COVID-19 Response Plan - Saskatchewan Government - Support for Canadians

SK Support for Businesses

Provincial Sales Tax

Eligibility

• Applicable to SK businesses unable to remit PST due to cashflow concerns

Benefit

• Three-month relief from penalty and interest charges

Action Needed

• Tax returns must still be filed each month/quarter
• No requirement to submit a request for relief

Re-Open SK Training Subsidy (RSTS)

Eligibility

• Applicable to SK employers on the Government of SK’s list of critical public services and allowable businesses during the emergency period, or eligible to resume operations in a confirmed phase of Re-Open SK Plan (see list)
• Eligible trainees must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with valid SIN; and, and existing employee of the applying employer

Benefit

• 100% reimbursement to eligible employers for approved training
• Approved employers receive 33% of cost of training at time of agreement; remaining 67% paid upon completion of final reporting and verification of expenditure
• Maximum payment is $10K to eligible employers for duration of RSTS program

Action Needed

• Applications must be received by March 31, 2021
• For more information, see program overview and application instructions

Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate (SRAR)

Eligibility

• Small businesses in SK which incur incremental expenses to adapt business models to operating during COVID-19 pandemic

Benefit

• Payment of up to $5K for 50% of total eligible business-adaptation investments made by applicant between April 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021
• Minimum business expenditure is $300 (rebate of $150)

Action Needed

• Applications accepted from December 22, 2020 to March 31, 2021
• For details, see here

Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) 

Eligibility

• A Saskatchewan business who:
• Was carrying on business on February 29, 2020 (Phase 1) or October 31, 2020 (Phase 2);
• Has been ordered to temporarily close or curtail operations through a COVID-19 public health order;
• Has less than 500 employees;
• Can attest to a loss in revenue due to a COVID-19 public health order and that they plan to re-open following the cancellation of the order; and
• Has not received any payment, including insurance, to compensate for the loss of sales revenue other than amounts from other government assistance programs

Benefit

• Payment of 15% of the business’s monthly sales revenue in either April 2019 or February 2020 up to a maximum of $5,000 per business. The business may select either of those months to calculate their payment.
• Payment can be used for any purpose.
• Phase 1 of the program was offered April through June of 2020; amended Phase 2 was established for December 1-31, 2020.

Action Needed

• Apply online on or before July 31, 2020 (Phase 1)
• Applications for Phase 2 opened December 7, 2020; application process closes January 31,2021
• More details available:
  • SSBEP

Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) (closed)

Eligibility

• Applicable to SK employers unable to pay WCB premiums

Benefit

• WCB is:
  • Waiving penalties and interest charges for late payments from April 1 until July 31, 2020
  • Forgiving interest and penalties for late payments applied in month of March
  • Prioritizing employer payroll revisions to help employers reduce their premiums
  • Suspending payroll audits until further notice

Action Needed

• No action required; employers able to make premium payments are encouraged to do so

SK Support for Individuals

Self-Isolation Support Program (closed)

Eligibility

• Workers residing in SK and in self-isolation due to:
  • Contracting COVID-19 or present symptoms;
  • Being in contact with person infected with COVID-19; or
  • Returning from abroad

• And:
  • Not receiving compensation from employer
  • Not having private insurance
  • Not having coverage by another government program, such as Federal Employment Insurance (EI)

Benefit

• Support of $450 per week, for a maximum of two weeks, or $900 total, will be granted to an eligible SK worker

Action Needed

• Online application process
• More details available:
  • Self-Isolation Support Program

Temporary Wage Support for Lower Income Essential Workers for Vulnerable Citizens

Eligibility

• Part-time and full-time workers employed at:
• Senior-care facilities including private care homes and home care;
• Licensed childcare facilities;
• Group homes ran by community-based organizations; and
• Emergency shelters and transition shelters.
• Phase 1 had an eligibility requirement that a worker must have total earnings less than $2,500 in the four-week application period; Phase 2 has no such requirement

Benefit

• Support of $400 per month, for a maximum of 16 weeks, will be granted to an eligible SK worker for period from March 15, 2020 to July 4, 2020 (Phase 1)
• Phase 2 provides $400 for each four-week period, for two periods from November 19 to December 16, 2020, and from December 17, 2020 to January 13, 2021

Action Needed

• Applications accepted until February 15, 2021
• For more details, see here

Utility Payment Deferral

Eligibility

• Saskatchewan customers whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions

Benefit

• Zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for all Crown utilities

Action Needed

• Contact utility provider to make payment arrangements

Federal Support for Canadians

• For our summary of the Federal support programs for businesses and individuals, please visit HERE