Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
A detailed table outlining the various programs available in Alberta are listed below. If you would like to discuss your eligibility for any of these programs...
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.
A detailed table outlining the various programs available in
Alberta are listed below. If you would like to discuss your
eligibility for any of these programs, please do not hesitate to
contact a member of our team.
Accelerating Innovations into CarE
(AICE)
Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant for
local businesses
Alberta Mental Health and Addiction
COVID-19 Community Grant
Corporate Income Tax Deferral
WCB Premium
Payment Deferral
Utility Payment Deferral
Tourism Levy Deferral
Banks and Credit Unions
Adding Extra Time for Consultation
Process
Timber Dues
Small Business Advice
City of Calgary Relief
City of Edmonton Relief
City of Edmonton – Deferral of
the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Tax Levy Penalties
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE)
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The AICE program provides funding
support, system connections, and business development expertise for
SMEs and healthcare delivery partners who require market access,
clinical validation, or technology assessment to facilitate the
adoption and diffusion of a novel health technology
AICE will contribute 50% of total
eligible project costs up to $300,000 CAD per project, over a
maximum term of 24 months
The innovation must satisfy all
applicable regulatory requirements for in-human testing or use
Projects are built through
partnership between the SME and Testing Site, and this partnership
must be established prior to applying for AICE – Market
Access
Applications are accepted on a
rolling basis. Apply today by clicking here
Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant for local businesses
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Two grant streams are available: (1)
grants for individual businesses that need help to reopen or pivot
business models as a result of COVID-19 and (2) Grants for business
associations, organizations and economic development groups that
are supporting business recovery and local economic development.
Funding will be managed to ensure funds are available in Phase 2.
Details can be found at edmonton.ca/businessgrants now and online
applications for the Phase 1 Economic Recovery grants will be
accepted starting on June 15, 2020 at 9 a.m.
Businesses that need help to reopen
or pivot business models as a result of COVID-19
Applications will be accepted weekly,
for 24 hours or until 75 applications are received
Alberta Mental Health and Addiction COVID-19 Community
Grant
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The first call for proposals will
provide up to $5 million to fund community initiatives that aim to
improve mental health and addiction recovery by providing
information about, and navigation to community services and
supports
Approved projects are eligible for up
to $500,000
Eligible projects must focus on
improving the mental health and addiction recovery of Albertans who
are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or measures to
contain it, such as isolation.
Eligible organizations include:
charitable organizations, non-profits, faith organizations, and
small community groups. Organizations may apply individually or as
collaborating groups
The application deadline is May 8
2020
Corporate Income Tax Deferral
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The filing due date for an Alberta
Corporate Income Tax Return (AT1) has been extended to June 1, 2020
for all such returns due after March 18, 2020 and before June 1,
2020
Corporate income tax balances and
instalment payments coming due between March 18, 2020 and August
31, 2020 are deferred until August 31, 2020
All businesses filing taxes in
Alberta are eligible
N/A
WCB Premium
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Small, medium and large private
sector employers can defer WCB premium payments until 2021.
Alberta-based employers are
eligible
N/A
Payment Deferral
Description
Eligibility
Application details
For small and medium businesses, the
government will cover 50% of the 2020 premium when it is due in
2021
Large employers will have their 2020
WCB premium payments deferred until 2021
Employers who have already paid WCB
premiums in 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit
N/A
N/A
Utility Payment Deferral
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Residential, farm and small
commercial customers can defer electricity and natural gas bill
payments for the next 90 days (until June 18, 2020) to ensure no
one will be cut o , regardless of the service provider
Alberta utility customers are
eligible
N/A
Tourism Levy Deferral
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Hotels and other lodging providers
can delay paying the tourism levy until August 31, 2020 for amounts
that become due to government on or after March 27, 2020. Payments
deferred until August 31, 2020 will not be subject to penalties or
interest
Hotels and other lodging providers
are still expected to file returns, as required by legislation, and
must collect the tourism levy from guests staying at their
properties during this period
Alberta-based businesses are
eligible
N/A
Banks and Credit Unions
Description
Eligibility
Application details
ATB small business customers can:
apply for a payment deferral on loans and lines of credit for up to
6 months, access additional working capital for ATB customers
Other ATB business and agriculture
customers can access support on a one-on-one basis.
