Latest Announcements

Government of Canada addresses CERB repayments for self-employed individuals and announces interest relief on 2020 income tax debt due to COVID-19 related income support

The Government of Canada announced that self-employed individuals who applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and would have qualified based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit, provided they also met all other eligibility requirements. The same approach will apply whether the individual applied through the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.

This means that, self-employed individuals whose net self-employment income was less than $5,000 and who applied for the CERB will not be required to repay the CERB, as long as their gross self-employment income was at least $5,000 and they met all other eligibility criteria.

In addition, today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced that the Government of Canada will provide targeted interest relief to Canadians who received COVID-related income support benefits. Once individuals have filed their 2020 income tax and benefit return, they will not be required to pay interest on any outstanding income tax debt for the 2020 tax year until April 30, 2022. This will give Canadians more time and flexibility to pay if they have an amount owing. Continue reading the full release HERE.

Highlights of the Speech from the Throne

The federal government highlighted its priorities for Canada’s economic recovery plan through its Speech from the Throne last week. CDA was pleased to hear promises to support the performing arts, take new steps to support the artistic contributions of Black Canadians, invest in a national early learning and child care system and develop an Action Plan for Women in the Economy.
Click HERE to read learn more.

The federal government passed Bill C-20 to extend the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program (CEWS). The approved legislation extends the program until November 21, with the possibility of further extensions until December 31, 2020. Various changes were made to calculations for the program, introducing a base rate for those who have experienced any decline in revenue (including those less than 30%), and top-up rates for those who have experienced revenue losses of over 50%. The new changes take effect retroactively to July 5, 2020. You can review the Backgrounder HERE which goes into further details.

November 23rd - While the wage subsidy program is already extended until June 2021, the current proposed changes freeze the current subsidy rate until December 19, 2020. Read further details in the Backgrounder HERE.

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy – CERS would provide up to 65% of a company’s rent, property tax, property insurance, and/or mortgage interest payments per month. This program helps to provide relief to businesses, non-profits, and charities that continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. Backgrounder HERE

There is also additional Lockdown Support which would provide an extra 25% towards a company’s rent, property tax, property insurance, and/or mortgage interest payment if the business is forced to close due to a mandatory lockdown order.
Click HERE to read learn more

See previous updates and announcements HERE

COVID-19 ASO Response Group

The COVID-19 ASO Response Group submitted a joint letter to government officials, including the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Finance, outlining the dire impacts of the pandemic on our sector and advocating for continued supports for arts and culture.

ASO Response Group, a group of Canadian arts service organizations and networks, working in solidarity to represent more than 2591 arts organizations, 15,482 artists, along with over 1000 affiliated supporters.

As arts service organizations representing broad constituencies, we stand together in solidarity with individuals, networks and organizations to advocate the centrality of arts in our society and create a path forward out of the COVID-19 crisis for the arts and culture ecosystem of Canada.

To complement the work of our individual organizations, we work in collaboration with a variety of sector partners – including but not limited to the Canadian Arts Coalition, Mass Culture, Imagine Canada, and Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance – that share our commitment to transparency, authentic consultation, and research.

Guidelines for Re-Opening

The CDA has collected resources around guidelines for re-opening of studios and facilities. This information can be found HERE.

In response to these extraordinary circumstances, and to help lead the Canadian performing arts sector toward recovery, the National Arts Centre developed a series of tools for the re-opening of performing arts centres and venues. These tools were developed in collaboration with leaders from more than 40 performing arts organizations from across the country.

Tools
Sample Loss Report Spreadsheet - Template courtesy of Tau S. Bui, with English translation, provincial update by Pam Tzeng
Lost Income Tracking Spreadsheet - ArtsLinkNB
Coronavirus Response for the Live Performance Sector (provided by CAPACOA)
Metric Categories to consider for Arts & Culture - Impacts of COVID19 by Global Public Affairs
Offering venue space - Should governments and healthcare organizations need spaces for testing, blood donations, etc. would you be willing to offer your cultural venue? 
The New School of Finance - Financial tips and aid
"How-To"s for Accessing COVID-19 Government Relief Programs - from Young Associates (setting up your nonprofit's access to CRA, wage subsidy and applying for CERB)
'How-To's for Accessing CERS & CEWS and Budgeting Tips - from Young Associates
Navigating the CECRA Program (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance) - from Young Associates
Actsafe Resources and information sheets - Actsafe has created resources for the Performing Arts and Live Events industry on returning to safe operation.
Our government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website - for information about supporting your employees and your business.
The Canadian Business Resilience Network - a partnership between our government and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to help your business prepare, persevere and prosper through this crisis.
PPE Supply Hub – Canadian businesses in need of personal protective equipment, and businesses looking to sell these supplies can go to this hub to connect.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – for a free online course to provide businesses with all the information they need to reopen safely.

