Over the past week, the federal government has shared additional details about programs that provide financial help to individuals and businesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In anticipation of the issues REALTORS^® would be facing, CREA began speaking to government departments and agencies early on about the protections needed to provide relief for our members. As programs have been unveiled, we have shared those details with our members, as well as with real estate boards and associations across the country. 

In response to our calls for significant action, the federal government has responded with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS):If you intend to apply for the CERB, you can get started this weekend by familiarizing yourself with the application process and registering for your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account ahead of applications opening on Monday, April 6, 2020.

To proceed with applications in an orderly fashion, please ensure you apply during the appropriate window, as designated by the CRA:

The government has moved quickly to roll out these significant support measures. Their goal is to include as many Canadians as possible and make the application process relatively frictionless.

“If you are able to say ‘Yes, I’m not working. Yes, I had an income and I’m someone who is not working because of this (coronavirus) outbreak, directly or indirectly,’ you’re going to qualify for this new benefit,” said Sean Fraser, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. “We’re not going to be requiring evidence or notes from employers or doctors that are only going to overburden an already overburdened system.”

While it appears that initially applying for the CERB won’t be needlessly complicated, REALTORS^® should expect to be asked for supporting documentation later in the in process. You will also be able to apply by calling the automated toll-free line at 1-800-959-2019.

Eligible employers are expected to be able to apply for the CEWS through the CRA’s My Business Account portal, as well as a web-based application, in three to six weeks.

As the situation has evolved, REALTORS^® have raised concerns about where they fit into these announcements, and our Member Support and Government Relations teams have made it a priority to answer your calls and emails over the past weeks.

We appreciate your feedback and continue to relay your concerns to government officials in our conversations. We continue to push for broad eligibility that would capture self-employed workers, independent contractors, small businesses, and those living on a commission-based income. If you apply for the CERB and discover you’re not eligible, please contact the Government Relations team immediately so we can make the government aware of any barriers REALTORS^® are facing.

In addition to providing support for Canadians through the CERB and the CEWS, the government has taken steps to stabilize the real estate sector through several other measures:

• The Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate to 0.25.
• The Bank of Canada will be purchasing about $500 million in mortgage bonds per week.
• The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will acquire up to $50 billion of insured mortgage pools.
• A deferral of GST and HST remittances and customs duty payments for businesses, including self-employed individuals, to June 30, 2020.
• Launch of the Canada Emergency Business Account, which will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs. The program will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC). Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000).
• Export Development Canada will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow term loans that financial institutions can extend to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), up to $6.25 million.
• A co-lending program for SMEs where the Business Development Bank of Canada works with financial institutions to co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.

The government is constantly assessing the evolving situation and is likely to introduce additional measures as it deems necessary. We are monitoring the implementation of existing measures and continue to advocate on behalf of REALTORS^® as new initiatives are developed. Please monitor your inbox for more important information from CREA.

For up-to-date information from CREA, visit our COVID-19 page here.

To help negate some of the impacts Canadians and our economy will face resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government unveiled additional support through a wage subsidy program for businesses on Friday. Earlier in the day, the Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate to 0.25% in an unscheduled announcement. These measures come on the heels of the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), aimed at providing relief for Canadian workers who have lost their income.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, CREA has been in ongoing discussions with government departments and agencies. We have had meaningful conversations about the unique challenges facing REALTORS^® and the potentially devastating outcomes of any interruptions to their day-to-day business.

While working to secure financial help for REALTORS^®, we also focused on the needs of small businesses. We have and continue to analyze the measures announced by the government, as well as programs implemented in other jurisdictions, to find innovative solutions relevant to our industry. We discussed possibilities with stakeholder groups across the country to align and coordinate on proposed government action that would provide meaningful assistance to struggling businesses. 

The federal government responded to calls for significant action by announcing the following measures:

• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, a 75% wage subsidy for non-profit organizations, charities, and businesses both big and small, retroactive to March 15, 2020. Companies whose business revenues have decreased by at least 30% can apply, while their number of employees has no bearing on eligibility. For those employed by companies affected by COVID-19, the government will cover 75% of their salary on the first $58,700, which is up to $847 per week. More information about the eligibility criteria is expected to be announced by Ministers Morneau and Ng tomorrow. We will update members as information becomes available.

• The Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate to 0.25%.

• A deferral of GST and HST remittances and customs duty payments for businesses, including self-employed individuals, to June 30, 2020.

• The launch of the new Canada Emergency Business Account, which will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs. The program will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC). Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000).

• EDC will guarantee new operating credit and cash flow term loans that financial institutions can extend to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), up to $6.25 million.

• A co-lending program for SMEs where the Business Development Bank of Canada works with financial institutions to co-lend term loans to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.

Additional details about these measures can be found on the websites for the Prime Minister of Canada, the Department of Finance Canada, and the Bank of Canada.

The new measures announced are expected to complement the CERB, a taxable benefit that will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures. 

The government has said the CERB will apply to contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance. The CERB will also be available to workers who are still employed but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19. The new benefit will be available through an online portal that is set to launch on April 6, with funds expected to flow within 10 days of applying. More information can be found in last week’s News2Me.

CREA is monitoring the implementation of these programs and will continue to advocate on behalf of REALTORS^®. Please monitor your inbox for more important information from CREA.

For up-to-date information from CREA, visit our COVID-19 page here. 

• Government introduced the Emergency Care Benefit, providing up to $900 bi-weekly for up to 15 weeks, to workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19, as well as those who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, but do not qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020 through the Canada Revenue Agency My Account secure portal, My Service Canada Account, or through an automated application process by telephone
• Effective March 16, the Bank of Canada has lowered its target for the overnight rate by 50 basis points to ¾ percent as a proactive measure taken to counter negative shocks to Canada’s economy. In the interest of providing financial institutions with the confidence to continue lending to one another, as well as to businesses and consumers, the Bank of Canada will also be purchasing approximately $500 million in mortgage bonds per week, while the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will acquire up to $50 billion of insured mortgage pools.
• Regarding the stress test, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is suspending all consultations on regulatory matters, including on the proposed new Benchmark Rate for the minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages. Government is also suspending the coming into force of the new Benchmark Rate for the minimum qualifying rate for insured mortgages until further notice.

The full list of measures announced by the government today is available here. It is expected the House of Commons will be recalled next week to pass the emergency economic measures.
While all the details of the various programs announced today are not yet available, the Governor of the Bank of Canada concluded today’s press conference with the assurance that “if people need the support, they will get it.” We will continue to monitor the evolution of these programs and continue to advocate on behalf of REALTORS^®.
Canada’s six largest banks also announced financial relief for Canadians impacted by the economic consequences of COVID-19, including up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.

If you have any questions, CREA’s Government Relations team remains available to members and board and association staff.

CREA is working to find out more on this program and the impact on the Realtor® community, we will send out more information as we learn more from CREA.

READ MORE HERE.

Regards,

Larry Westergard – Executive Officer