Provincial programs:
NEW – COVID-19 Wage Rebate for Impacted Industries
- Provides a 25 percent wage rebate (to a maximum of $25/hour for PEI employees, including salary/wages and MERC’s) on payroll for businesses of impacted industries, such as full-service restaurants and fitness centers, for the period of January 19 to 31, 2022.
- Eligible businesses are those covered by current public health closures:
- Gyms, group fitness classes and indoor recreational facilities, bingo halls, museums, casinos, theatres, and cinemas;
- Full-service restaurants, bars or other licensed premises closed to in-room dining.
- Seasonal businesses not operating at this time of year are not eligible.
COVID-19 Emergency Payment for Workers
- Provides financial support to residents of Prince Edward Island who had employment impacts as a result of the COVID-19 public health measures announced December 17, 2021, and further measures announced on January 18, 2022.
- This emergency payment program is a one-time lump sum payment of $500 from the Government of Prince Edward Island and is taxable income.
Emergency Income Relief Program for the Self-Employed
- Supports self-employed Islanders who have lost more than 50 percent of their self-employment income due to public health restrictions put in place on December 17, 2021, and further measures announced on January 18, 2022.
- Who can show that self-employment income is their primary source of income, and
- Who aren’t eligible for other federal support programs.
You are eligible for the Child Care Allowance if you meet the following conditions between the period of January 4 – 21, 2022:
- you are a resident of Prince Edward Island; and
- you are the parent or guardian of a school-aged child between 5-12 years of age; or
- you are the parent or guardian of a child aged 0-school entry years not attached to a licensed child care program or your child care service is not accessible due to Covid-19 or public health restrictions.
Federal programs:
- Expanding the Local Lockdown Program to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50% or more.
- The revenue decline threshold has been lowered from 40% to 25% for eligible employers to receive wage and rent subsidy support.
- Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25% up to a maximum of 75%, depending on their degree of revenue loss.
- The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support. Employers only need to demonstrate revenue loss during the current month compared with 2019.
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
- Expanding the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to include workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions.
- If you are working in a region where the provincial or territorial government has introduced capacity restrictions with 50% or more, and if you have lost 50% or more of your income as a direct result of those restrictions, you can qualify.
- This benefit will provide workers with $300 per week to supplement lost wages.
These updated federal programs and regulations will apply from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022, during which time it is expected that public health authorities will continue to implement “circuit-breaker” restrictions that limit the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across Canada.