The Government of Manitoba is accepting applications for the  Manitoba Bridge Grant (the "MBG") which provides financial support to businesses and organizations that have been affected by province-wide closures associated with the pandemic and accompanying public health orders. Eligible businesses and organizations do not need to repay the funding they receive through the MBG.

Update:  On December 8, 2020, the Manitoba government announced the expansion of the MBG to help more businesses that were not included in the first stream of funding. The second stream will provide up to $5,000 in support to eligible home-based businesses, including but not limited to: event planners, photographers, artists and tradespeople who do not operate a retail location. Businesses that were ineligible for the first round may now apply for the second stream of the MBG as of December 9, and the deadline to apply for both streams is December 31, 2020.

More information about the current public health orders implemented when all Manitoba Health Regions moved to the critical (red) level can be found in our blog  here.

The MBG provides an immediate, one-time payment of $5,000 to small and medium-sized businesses and organizations that were ordered effective November 12 to fully close their premises as a result of the new Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders.

Businesses eligible for the grant include:

  • non-essential retailers;
  • restaurants, bars, beverage rooms, brewpubs, microbreweries, distilleries;
  • recreation and sport facilities;
  • museums and galleries;
  • theatres and concert halls;
  • not-for-profit organizations, faith-based organizations;
  • home-based businesses including but not limited to: event planners, photographers, artists, tradespeople; and
  • registered charities.

Eligible businesses and organizations are able to apply for one grant per business number regardless of the number of operating locations. To qualify for the grant, among other criteria listed below, a business or organization must have been actively operating in Manitoba immediately prior to the announced mandated closures that took effect on November 12. To note, businesses using alternative methods to provide services to the public (such as offering delivery or curbside pickup despite having to fully close physical locations) are also eligible for the program.

Businesses and organizations that have received other federal or provincial COVID-19 relief funding are also eligible to apply for the MBG.

To receive support from the MBG, a business or organization must:

  • be a permanent, Manitoba-based business or organization physically operating in the Province of Manitoba;
  • have been actively operating or conducting business on November 9, 2020;
  • operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, co-operative, non-share corporation, not-for-profit organization, or registered charity;
  • possess an active and valid Business Number as of November 9, 2020;
  • be in good standing with the Manitoba Companies Office (not required for sole proprietors and registered charities);
  • have been required by Manitoba COVID-19 Prevention Orders in effect as of November 12, 2020 to fully close their premises to the public; and
  • have an e-mail address and a valid business bank account with a Canadian financial institution.

Businesses and organizations not eligible for the MBG include:

  • business and organizations that are permitted to operate, but were required to limit the number of occupants within their premises;
  • businesses that do not exist for the purpose of carrying on an active business in Manitoba (e.g., passive businesses);
  • businesses or organizations that engage in multi-level marketing;
  • businesses or organizations that were in arrears for taxes owing to Manitoba before the first state of emergency on March 20, 2020, and that have not since rectified the amount in arrears (note: this does not include businesses that have deferred tax remittances incurred between April and September 2020).

Payments will be automatically deposited into a business or organization's bank account within 10 business days after the application is approved. The application deadline for the first stream of the MBG has been extended from December 15 to December 31, 2020.

Though the province extended the current public health orders past January 1, 2021, to date the Manitoba government has not extended the MBG to provide an additional $5,000 to eligible businesses and organizations.

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.