Financial Support
PROVINCIAL & FEDERAL UPDATES | WHAT YOU CAN DO | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | RELIABLE INFO LINKS
CLICK FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORTS FOR BUSINESS, WORKERS, INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES DOCUMENT
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL SUPPORTS AND FUNDING BOOSTS BEING MADE AVAILABLE:
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HOUSING |
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Support |
Description |
How to Access |
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Bill deferral, payment plans: the BC Hydro COVID Relief Fund is now available. |
Call 1-800-BC-HYDRO or apply online. |
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No rent increases are allowed in BC, effective April 1. |
Contact RTB with questions. |
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Provides up to $500/month to renters and landlords during COVID-19 pandemic. |
Learn more about the program and eligibility | |
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Mortgage payment deferrals available for CMHC-insured loans. |
Check with your lender. |
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Check with your lender about payment deferral options. |
Check with your lender. |
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Existing shelters are active; additional options may be made available. |
Call 2-1-1 or search online. |
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PERSONAL INCOME – WORKFORCE |
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Support |
Description |
How to Access |
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Employment Insurance (EI) |
Existing EI benefit continues to be available. Provides up to $573/week to people who have lost income. |
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One-week waiting period has been waived. |
1-833-381-2725 or apply online. |
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Temporary income support for those who have lost income due to Covid-19 |
More info on application process and eligibility. Apply after April 6th |
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One-time additional tax-free payment to those on EI or CERB. |
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INCOME SUPPLEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS |
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Support |
Description | How to Access |
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One-time boost of up to $600 per eligible couple, $400 for eligible individuals in May. |
Benefit is paid out according to your income tax return. More info here. |
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One-time boost of up to $564 for eligible families of 4 and $218 for eligible individuals in an enhanced payment in July. |
Children under 18 years old must be registered for the CCB to qualify. More info here. |
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Canada Child Benefit (CCB) |
One-time boost of $300 per child in May. |
No action if you are already registered |
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Youth in care will not age out of services during the pandemic |
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Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program payments will continue. |
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Existing Income Assistance program continues to be available for those in need with no other resources. |
Apply online, phone 1-866-866-0800 or visit your local office. |
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Existing Disability Assistance program continues to be available. See also full list of additional supports here. |
Apply online, by phone at 1-866-866-0800, or visit your local office. |
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Existing programs continue to be available, including: |
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OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORTS |
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Support |
Description |
How to Access |
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Hospital parking |
Parking is free at all health authority owned/operated health care sites. |
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Monthly payment deferral for up to 90 days with no penalty. |
Call 1-800-665-6442 or apply online. |
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On April 8, the Province announced the new Emergency Relief Support Fund, and has added service flexibility for parents of children with special needs to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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Child care providers receiving emergency government funding cannot charge parent fees for any periods of closure or for vacant spaces and must reserve spaces for families, starting April. |
Check with your provider to see if they are in this program. |
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Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April. |
Repayment paused automatically. |
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Six-month interest-free moratorium on repayment, starting April. |
Repayment paused automatically. |
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Fare-free boarding on all buses. Enter through rear of the bus, unless accessible loading is required. |
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Minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) has been reduced by 25% for 2020. |
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Emergency loan of $5000 available to Canadians travelling abroad. |
Dial +1 613-996-8885 OR email. |
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Filing due date deferred to June 1. Payments deferred until after August 31. |
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BUSINESSES (BY SECTOR) |
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Support |
Description |
How to Access |
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Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program (CECRA). Thousands of small businesses in British Columbia will see their monthly rent reduced by at least 75%, thanks to the new federal-provincial program. |
Check back once program is launched |
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The Province is taking significant new steps to support B.C. businesses, non-profits and other organizations through the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing most commercial property tax bills by an average of 25%, along with new measures to support local governments facing temporary revenue shortfalls. |
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Emergency funding is available for child care providers that stay open and that close. |
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$3-million Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement to give operating and eligible project clients a supplement of up to $15,000. Clients will receive a 50% advance on 2020-21 funding. |
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Seafood growers, shellfish farmers, and processors, will have access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program. |
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Access to the $5 billion Farm Credit Canada loan program. |
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FUNDING BOOSTS TO CHARITIES FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY |
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Support |
Description |
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Funding boost to Food Banks British Columbia, who will distribute the money among food banks province wide. |
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Funding boost to Kids Help Phone, which provides young people with mental health support. |
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Funding boost to United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors, such as: Delivery of groceries, medications, or other needed items, or personal outreach to assess individuals’ needs and connect them to community supports. |
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CONTACT:
District of Sooke
250-642-1634 info@sooke.ca
Staff Email Directory
Fire Department and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
250-642-5422 SEPDirector@sooke.ca