As the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy ("CERS") program ends, the Canadian federal government (the "Government") recently announced new targeted COVID-19 support measures to support commercial tenants: the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (the "Tourism Program") and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (the "Hardest-Hit Program"). As, many COVID-19 restrictions continue to be lifted, these new programs are aimed at providing support to those businesses that have been most deeply affect by the pandemic. The details of these programs are not finalized; however, on October 21, 2021, the Government released a broad overview of the support that will be available under the proposed measures.

The Government proposes to use its existing authority to put these two programs in place by regulation from October 24, 2021 until November 20, 2021 and proposes to introduce legislation in Parliament as soon as possible to extend these programs until May 7, 2022, with authority for further amendments by regulation until July 2, 2022.

The Tourism Program

The Tourism Program is intended to provide support to eligible organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, festivals, travel agencies, tour operators, convention centres, and convention and trade show organizers. While details on what constitutes a "qualifying business" for purposes of this program are not yet available, organizations would need to demonstrate the following in order to qualify:

  • an average monthly revenue reduction of at least 40% over the first 13 qualifying periods of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") (i.e., a 12-month revenue decline); and
  • a current-month revenue loss of at least 40%.

The calculation of the 12-month revenue decline would take the average of all revenue decline percentages for eligible organizations from Periods 1 through 13 (i.e., March 2020 to February 2021), excluding Period 10 or 11. Periods in which an organization was not carrying on its ordinary operations for reasons other than a public health restriction (e.g., a seasonal shutdown) would be excluded from the calculation as well. The 12-month revenue decline would be calculated using the CEWS rules.

The rent subsidy rates are to be calculated by comparing current-month revenue losses to those of a prior reference period. The starting subsidy rate is 40% which increases on a sliding scale as revenue further declines. For example, if an organization's revenue decline is 40%, a 40% subsidy is applicable, and if an organization's revenue decline is 50%, then a 50% subsidy is available. The maximum subsidy for Periods 22 to 26 (i.e., October 24, 2021 to March 12, 2022) is 75%, so once an organization has a revenue decline of 75% or greater, the applicable subsidy remains 75%.  For Periods 27 and 28 (i.e., March 13, 2022 until May 7, 2022), the rent subsidy rates are to be reduced by half.

In addition, additional lockdown support for qualifying rent expenses is to be available at the fixed rate of 25%, pro-rated based on the number of days a particular location is affected by a lockdown.

The Hardest-Hit Program

The Hardest-Hit Program is intended to provide support to organizations that do not qualify for the Tourism Program, but that have been deeply affected since the outset of the pandemic. These organizations would need to meet the following requirements:

  • an average monthly revenue reduction of at least 50% over the first 13 qualifying periods of CEWS (i.e., a 12-month revenue decline); and
  • a current-month revenue loss of at least 50%.

The same rules apply for calculating the 12-month revenue decline as for the Tourism Program, outlined above.

The subsidy rates are also calculated in a similar way to those under the Tourism Program. However, the sliding scale here has a starting subsidy rate of 10% and a maximum subsidy rate of 50% for Periods 22 to 26 (i.e., October 24, 2021 to March 12, 2022) for eligible organizations with revenue declines of 75% or greater. The rent subsidy rates are again to be reduced by half for Periods 27 and 28 (i.e., March 13, 2022 to May 7, 2022).

The additional lockdown support for qualifying rent expenses available under the Tourism Program would also be available under this program.

Lockdown Support

Businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns will be eligible for support at the subsidy rates as calculated in the Tourism Program, regardless of sector. To be eligible for the subsidies, business must: (1) have one or more locations subject to a public health restriction lasting for at least seven days in the current claim period; and (2) the public health restriction must require the business to cease  activities that accounted for at least 25% (approximately) of total revenues of the employer during the prior reference period. Applicants would not need to demonstrate a 12-month revenue decline, but only a current-month decline. While the Government's announcement did not contain the exact details, it appears that rent subsidies would be available under this program.

Increasing Monthly Cap on Eligible Expenses

The Government also proposes to make legislative amendments to the monthly cap on eligible expenses that exists under CERS. Under the current rules, there is a monthly cap on eligible expenses that can be claimed under CERS of $75,000 per business location and $300,000 in total for all locations (including any amounts claimed by affiliated entities); the Government proposes to increase the aggregate monthly cap from $300,000 to $1 million (including any amounts claimed by affiliated entities) starting on October 24, 2021.

This new monthly cap would be available to all eligible employers and organizations that meet the eligibility requirements for the rent subsidy under the Tourism Program and the Hardest-Hit Program.

As the Government introduces legislation for the programs described above, further details on eligibility will become available. Overall, these programs are welcome news for commercial tenants, and particularly for those in the tourism and hospitality industry which are eligible for the greatest potential subsidies. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to be lifted, so will the financial supports available. The Government's recent announcement of these proposed programs should provide commercial tenants that have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic some comfort that they may be able to continue to receive rent support, despite the CERS program ending.

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