July 17, 2020
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July 17, 2020

Your CFA Update on COVID-19
will be Moving to 3 Days per week.

As the Canadian Businesses and Economy are adapting to the new reality, we are too! Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've been sending updates about COVID-19 on a daily basis to our CFA Members and Non-members. Moving forward, we will be releasing our COVID-19 Updates 3 days per week to our CFA Members and to whoever subscribed to the COVID-19 Updates.

If you are a non-member, and wish to continue to receive our updates, please subscribe HERE.

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Congratulations CFA Award Winners and All Members
From Gerry Docherty, Chair, CFA Board of Directors
Gerry Docherty video

Sweeping changes to federal wage subsidy announced

Finance Minister Bill Morneau is proposing sweeping changes to the federal government's wage subsidy program that would extend the program until the end of the year and open the program to more businesses.

The proposed changes will

  • Make the subsidy accessible to a broader range of employers by including employers with a revenue decline of less than 30% and providing a gradually decreasing base subsidy to all qualifying employers. This would help many struggling employers with less than a 30% revenue loss get support to keep and bring back workers while also ensuring those who have previously benefited could still qualify, even if their revenues recover and no longer meet the 30% revenue decline threshold.
  • Introduce a top-up subsidy of up to an additional 25% for employers that have been most adversely affected by the pandemic. This would be particularly helpful to employers in industries that are recovering more slowly.
  • Provide certainty to employers that have already made business decisions for July and August by ensuring they would not receive a subsidy rate lower than they would have had under the previous rules.
  • Address certain technical issues identified by stakeholders.

The draft legislation would extend the program until December 19. The new changes would take effect retroactively as of July 5.

Under the proposed legislation, all qualifying businesses would receive a base subsidy that would vary according to how much revenue they lost. Harder-hit companies would receive larger subsidies.

The changes were drafted following extensive consultations with businesses and employers reporting major flaws in the original program.

Media Release

 

Detailed Backgrounder

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GetintheLoop is helping CFA members on the road to recovery!

We are hoping that we can contribute to getting your brand back to driving significant revenue. To help on the road to recovery, we are offering CFA members to join the platform for no cost, with no. obligation, for 3 months

Learn More

Federal temporary national sick leave program created

As part of the $19B ‘Safe Restart’ fund the federal government will be creating a temporary national sick leave program — providing 10 days of paid sick leave to those who don't already have it through their employers — at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion.

July extension now available for CECRA for small businesses

The July extension for CECRA for small businesses is now available. The July extension is based on the existing program parameters for the April, May and June period. No new documents are needed to opt-in. Not all tenants in the original application need to be included in the request for the July extension. Property owners can only opt-in once and no new tenants can be added.

Visit the updated program page to learn more about how it works

Canada, U.S. confirm extension of travel ban into late August.

Canada and the United States have agreed to extend their mutual ban on non-essential travel between the two countries until Aug. 20.

Most of Ontario enters new stage of reopening; Toronto remains in Stage 2

Several regions across Ontario have entered Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan allowing nearly all businesses to finally open their doors, except in the Toronto area and a few other regions.

Only 10 regions stayed behind as the rest of the province, 24 regions altogether, leaped into the new stage on Friday, which allowed gyms, bars, dine-in services and cinemas to finally reopen.

For regions that are at Stage 3, indoor gathering limits will increase from 10 to a maximum of 50 people, while outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people.

Federal government to provide provinces and territories with $19B for 'safe restart' of economy

The federal government will provide $19 billion to the provinces and territories to help fund a "safe restart" of the Canadian economy. The direct transfers are part of a comprehensive agreement to help those governments cover some of their budgetary costs over the next six to eight months as they reopen and prepare for a possible second wave of COVID-19.

The original plan was for a $14 billion fund — but many premiers said that amount was not nearly enough to cover their needs.

The funding will focus on seven priority areas, including $4.2 billion for enhanced COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, $4.5 billion for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line and essential workers, and $625 million to fund more child care spaces so that parents can get back to work, according to a government background document.

The federal government will put up to $2 billion toward the operating costs of Canadian cities for six to eight months; provinces and territories will be required to match that amount from their own funds. The feds also will match any new funding that provinces and municipalities put toward public transit, up to $1.8 billion.

As part of the agreement, Ottawa will create a temporary national sick leave program — providing 10 days of paid sick leave to those who don't already have it through their employers — at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion.

Additional funds will go toward improving the state of long-term care, and to fund mental health services and tackle homelessness. 

Queen Elizabeth knights 100-year-old fundraising captain

On the lighter side of the news, today, The Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood on Captain Tom Moore at an Investiture at Windsor Castle.

Sherrard Kuzz LLP Legal Support Program
To help navigate the recovery of COVID-19, CFA members have the opportunity to contact Sherrard Kuzz LLP for one free phone-consultation, once per calendar year, to a maximum of 15 minutes. A member may use their 15 minutes to seek information about any employment, labour or human resources issue related to the User (subject to Sherrard Kuzz LLP successfully completing a conflict check to ensure it may advise on the matter).

HOW TO ACCESS THESE SAVINGS:
To take advantage of this CFA member benefit, contact Michael Sherrard at msherrard@sherrardkuzz.com or 416-603-6240.

Webinar Series On Demand

UPCOMING WEBINARS

JULY 21, 2020
AT 2:00 PM ET

Marketing your franchise system on-line through COViD-19 and beyond
 50 CFE PARTICIPATION  CREDITS  
 
SPEAKER: Luke Aulin, RTOWN
 

Getting consistent, measurable return on investment (ROI) for your marketing efforts has always been hard. Running a business is even harder. In this session, Luke Aulin will untangle the changes you can make in your digital marketing strategy and execution to put your franchise system on the path to measurable, repeatable and scalable results for head office and for your franchisees.

 

Companion piece by Luke Aulin: 6 Ways to Get Your Franchise Marketing Positioned to Flourish During COVID's "New Normal"

 

MORE INFO & REGISTER

 JULY 22, 2020
AT 2:00 PM ET

Diversity and Inclusion in Franchising
 50 CFE PARTICIPATION  CREDITS  

MODERATOR: Jennifer Dolman, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
SPEAKERS: Dani Bazely, Driverseat; Joel Friedman, Inspiration Learning Center 

Members of the franchise community know that everything else aside, franchising is about people - and successful franchise owners are ones who take this to heart. Join this session to gain insight into diversity and inclusion practices that will foster growth and innovation in your workplace, giving your company an extra edge as you grow your business.

MORE INFO & REGISTER

 JULY 28, 2020
AT 2:00 PM ET

Navigating the digital world and digitizing your business
 50 CFE PARTICIPATION  CREDITS  

SPEAKERS: Ayham Aldajane, Nown POS; Marta Rzezkowska, Moneris; additional speakers TBC

Join this panel discussion for an in-depth conversation about business in the digital world including: digital payments and cyber security, managing the customer experience in a digital world, choosing the right solution(s) for your business and where to find them, moving business processes online (e.g. accounting, payroll, etc.), and managing your data.

MORE INFO & REGISTER

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Feedback from our Members

“I would like to take this moment to express how amazing the CFA webinar series has been for myself and my stores. I am regularly sharing the information and enjoy the daily "break" around lunch time, basically having a nearly daily lunch and learn.”

 - Suzanne Howie, Franchise Support, Print Three Franchising Corp.

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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If you would like to subscribe all your franchisees to receive our Daily Update, please contact Alex Mann at amann@cfa.ca

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