Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai has announced new financial and employment supports for Yukon businesses.
Under the new stream of the Tourism Non-Accommodation Sector Supplement (TNASS) program, all bars and restaurants throughout the territory are eligible to receive up to $20,000 per month up to $60,000 to breakeven. This funding is available to cover both fixed and variable costs, including payroll. All bars and restaurants are also eligible to receive a one-time sector supplement of $10,000. Eligibility under this new stream will be retroactive to November 8, 2021, when the Government of Yukon declared a State of Emergency in response to COVID-19.
To help reduce business costs, the Yukon Liquor Corporation will provide bars and restaurants with a rebate on their liquor licence fee for the 2022–23 licence year. Yukon liquor licensees have received approximately $3 million in support from the Yukon Liquor Corporation through a variety of initiatives since the pandemic began.
The Government of Yukon is also streamlining the Yukon Nominee Program to support Yukon businesses in urgent need of workers. The Yukon Nominee Program is the Yukon’s main economic immigration program. Previously, employers looking to hire a foreign worker through the program were required to demonstrate the need to hire outside of Canada by attempting to recruit locally and nationally, advertising the position for four weeks, and continuing to search locally during the application process. These requirements will be temporarily waived to allow Yukon employers to act quickly to address their staffing needs. This change is effective immediately and will remain in effect until June 30, 2022.
We recognize that the public health measures in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 have presented challenges for businesses in the territory, especially in the hospitality sector. I want to thank all of the individuals, businesses and organizations that continue to follow public health measures to keep our territory safe. We need to continue to stay vigilant in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and we will continue to work with local businesses to ensure they have the support they need to remain open and provide the products and services Yukoners rely on.
Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
TNASS provides eligible tourism-reliant businesses with up to $20,000 per month, up to the point of breaking even.
Eligibility under the new bar and restaurant stream will be retroactive to November 8, 2021, when the current State of Emergency was declared and will expire as scheduled on March 31, 2022.
To be eligible, bars and restaurants must have been operating over the period for which they are claiming support.
Bars and restaurants that have previously applied under Yukon Emergency Relief Program will be moved over to the new bar and restaurant stream and their file will be reassessed.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
[email protected]
Damian Topps
Communications, Economic Development
867-667-5378
[email protected]