurs in response to COVID-19 issues (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Government extends COVID-19 benefits and business supports to support stronger economic recovery (Government of Canada)
• Ottawa extends assistance programs until October 23 (La Presse, in French only)
• Ottawa says it is prepared to extend assistance programs if necessary (La Presse, in French only)
• Will reduced subsidies lead to increased bankruptcies? (La Presse, in French only)
• Small business recovery is finally underway, but many businesses are being left behind (CFIB)
• Jobs and Growth Fund (Government of Canada)
• Government of Canada launches Jobs and Growth Fund to create jobs and foster economic activity in Canada’s communities (Government of Canada)
• $75,000 to support businesses in adopting sanitary measures (Tourisme Mauricie, in French only)
• Federal government launches Tourism Relief Fund to help tourism businesses and organizations recover and grow (Government of Canada)
• Canada’s Regional Development Agencies: Support for businesses during COVID-19 (Government of Canada)
• Vaccine not grounds for dismissal or refusal of employment (Le Quotidien, in French only)
• CFIB wants Ottawa to maintain its assistance programs (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Vaccine passport to avoid widespread lockdown this fall (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Supporting communities across Quebec (Government of Canada)
• A host of assistance programs extended into the fall (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Budget focused on jobs and growth receives Royal Assent (Government of Canada)
• The Government of Canada launches online calculator to help businesses apply for the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program (Government of Canada)
• Continued support for arts, culture, heritage and sport sector organizations (Government of Canada)
• The return to the office is planned, but teleworking will remain (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Green Zone: Retailers call for flexibility (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Buy local: A lot of will, but… (La Presse, in French only)
• The economic recovery, a priority for the federal MP for the region François-Phillipe Champagne (Mon La Tuque, in French only)
• Own-Source Revenue in Indigenous Communities Initiative (Government of Canada)
• Government of Canada launches call for applications for Own-Source Revenue in Indigenous Communities Initiative (Government of Canada)
• Government of Canada reopens call for requests, continues to support Indigenous communities and organizations (Government of Canada)
• Extending business support measures through the pandemic (Government of Canada)
• Helping hard-hit businesses hire more workers with the canada recovery hiring program (Government of Canada)
• Quebec tourism industry welcomes deconfinement plan (TourismExpress, in French only)
• Hope for the hotel industry (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Deconfinement: A plan welcomed by the business community (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• National plan to reopen the economy: “We must give people hope” (La Presse, in French only)
• Government of Canada invests in skills training to help get Canadians back to work (Government of Canada)
• What tourism after the crisis? (PagTour, in French only)
• Fifteen essential actions for a green recovery after the pandemic (Le Soleil, in French only)
• Including everyone helps all of us (Bank of Canada)
• The FCCQ for a vaccine passport for business reopenings and travel (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Purchase of window and pediatric masks – The government takes a significant step to promote the purchase of masks in Quebec (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Budget investments will strengthen Indigenous communities (Government of Canada)
• Government introduces legislation to deliver jobs and growth (Government of Canada)
• Minister Rodriguez highlights significant investments to support economic growth in Budget 2021 (Government of Canada)
• Landlords want to reopen for vaccinated people (La Presse, in French only)
• Budget 2021 investments will create jobs and growth by supporting small business (Government of Canada)
• Economic recovery plan for the cultural sector – Minister Nathalie Roy announces an additional $3 million in support for private and alternative cultural venues (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• SMEs are asking for more time to repay loans (TVA Nouvelles, in French only)
• Start-ups: three pitfalls to avoid to be part of the economic recovery (Les Affaires, in French only)
• Number of Indigenous tourism businesses up despite pandemic (Le Soleil, in French only)
• COVID-19 – Details on the assistance to businesses in maximum alert regions component (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• Ottawa and Quebec provide financial assistance to Quebec breeders (Radio-Canada, in French only)
• Entrepreneurial Quebec, one year after the start of the pandemic (Réseau Mentorat, in French only)
• Nearly $3.6 million to support tourism businesses in the Quebec City region (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• COVID-19 – Additional assistance to support businesses (Government of Quebec, in French only)
• 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)

For more information, we invite you to consult the archives from March 2020 to March 2021.

Virtual events and webinars

Note: Information is listed from newest to oldest.

• Webinar on the terms and conditions of certain Canadian government assistance programs (Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, in French only)
• 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.