Dear Member,

Please find below CADSI's latest update as we keep you informed of policy decisions and news affecting your business during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Reserve your spot for our Defence Industry Check-In Call this Thursday

Rear Admiral Christopher Earl, Chief of Staff (Materiel) at the Department of National Defence, will join CADSI's Members-Only Defence Industry Check-In call on Thursday, May 28 at 3 pm EDT to discuss and answer your questions on:

• What DND/CAF business resumption planning means for you.  
• What you need to do if you work onsite or need to visit DND or CAF facilities.
• How the CAF and industry can keep pace with each other as we resume business together, in a coordinated manner.
• DND's new Public Health Measures (PHM).

Send us your questions

To maximize the time we have, we are asking Members to send questions by email to questions@defenceandsecurity.ca. Similar questions will be grouped and we will endeavour to get everyone a response.  

Register now

Space is limited and filling up fast. Reserve your spot by registering on our events page. (link: bit.ly/2xWjm42)

Please also take a moment to review these reference documents prior to the call:

• Joint Directive - DND/CAF COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Personal Protection here. (link: bit.ly/3cdOH0Y)
• CFTO on Non-Medical Face Coverings here. (link: bit.ly/2yywBZ8)

New IDEaS COVID-19 Challenges

As part of a federal initiative seeking innovative solutions to help fight COVID-19, the Innovation for Defence and Security (IDEaS) program has launched three new challenges to strengthen Canada's ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics, as well as other emergencies such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

The following challenges are now available:  

• Rapid response: Real-time insights for pandemic decision-making
• Scrubbing your scrubs: Finding ways to re-use COVID-19 protective gear
• Super sanitize: Cleaning sensitive equipment and workspaces

Innovators are invited to submit proposals until June 23, 2020.

Learn more here (link: canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/understanding-ideas/sandbox/covid19-challenges.html).

New COVID-19 Resources for Businesses  

The federal government continues to roll-out resources to help businesses manage and recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. Find the latest updates below.

• CADSI's Top Requested COVID-19 Business Resources: We've curated the best resources to help companies navigate the business implications of COVID-19. Find it here (link: bit.ly/COVID19bizresources).
• The Business Resilience Service: The government has partnered with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to launch a free financial assistance hotline to provide vulnerable small businesses with customized financial guidance. Learn more here (link: canadianbusinessresiliencenetwork.ca/brs/).
• Tax deadlines for corporations: The government is pushing back the tax deadline for organizations filing a T2 return or T3 trust return to Sept. 1, 2020. Learn more here (link: canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2020/extended-filing-deadlines-corporations-trusts.html).  
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS): The government has extended the CEWS to August 29. Learn more here (link: canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy.html).  
• Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA): Landlords can now register for the CECRA program through the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation portal. Businesses with a significant drop in revenue due to COVID-19 can have their rent reduced by 75%. Learn more here (link: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/covid19-cecra-small-business).
• Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF): The government is providing large Canadian employers with short-term liquidity assistance to help them maintain employment, operations and investment activities. Learn more here (link: cdev.gc.ca/leeff-factsheet/).
• Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA): This program has expanded to be available to sole proprietors, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll. Learn more here (link: pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/05/19/prime-minister-announces-expansion-support-workers-and-small).

CADSI is committed to keeping you informed. If you need more information on a topic that hasn’t been covered in our updates or if CADSI can assist you in any way, please email Mindy Pearce at mindy@defenceandsecurity.ca.

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