NWT Corona Virus Update #26 - Extension of CEWS and the Northern Business Relief Fund, and other news

Dear valued members,

Our summer is already half over and Northern Staycations are well underway. I want to acknowledge the efforts all of you are making to keep your businesses going during this unprecedented time. I am hearing from some of you who are successfully navigating the different funding envelopes that are available, and from others who are applying for exemptions so you can enter the territory to do work on your properties. I am also hearing from some of you who are adapting your business model and having success through the Staycations program and attracting locals through your own marketing efforts. I am encouraged by all of your efforts. The tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the tourism industry in the NWT, and we continue to be stronger together.

Below you will find an update on things related to industry funding supports and the advocacy work we continue to do with our partners in the NWT and across the country.

CANNOR NORTHERN BUSINESS RELIEF FUND (NBRF)
In recognition of the continuing impacts of COVID-19 on Tourism and related industries in the territories, CanNor is offering to extend financial support beyond July 31, 2020 to current eligible recipients of the NBRF program. The funding extension is based on demonstrated need and would provide funding up to a maximum of $100,000 or up to March 31, 2021, whichever comes first. You can find more information about the program here: https://www.cannor.gc.ca/eng/1587153226618/1587153246025.

CANADIAN EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY (CEWS)
Last Friday the federal government announced amendments to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy Program. The program is extended, and qualifications for employers are eased. The new rules extend the program to December 19th. The CEWS now consists of two parts (effective for the current period):

• a base subsidy available to all eligible employers experiencing a decline in revenues, with the subsidy amount varying depending on the scale of revenue decline; and
• a top-up subsidy of up to an additional 25% for employers most adversely affected by Covid-19 (those with more than a 50% revenue drop).

While details of the program are yet to be updated, NWT Tourism continues to work with the Tourism Industry of Canada, who note that the CEWS program will fall short of meeting the needs of the tourism industry in the Fall. TIAC is also advocating for a simpler process that is easier to navigate for all businesses in the industry.

You can find updated information about this program here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy.html 

WITHIN THE NWT
Survey Results of the Economic Impact of Covid-19
The GNWT-ITI released information gathered during the Business Survey which was undertaken earlier in the pandemic. 84 tourism operators responded to the survey, and the results can be found here: https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/sites/iti/files/survey_results_-_economic_impact_of_covid-19_on_tourism_and_business.pdf 

Government Departments Waiving Fees for 2020
As many of you will recall, the GNWT has waived tourism insurance requirements and licensing fees, outfitter license and guide fees for the 2020/21 seasons for tourism operators and outfitters who are not operating. The GNWT also announced earlier this summer that land lease fees would be waived, and refunded to those who had paid already.  NWT Tourism has recently been in touch with the GNWT to follow up on the timeline for when these refunds will be processed. 

Please feel free to keep sharing your feedback and your realities with me. Having the most up-to-date information on how individual businesses in the NWT are faring is a critical help in our advocacy work. All your communications about these things help us keep our finger on the tourism industry pulse and enable us to work more strategically on your behalf.  Our Chairperson, Harold Grinde, continues to participate on the Business Advisory Council, established by the GNWT and this is another avenue for us to share our insights into the tourism industry, the impacts on the industry of GNWT decisions and our recommendations for things the GNWT can do to support the recovery of our industry. 

If you have any questions or comments on the things we are delivering please connect with me via email at executive@spectacularnwt.com or contact me by phone at 867-873-5007, Extension 1005. 

Don't forget - all of our communications to members are located on our member website for ready reference.  You can find those and other information for members at the link below:

https://members.spectacularnwt.com/

Take care, stay safe and stay in touch. 

Cathie Bolstad
CEO, Northwest Territories Tourism