Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
A detailed table outlining the various programs available in British Columbia are listed below. If you would like to discuss your eligibility for any of these programs...
A detailed table outlining the various programs available in
British Columbia are listed below. If you would like to discuss
your eligibility for any of these programs, please do not hesitate
to contact a member of our team.
The B.C. Fast Pilot program provides
up to $200,000 for regional SMEs to design, build and operate a
pilot plant or small demonstration of their technology in
real-world conditions
The program allows B.C. technology
companies to demonstrate the impact of their product, measure the
value of their solution, and encourage customer adoption
Be a B.C.-based business
Have less than 500 employees on
payroll
Have developed a prototype and are
ready to demonstrate the technology at a customer site.
Have an early adopter or potential
customer
The application deadline is May 28
2020
BC Women's Enterprise Centre Loan Program
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Loans up to $150,000 for BC women,
plus access to up to an additional $100K through our partnership
with BDC
Loans for market-ready start-ups,
business expansion projects and business purchases
Loans for leaseholds, equipment,
operating capital and more
Flexible repayment options and terms
up to 5 years
Lower security and equity
requirements than many other lenders
You may qualify with us, even if you
don't with other lenders. For basic eligibility you must be: A
woman who owns and controls at least 51% of a business that is
registered and located in British Columbia, a Canadian citizen or
Permanent Resident, and residing in British Columbia
The Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI)
provides up to $10,000 a year for B.C.-based companies to hire
undergrad and graduate students
This program has also recently been
updated so that both tech companies and non-tech organizations can
benefit from it
The ISI grant can help you hire
talent on a full or part-time basis. Whether you're a non-tech
company looking for a tech expert to develop your online presence
or you're a tech company that needs support with business
operations, the ISI can help you
To be eligible, you are:
A tech company or tech non-profit
hiring for a business or tech role, or
A non-tech business or non-profit
hiring for a tech role
Hiring a post-secondary student from
an accredited institution in BC
To be eligible, your student:
Is not a co-op student
Will be hired for a business or
technical role
Is enrolled at an accredited post
secondary institution in BC
British Columbia is extending filing
and payment deadlines for the following taxes until September 30,
2020:
- Employer Health Tax
- Sales Taxes
- Provincial sales tax (including municipal and regional district
tax)
- Carbon tax
- Motor fuel tax and Tobacco tax
Carbon tax rates will remain at their
current levels until further notice
School tax rates for commercial
properties (Classes 4, 5 and 6) will be reduced by 50% for the 2020
tax year
On April 16, the school property tax
was lowered again and classes 7 and 8 are now included. Overall,
the commercial property tax bill for most businesses will be
reduced by 25% on average
Late payment penalties for classes 4,
5, 6, 7 and 8 are postponed to October 1, 2020
Your business files taxes in British
Columbia
N/A
Worksafe BC
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Q1 payments for 2020 have been
postponed - businesses that report payroll and make payments on a
quarterly basis can defer payments without penalty until June 30,
2020
Employers who report payroll on an
annual basis do not need to report their 2020 payroll or pay their
2020 premiums until March 2021
Employers based in BC are
eligible
N/A
BC Hydro
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Small businesses that have been
forced to close due to COVID-19 will have their power bills
forgiven for three months (April to June 2020)
Major industries, like pulp and paper
mills and mines, will have the opportunity to defer 50% of their
bill payments for three months
BC Hydro rates have been reduced by
1% e ective April 1, 2020
BC Hydro customers are
eligible
N/A
Greenhouse Carbon Tax Relief Grants
Description
Eligibility
Application details
Greenhouse operators can now apply
for carbon tax relief grants for the 2020 production year, until
May 1, 2020
Commercial producers in B.C. who grow
vegetables, ornamental flowers and plants, forest seedlings and
nursery plants are eligible to apply for the grant if they: had
sales exceeding $20,000 in 2019, used natural gas or propane to
heat their greenhouses or produce carbon dioxide, and had a
production area greater than 455 square metres
Cannabis is not an eligible crop at
any phase of production
To qualify to receive a 2020 GCTRG, an Applicant must have met
all of the following criteria at the time of the application
submission:
is a corporation, partnership or
individual(s) operating a commercial greenhouse in British Columbia
for the entire 2020 production year
is using natural gas or propane in
the operation of their Eligible Production Area for heating or the
production of CO2 for Eligible Crop fertilization, or both
had sales in 2019 exceeding $20,000
(for start-ups or new purchases, an operator anticipates sales
exceeding $20,000 in 2019) from the production of Eligible
Crops
has a minimum of 455 square metres
(5,000 square feet) of Eligible Production Area
is using at least 75% of their total
Eligible Production Area for the production of Eligible Crops
is producing an Eligible Crop
has completed and submitted the
online survey by May 1, 2020
A new B.C. Business COVID-19 Support
Service will serve as a single point of contact for businesses
throughout the province looking for information on resources
available during the COVID-19 pandemic
The service will act as a one-stop
resource to answer questions about supports available to businesses
from the provincial and federal governments, industry and community
partners
Advisors are available Monday to
Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Pacific time) and Saturday from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1 833 254-4357. Inquiries can also be emailed to
covid@smallbusinessbc.ca, or raised on the
live-chat feature available on SBBC's dedicated website: https://covid.smallbusinessbc.ca
BC businesses are
eligible
N/A
B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers
Description
Eligibility
Application details
The B.C. Emergency Benefit for
Workers (BCEBW) is a one-time, tax-free $1,000 payment for British
Columbians whose ability to work has been a ected as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic
Most people who are eligible for the
new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are also
eligible for the BCEBW, including those who have run out of
employment insurance (EI) benefits and subsequently qualify for the
CERB
To be eligible for the BCEBW, you
must: have been a resident of British Columbia on March 15, 2020,
meet the eligibility requirements for the CERB, have been approved
for the CERB, even if you have not received a benefit yet, be at
least 15 years old on the date of application, have filed, or agree
to file, a 2019 B.C. income tax return, and not be receiving
provincial income assistance or disability assistance
Applications open on May 1,
2020
About Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm. We provide the
world's preeminent corporations and financial institutions with
a full business law service. We have 3800 lawyers and other legal
staff based in more than 50 cities across Europe, the United
States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle
East and Central Asia.
Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the
key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy;
infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and
innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.
Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global
business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to
provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of
our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of
contact.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.