The Government of Canada is taking further action to support businesses operating in Canada's national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas dealing with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 25, the Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program opened for applications to provide rent relief to small businesses that had been forced to close or had lost a significant portion of their revenue due to COVID-19. Businesses that are renters in Parks Canada places are not eligible for the CECRA program because they, or in some cases their landlord, are on federal lands renting from a federal agency.
Over 700 businesses may now be eligible for relief from the Government of Canada under similar eligibility conditions to those of the CECRA program. The Government of Canada will waive up to 75 percent of eligible commercial rents for the months of April, May and June 2020 or equivalent amounts of annual rents. This relief is additional to measures announced March 27 allowing commercial operators to defer payments normally due on or after April 2, 2020 to as late as September 1, 2020.
Every year, hundreds of businesses deliver important services to thousands of residents and millions of visitors at Parks Canada places across the country. These businesses play a vital role in their local economies and this initiative will help them to weather some of the financial challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.
Parks Canada will be contacting all holders of commercial leases and licences of occupation in national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas to provide details on this additional relief being provided by the government. Information will also be made available soon on the Parks Canada website. Please visit pc.gc.ca regularly for updates.
