COVID Resources for Businesses

Important note for manufactures considering switching up operations. 

If you are considering switching your current operation to manufacture needing PPE and sanitizers, to sell or donate, please reach out to the team at Quinte Economic Development Commission for resources and assistance. Some products may require approvals from Health Canada or local healthcare facilities before use. 

Learn more about local responses, updates and announcements from the City of Quinte West. [link to Covid-19 Response page]

Sign-up for our City’s Economic Development e-newsletter. 

Learn more about local health restrictions from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

• Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availablity Program (HASCAP). A loans program designed to provide guaranteed, low-interest loans between $25 thousand to $1 million to Canadian small businesses that Covid-19 heavily impacted.
• Service Canada for assistance with critical services and benefits. 
• Covid 19 Challenge: Made in Canada filtration material for the manufacture of N95 respirators and surgical masks.
• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
• Canada Emergency Business Account (CBEA) 
• Canada’s Covid-19 Economic Response Plan, Support for businesses.
• Managing your business during Covid-19, Support for businesses. 
• Temporary Wage Subsidy (TWS) for employers. 
• Canada’s Regional Development Agencies.
• Supplying goods and services in support of Canada’s response to Covid-19.
• Business support through Tenval and Small Business Centre. 
• Information on hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers with evidence for the use against Covid-19.

• Ontario to require proof of vaccination in select settings. 
• Ontario moving to step three of the roadmap to reopen on July 16 news release.
• Ontario’s three-step roadmap to safely reopen.
• Information on Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant. A grant that provides a one-time payment of up to $20 thousand to eligible small businesses in the tourism and travel sector. 
• SBC Digital Enhancement Grant. A grant designed as a push forward in helping grow a strong digital marketing strategy. Each grant is $15 hundred in total and can be used in combination with personal investments to accomplish a larger goal. For more information, contact the Small Business Centre Program Coordinator at luc@smallbusinessctr.com. 
• Strengthening enforcement of Ontario’s stay-at-home order.
• Provincial emergency stay-at-home order.
• Provincewide emergency brake.
• Covid-19 response framework: Keeping Ontario safe and open. 
• Enhancing Public Health and workplace safety measurements in the province-wide shutdown.
• Temporary property tax and energy cost rebates.
• Covid-19 Energy Assistance Program for small businesses (CEAP-SB). 
• Covid-19: Help for businesses in Ontario.
• Resources to prevent Covid-19 in the workplace. 
• Ontario Emergency Commerical Rent Assistance Program.
• Ontario Together: Help fight Covid-19. 
• Stop the Spread Business Information Line, 1-888-444-3659, A toll-free line to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province’s recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontarios’ Chief Medical Officer of Health. 
• Ontario Together: Help fight Covid-19. A way that businesses and organizations can help supply emergency products and innovative solutions to support our response to Covid -19. 

In response to the Province of Ontario’s Stage 2 – Reopening Ontario Plan released on June 8, 2020, the City of Quinte West offers an expedited process to allow for temporary patio spaces. The temporary patios must comply with the general safety requirements outlined in the temporary patio registration form and will be allowed to operate without permits until the provincial emergency order restricting indoor dining is revoked if registered with the City.

Registration:

• Complete the temporary patio registration form.
• Open your patio. If you intend to serve alcohol, you must comply with the guidelines of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
• If the patio is located on city property, provide a Certificate of Insurance to the City of Quinte West (office of the CAO) within five business days of registration. Refer to the registration form appendix for details.
• If an applicant received approval for a temporary patio in 2020 or 2021, the permit will continue for the 2022 season.  All applicants must ensure that insurance coverage is in place for the duration of the 2022 season.

General health and safety guidelines

All Patios on private and City property (except municipal road allowances):

• The patio must be open air (no tents/structures/canopies).
• Patios with 60 persons or less shall be provided with one or more means of egress (minimum of one – 3 ft. (900 mm) opening or swing gate).
• Patios with greater than 60 persons shall provide two remote means of egress (minimum of two – 3 ft. (900 mm) openings or swing gates that open out from the patio).
• A fence or barrier surrounding the patio is required if alcohol is being served.
• Fences or barriers must be secured.
• Patio umbrellas, planter boxes, signs, sandwich boards, etc., must not overhang or extend beyond the patio area.
• The patio must not extend in front of adjacent tenant spaces.
• Patios must not obstruct a designated fire route.
• Patios must not obstruct or impede existing sidewalks
• Patio locations should limit the number of parking spaces lost and not obstruct or remove accessible parking spots.
• There must be access to a fire extinguisher inside or outside the building and 3 ft., 3 in. (1 m.) clearance for the fire department connection.
• The organization of tables, seating and access, must be accessible and barrier-free
• Business name and logo may appear on fencing, but other banners and signs are prohibited.
• The size of the patio should be limited as necessary to minimize disturbance where there are nearby residential dwellings. Patio service shall be closed by 11:00 pm unless otherwise extended by the City.
• No open-air fires (bonfires, no solid fuel permitted) are allowed within the patio.
• In an emergency maintenance/repair situation, the patio elements will be removed by others to allow for maintenance/repair activities. In a non-emergency maintenance/repair situation, notice will be provided to the applicant to have the patio elements removed to allow for maintenance/repair activities.

Additional requirements for patios encroaching on City property (except municipal road allowances):

• A sketch showing the dimensions of the patio area and location is required to be submitted to the City.
• City Staff will inspect the patio area within 24 hours of the registration application is submitted.
• The City will undertake the physical closure of the patio area, ensuring a safe barrier between the patio area and public property. Alternatively, the business owner can install the barrier with City approval.
• The business owner is responsible for setting up patio space internally
• Requests for patios on municipal road allowances will be considered on a site-by-site basis.

Fees

Fees will be waived for the registration of temporary patios.

Inspections/occupancy

You are not required to call for inspections; however, the City may conduct audit inspections of patios to ensure compliance with the general safety requirements outlined in the registration form.

You are not required to request an occupancy permit; however, you must comply with the Provincial social distancing guidelines.

If you require municipal approval to obtain a liquor license, the AGCO will be notified of the registration of your patio.

• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has adapted a sign for businesses and organizations to use to alert patrons that they are subject to the upcoming vaccine passport requirements.

• World Health Organization: Covid-19. 
• Ontario Government: Covid-19 Self Assessment Tool.
• Government of Canada: Public Health Agency Covid-19. 
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.