EXTENSION OF WAGE AND RENT SUBSIDY AND LOCKDOWN SUPPORT

• On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, the federal government announced that it intends to extend the current rate structures for pandemic subsidies from March 14 to June 5, 2021. Specifically:
  • the maximum wage subsidy rate for active employees would remain at 75 per cent;
  • The maximum rent subsidy rate would remain at 65 per cent; and
  • Lockdown Support would remain at 25 per cent and continue to be provided in addition to the rent subsidy, providing eligible hard hit businesses with rent support of up to 90 per cent.
• The government also announced that applicants would be able to continue to use a pre-pandemic 2019 reference month, effective for the upcoming periods from March 14 to June 5, 2021.
• Further details are in the backgrounder on the announcement.