Support - Financial and other
Alberta Stabilize Program - One-time operational funding for rodeos, sports, arts and other venue-based groups to help stabilize Alberta’s live experience sector.
Apply to the Canada Recovery Benefit
The AFC - emergency financial aid relief for artists 
Leadership Emergency Arts Network Information for Organization - Pro bono response network to help Canadian professional non-profit arts organizations (big and small) deal with what is coming during this crisis.
Free tech help during the pandemic - list provided by Camp Tech
Rags to Reasonable - Financial services for people who don’t make money in a 'traditional' way, or who feel alienated by the language of finance. One-to-one coaching, group workshops, and online tools for financial stability and sustainability. Free 30 min coaching sessions on the 3rd Monday of every month!

Funding Councils and Foundations
BC Arts Council - announces operating assistance and new Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement and Pivot for Individuals
Calgary Arts Development - funding support
Calgary Arts Development - Organizational Structure Change Grant
Canada Council for the Arts - Government $55M funds administered by the Council
Canada Council for the Arts FAQ - Advancing funds equivalent to 35% of annual grants held by all core funded organizations​
If you have a COVID-19 related question for the Canada Council, please email: covid19@canadacouncil.ca. Also, view their latest survey results HERE
Canadian Heritage - FAQ's and information for grants and contributions recipients
Manitoba Bridge Grant: provides a $5,000 grant to eligible Manitoba businesses and organizations that are required to fully close their premises to the public as a result of Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders in effect as of November 12, 2020 or any revisions to those Orders.

We encourage all members to be in touch with their programming officers regarding their specific programming, future applications and extension requests. 


Support - Health and Wellness
Dancer Transition Resource Centre - counselling support 
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Dedicated mental health resources for coping with COVID-19
Peer to peer discussion forum - CAMH
Wellness Together Canada - provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections
Self-Care in challenging times by Dr. Blessyl Buan - View slide presentation HERE.
Helping Dancers Help Themselves. The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science has responded to COVID-19 with lives streams and webinars that address dancer mental health and safe dance practice during the current pandemic.
takecare19. A compilation of accessible—mostly free or low-cost, and inclusive resources to help cope and support mental wellness through COVID-19 (and beyond).
TOOLS to Manage Mental Health & Build Resilience (webinar hosted by CAPACOA and CDA)



 
Connecting Online
PACT weekly town halls
I Lost My Gig Canada or join the Facebook Group
The Social Distancing Festival  

Kid Friendly Activities

Thanks to our database partner SUMAC for this activity book
The Senate of Canada has also provided some great educational publications for age 6-13. Resources that can help students of all ages learn about the Senate and Parliament!
Bring Dance into your Home - initiative of the National Ballet School. Explore resources for all ages


Reports and Statistics

The National Arts and Culture Impact Survey (NACIS) was co-commissioned by a group of 30 national and provincial arts service organizations representing a range of artistic disciplines. The survey was designed to capture a snapshot in time of arts organizations, artists, and arts workers across Canada.

Hill Strategies Research releases report on Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts. The issue highlights the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the arts and culture, based on four Canadian and American surveys.

CAPACOA shows that the arts, entertainment, and recreation workforce is still experiencing a much slower recovery compared to workers in other cultural disciplines. CAPACOA offers insightful and easily digestible analyses of arts and culture research, view their latest blog post on Employment in Arts and Culture Industries.

Canadian Arts Coalition Survey points to Slow Recovery
Business / Arts and National Arts Centre - Arts Response Tracking Survey
COVID-19 Audience Outlook Monitor - Ontario – Ontario Ontario Arts Council
Entertainment Barometer: Segmentation of entertainment consumers in Quebec in times of COVID-19

Resource Links
Public Health Agency of Canada Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre
Public Health Agency Travel Advisories
COVID-19: Financial help for Canadians outside Canada
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a FREE Flu and Infectious Disease Outbreaks Business Continuity Plan available 
Dance Studies Association - Resources for moving dance pedagogy online
Early COVID-19 Impacts on OAC-Funded Arts Organizations survey findings
Culture Montréal - Impacts on Montreal’s Cultural Sector: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questionnaire
Americans for the Arts - The Economic Impact of Coronavirus on the Arts and Culture Sector
Actsafe BC – Resources for the Arts and Entertainment Industry
World Health Organization - Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus (videos and infographics available)