Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program and Local Lockdown Program

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The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program and the Local Lockdown Program are successor programs to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) programs.

In addition to the general eligibility criteria, businesses qualify if they meet both of the following criteria:

  1. A 12-month average revenue decrease of at least 50% from March 2020 to February 2021

  2. A current period revenue decrease of at least 50% 

The subsidy is initially a sliding scale of 10-50%, depending on your revenue decrease for the claim period. Starting in March 13, 2022, the subsidy is scheduled to decrease to 5-25%.

Businesses subject to certain health restrictions may also be eligible for the Local Lockdown Program, which allows them to take advantage of a higher subsidy rate normally reserved for tourism and hospitality businesses.

We anticipate the eligibility criteria, subsidy rates, and program timing will be changing often, so check out the CRA’s website for the latest.