Entrepreneur News
BridgePoint throws lifeline to small firms impacted by massive Eglinton LRT project
In response to the more than the estimated 3,000 small businesses negatively affected by the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, BridgePoint Financial said today it has launched CrosstownHelp, an expropriation and business-loss consulting and financing program designed to “help recoup losses and restore financial and business stability to those impacted by the delayed infrastructure project.”
Findings indicate 58% of Canadian small businesses now rehiring thanks to Stage 3 reopenings
As Canadian provinces begin entering Stage 3 of reopening, they are also embarking on another promising economic phase: rehiring. A new survey conducted by Wagepoint, creators of online small business payroll software, found that 58% of small businesses that laid off staff due to COVID-19 are now planning to rehire in the next three months.
New report reveals women entrepreneurs face structural inequalities, which are exacerbated by COVID-19
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) has released The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2020, a report that reveals COVID-19 has amplified structural barriers, has affected women entrepreneurs more than men and has affected Indigenous, racialized and other diverse entrepreneurs most of all.
Future economic stars: MaRS announces firms in its Momentum program
MaRS, which bills itself as North America’s largest urban innovation hub, has announced the ventures that make up its current Momentum portfolio, a multi-sector program designed to support high-growth Canadian companies on their way to reaching $100 million in revenue in the next five years.
Canada ahead of other countries in holding companies, CEOs to a higher standard, report reveals
FleishmanHillard Highroad (FHR) in conjunction with FleishmanHillard’s TRUE Global Intelligence practice recently released the results of a new study, COVID-19 Mindset: The Collision of Issues.
BDC CEO on the bank’s 2020 financial report: ‘It was quite a year’
BDC, Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, has released its 2020 fiscal year financial results, which highlights the financial support it provided to more than 62,000 small- and medium-sized businesses for the period of Apr. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
Clutch raises $7 million to continue build Canada’s first online car retailer
Clutch, Canada’s first online car retailing platform, said today it has raised $7 million in seed financing with a recent round led by Real Ventures. BrandProject, FJ Labs, Azure Capital Partners, and Global Founders Capital also participated in the round.
$12.5 million investment in clean technologies for Quebec entrepreneurs announced
Federal Minister of Economic Development Mélanie Joly today announced support for 30 projects by Quebec entrepreneurs designed to “help reduce pollution, build healthier communities and create well-paying jobs for the middle class.
Canada’s Podcast newsletter makes its debut
These are tumultuous times, but also exciting times for Canada’s Podcast. Next week marks the launch of our bi-weekly newsletter, a new offering designed to provide 50,000+ subscribers with up-to-date alerts on an assortment of important developments that in terms of content matter will be varied, timely and useful to them.
Change driving a radical rethink of the customer journey, PWC Canada survey reveals
While some consumers will return to their pre-pandemic behaviours, the pace of change will continue to pick up, requiring retailers to be bold in embracing creative solutions to transform the customer journey, says PwC Canada.
Canadians’ mental health linked to quality of employer support during COVID-19
Morneau Shepell, a provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, this week released its monthly Mental Health Index report, showing a consistent negative mental health score in Canada for the third consecutive month.
Most small businesses in health sector worried about their financial wellbeing
Private-sector health professionals, (e.g. dentists, optometrists, naturopaths) are anxious, uncertain, and deeply concerned about the future of their firms, according to new research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
CFIB dashboard results point to long, slow recovery
Three key indicators of small business recovery have not moved much since last week after showing slight improvement the week before, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s small business recovery dashboard, which launched as part of #SmallBusinessEveryDay.
Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and CBCC form strategic partnership
The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) have announced a formal commitment to work together to remove anti-black systemic barriers the two groups say are hindering the success of black-owned businesses across Canada.
Federal wage subsidy may be too late for some, confusing for others: CFIB
Applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy opened this week and more than half of small firms with employees say they will apply, according to a new survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Vancouver firms offering free online social media marketing courses
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, higher education curriculum provider Mujo Learning Systems Inc.., in partnership with Canadian-based marketing agency Think Profits.com have announced the donation of one million free subscriptions to their online social media marketing courseware.
OSC to host webinar for small businesses on COVID-19 disclosure considerations
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) will host a webinar for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on disclosing and reporting on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feds launch applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
To help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government said today it is implementing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).
Medcan Safe at Work System designed to help employers through the pandemic
Medcan today launched a new service it said is designed to assist employers looking to safeguard their staff and workplaces through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy calculator for employers launched
To help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ottawa said today it is implementing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) as well as a calculator to help in the application process.
Survey reveals 94% of employees satisfied with their company’s response to pandemic
Companies in Canada are rising to the occasion to navigate the pandemic, new research from global staffing firm Robert Half reveals.
SMB rent crisis demands more provincial hardship grants, expanded federal support, CFIB says
Upwards of 90% of small businesses want governments to provide hardship grants to help cover rent and other costs and help them deal with their mounting debt according to new survey results by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) taken over the long weekend and released today.
eBay Canada sends out support lines for SMBs eyeing online expansion
eBay Canada today launched Up & Running, an accelerator program it said is designed to support retailers without an e-commerce presence transition to selling online.
Employer-employee relations grow stronger, even amid COVID-19 job losses: Study
While Canadians may be isolated and “socially distanced” from their employers and co-workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new national study shows that the shared crisis experience is bringing them closer together.
Cash crisis and debt nightmares top small business concerns: CFIB
Monthly bills and mounting debt top a long list of small business worries, finds a new survey taken by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) over the weekend.
Canada Emergency Business Account now available for CWB clients
Canadian Western Bank today announced that eligible business clients can now apply for the Government of Canada’s Canada Emergency Business Account to cover operating costs that that cannot be deferred, such as payroll, rent, utilities, insurance and property tax.
Business Barometer reveals April brings some improvements in small business confidence
Small business confidence edged up at the start of April after its historic descent in March, gaining just under seven index points to 37.7 on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s Business Barometer®.
CIBC predicts 150,000+ of its eligible SMBs will apply for CEBA funding
CIBC has announced it is launching a digital application process for clients eligible for the new Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) as part of the federal government’s $25 billion loan program for Canadian small businesses.
COVID-19 driving consumers online: eCommerce sales double
Absolunet’s COVID-19 x eCommerce report reveals that Canadian eCommerce is on the tipping point as online sales have doubled since March 11th, the day where the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
EO Toronto survey reveals biggest pandemic concerns
The Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO) Toronto, a group of 111 business leaders, who are the owner, founder or controlling shareholder of companies with revenues of at least $1 million+ annually, were recently asked a series of COVID specific questions on behalf of Canadian businesses.
Webinar to delve into how best to ‘respond, reset, and rebound’ from COVID-19
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy has business leaders in an unprecedented state of uncertainty, says consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
Report assesses long-term impacts on screen touching
As the world attempts to navigate the current pandemic, there is a level of unparalleled uncertainty and consumer interest in non-touch gestures will increase during and after it concludes, says research firm Strategy Analytics.
In this new COVID-19 world, Zero Trust is paramount
With the entire globe in a virtual shutdown as a result of COVID-19, entrepreneurs have more than the health of their employees to worry about.
Manufacturers needed to help combat COVID-19
If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed.
BDC unveils new measures to assist hard-hit entrepreneurs
BDC, Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, has announced additional measures to provide relief to business owners impacted by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) as part of the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP).
Small businesses urge Ottawa to put an end to the Port of Montreal strike
The two-week old Port of Montreal strike is having a negative impact on many small businesses that are already struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).