COVID-19: GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

March 28, 2020

Dear Friends,

With the COVID-19 situation evolving so rapidly, I know it can be difficult to keep track of what tools are available to Canadians to help get through this time. Below is a list of resources I hope you will find useful:

For the latest public health information:

• Federal updates:
  Canada.ca/coronavirus
  1-833-784-4397
• Provincial updates:
  Ontario.ca/coronavirus

If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, take the online self-assessment first before calling Ontario Teleheath at 1-866-797-0000.

• Federal self-assessment:
  thrive.health/covid19/en
• Provincial self-assessment:
  covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/

Employment Insurance and support for workers:

• General overview of our economic response plan:
  ca/economic-response-plan
  • Specifically the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB):
    canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html#new_canada_emergency_response_benefit

Support for business:

• For information on the Government of Canada’s efforts to support Canadian businesses through COVID-19, please visit: ca/covid-19-business

If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, please visit: https://canada.ca/…/maintaingrowi…/manufacturers-needed.html

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) & taxes:

• The deadline for filing your 2019 tax return has been extended to June 1, 2020.
• If you are prevented from making a payment when due, filing a return on time, or otherwise complying with a tax obligation because of circumstances beyond your control, you can submit a request to cancel penalties and interest. Here is the form: https://canada.ca/…/se…/forms-publications/forms/rc4288.html

Canadians abroad:

• If you are a Canadian stranded abroad, you need to be in touch with Global Affairs Canada:
  [email protected]
  +1 613 996 8885 (call collect where available)
  https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-assistance
• Register as a Canadian abroad to stay connected with the Government of Canada:
  gc.ca/travelling/registration
• For information on financial help for Canadians outside Canada, please visit: https://travel.gc.ca/…/financial-as…/covid-19-financial-help

Persons entering Canada are required to self-isolate for 14-days upon return to Canada, whether they are showing symptoms or not. This measure is mandatory; failure to comply can result in fines or jail time.

• For more information: canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html#f

These are resources for some of the questions we are getting most frequently, but this list is certainly not exhaustive. If you cannot find the answer to your question in the above resources, please contact my office and we will get you the answer as quickly as we can:

(807) 766-2090

[email protected]

We will continue to support businesses, workers and their families throughout this time. We are in this together.