October 27, 2020

Your CFA Update on COVID-19

October Early Bird Incentives Launched!

Canada Emergency Business Account now open to businesses using personal banking accounts

On Monday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account.

CEBA provides zero-interest loans up to $40,000 to small business and non-profit organizations that have experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19 but face ongoing non-deferrable costs, such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes and wages. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020.

Visit and complete the Pre-screen Tool on https://verify-verifier.ceba-cuec.ca/

Open a business chequing/operating account with your primary financial institution

Apply for CEBA at your primary financial institution

Follow instructions from your financial institution to complete all relevant parts of the CEBA application.

B.C. NDP wins majority government

NDP had a strong night across the province, with breakthroughs in traditionally Liberal territory.

• NDP: 55 seats (544,083 votes)
• LIB: 29 seats (427,889 votes)
• GRN: 3 seats (184,921 votes)

This is the first NDP majority since 1996. It takes 44 seats for a majority government. 50 seats would constitute a decisive victory in any B.C. election, 55 seats for the NDP would breaks the party’s previous record of 51 seats in 1991.

Andrew Wilkinson resigning as B.C. Liberal leader

Andrew Wilkinson has resigned as leader of the B.C. Liberal Party, two days after the party had its worst provincial election outcome in decades.  

Wilkinson announced his resignation in a very brief address to the media on Monday. He said he has asked the party's president to begin the work to find his successor and that he will step down when his replacement is found.

Next Steps

Once a new Cabinet is appointed, we expect public servants will begin their regular decision-making processes, guided by new mandate letters and priorities, many of which will come directly from the BC NDP’s election platform.

The new Minister of Finance is expected to table a fiscal update before the end of the year. Once a fall legislative session and fiscal update are complete, government’s attention will shift to preparation for a Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, February 9, and Budget on Tuesday, February 16.

What does this mean for franchising?

In the NDP platform they committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and the platform’s economic commitments continue to connect fighting climate change and growing the economy. They committed to

• Provide a special recovery fund targeted at B.C.’s hospitality and tourism sector;
• Tie the minimum wage to inflation; 
• Increase workplace safety inspections;
• Banning single-use plastics;
• Reducing ICBC premiums by an average of 20%.

One issue that was not included in the platform but we expect them to move on is labour issues. You may see a swing towards workers rights and union rights now that the government no longer has to rely on the Green party to pass legislation. We are concerned that these labour changes will make it easier for unionization across brands instead of on a location by location basis.

CFA staff will be watching the issues and working with local stakeholders to try and stay ahead of any policy changes that may negatively affect franchised businesses.

Legault prolongs red-zone restrictions until Nov. 23, extends hybrid learning to Grade 9 students

Quebec Premier François Legault has announced they will be prolonged into November, and even expanded — with Grade 9 students joining their older peers who have been learning from home every other day.

The seven-day average of new daily cases in the province was at more than 1,000 for much of October.

Restaurant dining rooms and gyms are also closed in red zones, but stores and a number of other businesses and workplaces, including shopping centres, are allowed to remain open.

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Franchise Marketing Summit is Tomorrow!

Franchising thrives during down economic times – Canada saw a 6.5% growth in franchise locations and a 23% growth in new franchise brands during the Great Recession of 2008 – 2010. With the second wave and downward economy expected to continue until 2022, now is the time to get your marketing efforts right!

Legislation that would allow more Manitoba workers to access paid sick leave during COVID-19 halted

The province has introduced legislation to make it easier for more workers to take sick days during COVID-19 and access federal benefits.

However, the legislation, which expands the criteria for when a person is eligible for job-protected leave, was blocked by the Manitoba Liberals, who didn't like that it had no provincial money for workers behind it.

In the legislature Monday, the Pallister government introduced amendments to the Employment Standards Code that would allow more workers to take protected leave and apply for federal benefits.

Employees who are unable to work because they are forced to self-isolate are already eligible.

The federal government introduced a new benefit this September that gave minimum wage workers and employees who don't have access to paid sick leave up to two paid weeks off work if they become ill or have to self-isolate due to COVID-19.

Manitobans can already apply, but the new provincial legislation would ensure all workers — including the expanded criteria — cannot be reprimanded by their employer if they take a leave of absence and take advantage of the federal benefit. 

The amendments would also expand unpaid protected leave for workers required to self-isolate or care for a family member because of the pandemic to include workers who are more susceptible to COVID-19 because of underlying health conditions, ongoing medical treatments or other illnesses.

Saskatchewan Party wins 4th majority government

The Saskatchewan Party has won a majority government for the fourth time in a row. The first party to manage that in the province since the CCF under Tommy Douglas over 60 years ago. Premier Scott Moe, replaced former Saskatchewan Party Leader and Premier Brad Wall in February 2018,

SP: 50 seats (242,638 votes)

NDP: 11 seats (112,263 votes)

CFA Business Recovery Summit Series

The CFA Business Recovery Summit Series in October 2020 is a month of virtual conferences and events to help franchisors and franchisees manage, adapt, and grow their business in the "next normal" during COVID-19 recovery. REGISTER NOW

Federal Liberals hold onto Toronto Centre, York Centre in byelections

The federal Liberals have held onto the Ontario ridings of Toronto Centre and York Centre in Monday's byelections, according to preliminary results from Elections Canada.

In Toronto Centre, Liberal Party candidate Marci Ien, a journalist, won with 42 per cent of the vote, against 32.7 per cent for Annamie Paul, Green Party candidate and leader. The NDP candidate, Brian Chang, placed third with 17 per cent, with 144 out of 144 polls reporting.

In York Centre, Liberal Party candidate Ya'ara Saks won with 45.7 cent of the vote, against 41.8 per cent for Conservative Party candidate Julius Tiangson after a very tight race. The NDP's Andrea Vásquez Jiménez placed third with 5.8 per cent. Maxime Bernier and his People's Party garnered 3.6 per cent of the votes. 

Virtual Franchise Awareness Day - November 2

Don't miss an opportunity to connect with elected officials to help raise awareness about the importance of franchising. Ask politicians to consult with the CFA as the voice of franchising in Canada and on any policy issues that affect businesses like yours. RSVP

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COVID-19's impact on the world is creating waves across all sectors and industries.

Every member of the CFA community is dealing with an issue that is affecting the world, our industries, our communities, our businesses, and our people.

We would like to hear from you if you have any topics, issues or questions to navigate turbulent times in order to support you further: 

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