Alberta-based businesses are
eligible
N/A
Adding Extra Time for Consultation Process
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The Alberta government, through the
Aboriginal Consultation Office (ACO), is allowing participating
Indigenous communities to add days to the consultation process, if
needed, during the pandemic response, up to 10 days for Levels 1
and 2 consultations, and up to 15 for Level 3
Indigenous communities are
eligible
N/A
Timber Dues
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Effective April 4, the Alberta
government will defer timber dues for six months
Alberta forestry businesses paying
timber dues are eligible
N/A
Small Business Advice
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Talk to a small business advisor at
Business Link to get free advice, coaching and information on
COVID-19 resources and supports
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (open
Monday to Friday, closed weekends and statutory holidays)
Property tax bills will be mailed by
the end of May 2020. However, two new significant relief measures
were approved to provide flexibility for taxpayers (individuals and
businesses): the tax payment deadline has been extended from June
30 to September 30 without late payment penalties and the Tax
Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) has suspended its 2% filing fee for
taxpayers who join TIPP after January 1, which has been suspended
until January 1, 2021
A Small Business Support team
available to support businesses pivoting their business model as
they re-open. Further information on how businesses can access this
service will be made public and shared out to the business
community in the coming weeks
Waiving of the business license
renewal fee for one year to reduce the financial burden on
businesses
Six-month relief efforts effective
May 1, 2020 including: waived Planning & Development fees for
change of use and home occupation (class 2) development permits,
residential certificates of compliance and pre-application fees, to
support businesses adapting to COVID-19; deferred Planning &
Development fees for commercial building permits, development
permits, subdivisions, land use amendments, outline plans and road
closures. 75% of payment will be deferred to final stages of
approval, offering financial flexibility of better cash flow
management through projects; fee simplification through elimination
of the set up front deposit, simplifying by applying one common fee
schedule rate to all outline plans and land use amendments, and
applying the deferral relief above; extensions on development and
building permits offered to ensure existing approvals will not
expire while businesses deal with the impacts of COVID-19
The expansion of the Centre City
Enterprise Area to include all commercial properties through a
pilot. This means a reduction in processes, barriers to entry and
cost savings for businesses as they re-populate physical space.
Analysis on the option to expand Centre City Enterprise Area
development permit exemptions also includes a risk assessment and
other considerations.
Individuals and businesses paying tax
in Calgary are eligible
N/A
City of Edmonton Relief
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The City of Edmonton is delaying
penalties to property tax payments for Edmontonians experiencing
major financial difficulties due to the health emergency. No late
fees will be charged to tax payments made by August 31, 2020
Edmonton also recommended to the
Alberta Utility Commissions and utility partners a deferral period
to defer payments up to 90 days, from March 18 to June 18. No
interest, penalties or service cut-offs will occur during this
period
Individuals and businesses based in
Edmonton are eligible
N/A
City of Edmonton – Deferral of the Business Improvement
Area (BIA) Tax Levy Penalties
Description
Eligibility
Application details
On March 30, the City of Edmonton
announced the deferral of Business Improvement Area (BIA) Tax Levy
payment penalties. BIA members who are in financial hardship due to
the pandemic may delay their levy payments until September 30,
2020, and no late penalties will be applied
Businesses based in Edmonton are
eligible
N/A
Originally published 20 June, 2020
About Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm. We provide the
world's preeminent corporations and financial institutions with
a full business law service. We have 3800 lawyers and other legal
staff based in more than 50 cities across Europe, the United
States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle
East and Central Asia.
Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the
key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy;
infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and
innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.
Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global
business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to
provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of
our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of
contact.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.