Government introduces electricity rate cuts, small business supports in wake of Omicron

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 7, 2021

SIMCOE — The Ontario government is providing targeted relief for businesses and people impacted by the current public health measures aimed at blunting the spread of the Omicron variant. As part of this plan, the government is introducing a $10,000 grant for eligible businesses that are subject to closures under the modifiedStep Two of the Roadmap to Reopenand is providing additional electricity-rate relief for businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home.

“We are all in a tough situation right now and these measures will reduce electricity prices for households and small businesses as well as providing a grant to eligible businesses that have to close,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.

Eligible small businesses include:

• Restaurants and bars;
• Facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including fitness centres and gyms);
• Performing arts and cinemas;
• Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
• Meeting or event spaces;
• Tour and guide services;
• Conference centres and convention centres;
• Driving instruction for individuals; and
• Before- and after- school programs.

Eligible businesses that qualified for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and are subject to closure under modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will be pre-screened to verify eligibility and will not need to apply to the new program. Newly established and newly eligible small businesses will need to apply once the application portal opens in the coming weeks. Small businesses that qualify can expect to receive their payment in February.

The Ontario government is also providing electricity-rate relief to support small businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home while the province is in Modified Step Two. For 21 days starting at 12:01 am on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, electricity prices will be set 24 hours a day at the current off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is less than half the cost of the current on-peak rate. The off-peak rate will apply automatically to residential, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board and get a bill from a utility and will benefit customers on both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans.

Further, online applications for the previously-announcedOntario Business Costs Rebate Programwill open on January 18. This program will provide eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity with rebate payments for up to 100 per cent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to public health measures in response to the Omicron variant.

Eligible businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs. Those required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs. A complete list of eligible businesses will be provided prior to the launch of the application portal.

The government is also improving cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing up to $7.5 billion through a six-month interest- and penalty-free period starting January 1, 2022 for Ontario businesses to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This supports businesses now and provides the flexibility they will need for long-term planning. Building on Ontario’s efforts to improve cash flows for businesses, the province continues to call on the federal government to match provincial tax deferral efforts by allowing small businesses impacted by public health restrictions to defer their HST remittances for a period of six months.

These measures will build on Ontario’s support for businesses and workers, including:

• Cutting wholesale alcohol pricesto provide approximately $60 million in annual support to restaurants, bars and other businesses, as well as making it easier for businesses to create and extend patios and permanently allowing licenced restaurants and bars to include alcohol with food as part of a takeout or delivery order.
• Extending COVID-19 paid sick daysuntil July 31, 2022 to keep workers safe and ensure they do not lose pay if they need to miss work for reasons related to COVID-19.
• Enabling an estimated $10.1 billion in cost savings and support to Ontario businesses in 2021, with more than 60 per cent, or $6.3 billion, going to small businesses, including:
  • Supporting a reduction in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board premiums.
  • Allowing businesses to accelerate write-offs of capital investments for tax purposes.
  • Reducing the small business Corporate Income Tax rate to 3.2 per cent.
  • Providing the Digital Main Street program, which helped more than 20,000 businesses across the province to increase their digital presence in 2020-21.
  • Introducing and temporarily enhancing the Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit to encourage investments in certain regions of Ontario that have lagged in employment growth in the past.
  • Providing targeted COVID-19 support through the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant.
  • Lowering high Business Education Tax rates for job creators.
  • Increasing the Employer Health Tax exemption from $490,000 to $1 million.
  • Lowering electricity bills through measures such as the Comprehensive Electricity Plan, with the Province paying for a portion of high-priced, non-hydro renewable energy contracts.
  • Providing targeted COVID-19 support through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which delivered $3 billion in urgent and unprecedented support to over 110,000 small businesses across the province.
  • Businesses who have questions about public health and workplace safety measures can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. For public inquiries, call ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-866-532-3161.

Quick Facts

• The government has temporarily moved the province back intoStep Two of its Roadmap to Reopen, with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts. These time-limited measures will help blunt transmission and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout. They will be in place at least until January 26, 2022, subject to trends in public health and health system indicators.
• Launched in January 2021, the Ontario Small Business Support Grant provided direct financial support to eligible small businesses that were required to close or significantly restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown that came into effect in December 2020.
• Businesses subject to 50 per cent capacity restrictions are not eligible for the new Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant.
• The Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program provides eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity with rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to public health measures in response to the Omicron variant.

Additional Resources

• COVID-19 public health measures and advice
• Ontario Further Strengthening Response to Omicron
• All Ontarians 18+ Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Appointments at Three-Month Interval
• COVID-19: Help for businesses in Ontario
• Ontario.ca/COVIDsupport

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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org