Manitoba expands back to work subsidy program amid coronavirus

The Manitoba government is expanding efforts to get Manitoba businesses hiring and rehiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Brian Pallister said Wednesday enhancements to the province’s Back to Work Manitoba program will see businesses reimbursed up to $5,000 for up to 10 new workers, to a maximum of $50,000.

The subsidy is open for the first time to not-for-profits and charities and will now reimburse half of all wages for those newly hired to Oct. 31, he added.

Until now, the Back To Work program paid businesses who hired or brought back staff up to $5,000 per employee, to a maximum of five workers, through to the end of August.

Employers that have already benefited from other provincial and federal programs are all eligible for the funding, which can be applied for on the province’s website starting Thursday.

The application deadline is Oct. 1, with a deadline to submit proof of wages set for Jan. 4, 2021.

The province also announced it is extending the deadline for its Gap Protection program until Aug. 31. Under the program businesses that are ineligible for federal support can apply for an immediate $6,000.

Pallister said the program has already doled out more than $45 million to more than 7,600 employers.

Statistics Canada reported last week that Manitoba has recorded the second-highest rebound in employment levels since the pandemic began, behind only New Brunswick.

But Pallister said Wednesday there are still more than 69,000 Manitobans looking for work.

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president & CEO Chuck Davidson says this will help businesses bring people back to work as restrictions are loosened. Davidson says the restrictions on businesses make it especially difficult to bring more staff in, as it limits revenue.

“I think what really needs to happen next is as we boost consumer confidence, as those businesses have increased revenues, they’re going to be looking to hire more people, so this will help in that regard.”

— With files from Marney Blunt & The Canadian Press

1:48 Coronavirus: Pallister says Manitoba in ‘strongest economic recovery position’ of any province

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.