Video
Let's talk antitrust: Discussing recent cases and emerging competition issues
Recent cases and judgments have shone a light on some emerging themes and trends that companies will want to consider as part of their risk management framework.
Author:
Global | Publication | March 18, 2020 - 9 PM ET
1. Support program to help businesses keep their workers
Eligibility
Small businesses, like those eligible to receive small business deductions (SBDs), non-profit organizations and charities may benefit from this support program.
Program
A temporary wage subsidy will be paid to eligible businesses for a period of three months.
The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
Businesses will be able to immediately benefit from this support measure by reducing the income tax withholdings on their employee’s pay.
2. Emergency care benefit
Eligibility
This benefit offers financial support to the following people:
Program
People who qualify to receive emergency care benefits may receive up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. Applicants will need to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements and must renew their attestation of eligibility every two weeks.
Applicants may select one of the three channels to apply for the benefit:
Applications for benefits will be available starting in April 2020.
3. Emergency support benefit
Eligibility
This benefit will provide support for workers who are not eligible for employment insurance and who are facing unemployment or whose work hours have been reduced due to COVID-19.
Program
A benefit similar to employment insurance benefits may be paid to persons who are eligible to receive emergency support.
Details on the mechanism for filing an application for benefits will be available shortly. We will keep you apprised of all developments.
4. Change to the employment insurance plan
Faster and easier eligibility for employees in quarantine or facing hardship due to the outbreak of COVID-19
To assist Canadians affected by COVID-19 and placed in quarantine, Service Canada is adopting the following support measures:
These benefits normally granted for sickness can be paid for a period of up to 15 weeks.
Adjustments to the Work-Sharing Program
Special measures implemented by the federal government have been effective since March 15, 2020, and will be until March 14, 2021, to help businesses faced with a downturn in business due to COVID-19. These special measures can be summarized as follows:
For more detailed information on the establishment and implementation of a Work-Sharing program (including the supporting documentation with an application), we invite you to consult the Government of Canada website dedicated to this purpose: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html.
1. Temporary help for workers program
Eligibility
The program is intended for workers 18 years and older who:
Workers are eligible:
Note that the request for isolation must be ordered by the Canadian government, the Quebec government or another responsible entity (a term that has not yet been defined).
Program
Those eligible will receive a tax-free amount of $573 per week, for a period of 14 days of isolation or 28 days if their health status justifies it.
Financial assistance ends when:
For more information in line with the TAWP, we invite you to consult the Quebec government website.
2. Loans for troubled businesses
The Quebec government announced its intention to introduce a lending program for businesses, a portion of which could result in direct financial assistance.
The details related to this program have not yet been released and its contents will soon be disclosed by the Quebec government authorities.
Video
Recent cases and judgments have shone a light on some emerging themes and trends that companies will want to consider as part of their risk management framework.
Publication
After a lacklustre finish to 2022 when compared to the vintage year for M&A that was 2021, dealmakers expected 2023 to see the market continue to cool in most sectors, in response to the economic headwinds of rising inflation (with its corresponding impact on financing costs), declining market valuations, tightening regulatory scrutiny and increasing geopolitical tensions.
Publication
On 18 September 2023, the CMA published its Initial Report (Initial Report) on AI Foundation Models (FM), supplemented in April 2024 with the publication of its “Update Paper” focused on potential antitrust risks associated with FMs and a “Technical Update Report” providing more detail on the development on FMs (collectively the “Reports”). Below, we consider these CMA publications.
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