COVID-19 resources for Calgarians

Last updated May 29, 2020.

Financial support for individuals

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

The CERB is a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 16 weeks provided to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19.

The CERB is available to workers who meet all the following conditions:

Live in Canada and are at least 15 years old

Stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits

Have not voluntarily quit their job

Had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application

On April 15, the federal government announced changes to the eligibility rules to:

Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.

Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work because of COVID-19.

Extend the CERB to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job because of COVID-19.

Do not apply for the CERB if you have already applied for EI. Click here to apply for the CERB.

Mortgage payment deferrals

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), "Homeowners facing financial stress may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral up to six months to help ease the financial burden." For more information, click here.

To determine your eligibility or request a mortgage payment deferral, contact your lender:

ATB Financial – 1-800-332-8383

B2B Bank – 1-800-263-8349

BMO – 1-877-895-3278

Bridgewater Bank – 1-866-243-4301

CIBC – 1-800-465-2422

CMLS Financial – 1-888-995-2657

CWB Optimum Mortgage – 1-866-441-3775

Equitable Bank – 1-888-334-3313

Connect First Credit Union – 403-736-4000

Chinook Financial – 403-934-3358

First Calgary Financial – 403-736-4000

First National Financial – 1-888-488-0794

Haventree Bank – 1-855-272-0051

Home Trust Company – 1-855-270-3630

HSBC – 1-888-310-4722

ICICI Bank – 1-888-424-2422

Manulife Bank – 1-877-765-2265

MCAP – 1-800-265-2624

Merix Financial – 1-877-637-4911

Marathon Financial – 1-855-503-6060

RBC – 1-800-769-2511

RFA Bank of Canada – 1-877-416-7873

RMG Mortgages – 1-866-809-5800

Scotiabank – 1-800-472-6842

Servus Credit Union – 1-877-378-8728

TD Canada Trust – 1-866-222-3456

Additional Links

Government of Canada: Employment Insurance (EI) Program
- COVID-19 EI claims or assistance – call 1-833-381-2725

Government of Canada: Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

Government of Alberta: Support for Albertans

Financial support for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) generally covers 75 per cent of an employee's wages – up to $847 per week – for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15 per cent in March and 30 per cent in April and May.

The program will be in place until Aug. 29.

Employers who are eligible for the CEWS are entitled to receive a 100 per cent refund for certain employer contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan paid in respect of employees who are on leave with pay.

Click here to apply for the CEWS.

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses provides relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. It offers unsecured, forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners to:

reduce the rent owed by their impacted small business tenants

meet operating expenses on commercial properties

Property owners must offer a minimum of a 75% rent reduction for the months of April, May and June 2020.

Click here to apply for CECRA.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.

To qualify, these organizations need to demonstrate they paid $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.

Repaying the balance of the loan on or before Dec. 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

Business owners can apply for support from the CEBA through their banks and credit unions. There are currently 232 financial institutions participating in the CEBA program.

Click here to learn more about the CEBA.

Additional Links