Critical Resource Bank

The following information has been compiled as a reference, hereafter referred to as the Bank to assist manufacturers to provide a high-quality, rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information will continue to be added as it becomes available.

NGen provides the Bank for convenience only and has not been involved in verifying the accuracy of the Bank.  The User of the Bank is responsible for ensuring that they verify the accuracy of the information and pursue all necessary government approvals. No government approvals or project funding approvals are granted or implied through the use of this Bank.

NGen makes no representations or warranties with respect to the Bank or any information, advice or recommendations provided by Bank connection therewith or the accuracy thereof. NGen accepts no duty, liability, obligation or responsibility to the User in respect of the Bank, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, and will not be liable in respect of any loss, damage, cost, expense or penalty of any nature which is caused by any use the User may choose to make of the Bank, or which is otherwise consequent upon the use of the Bank.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) has made a selection of relevant standards available for no-fee view access through the online platform CSA Communities. You can also visit the CSA Group website for an overview of what is now available.

CSA Group has also published several free research papers that may be of assistance to organizations in Canada in light of the COVID-19 situation. Below are links to specific papers of interest at this time:

Standards and conformity assessments are the backbone of product safety and can help guide industry as they respond rapidly and scale-up production for the betterment of Canadians. Together with partners, SCC has compiled a list of relevant standards for medical devices, business continuity, and crisis management, with links to the appropriate Standards Development Organization for acquisition. Consult the list. 

The Government of Canada has put together a business specific response webpage for COVID-19 called Resources for Canadian Business.  Here you will find links to programs and resources that are available to your members, such as the wage subsidy program, the Business Credit Availability Program (offered by Export Development Canada) and various financing programs available through Business Development Canada to name a few.  These resources are broken down into four categories: Support for Employees; Support for Businesses; Business travel and events; and Business in international markets.  This site is updated frequently and is available in both official languages.

For federal programs related to COVID-19 currently not included in the above mentioned link, please consult the list below:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is working to identify various COVID-19 and economic stimulus response opportunities for Canadian businesses in addition to the COVID-19 streams available under each supercluster. These include:

A call to action for Canadian businesses in the manufacturing industry that can assist in meeting the need for medical supplies.
    • A call to all suppliers to help Canada combat COVID-19 by providing products (such as masks, gloves, ventilators and test kits) and services (such as nursing, laundry, IT and security).
    • The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has set up a COVID-19 stream to allow for rapid support to Canadian companies that are working on large-scale and later-stage promising research and development projects aimed at providing medical countermeasures, including vaccines and critical medical supplies. If any of your members have projects that would qualify for funding through SIF, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help connect them with the right people.

Below is a list of ISED Canada programs affected by COVID-19 that may impact your members:

The Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) has altered the services of their Innovation Advisors. For the foreseeable future, the advisors will be contacting companies who applied to ISED Canada in response to the PM’s Call to Action providing them with support and guidance in leveraging the funding and programs available to them.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has been working with its partners to help find solutions to the COVID-19 outbreak. They currently have three programs underway to meet COVID-19 related needs:

    • The Pandemic Response Challenge Program will build teams to address challenges requiring further research and development for solutions.
    • Biomanufacturing Capacity at Royalmount: NRC Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre will develop a Good Manufacturing Practices platform to develop and scale-up COVID-19 Canadian vaccine and therapy candidates.
    • NRC Community Support provides advice and guidance to any Canadian business or entrepreneur who is working on a COVID-19 project.

Statistics Canada launched a new Canadian Economic Dashboard to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on economic activity in Canada.
The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have set up COVID-19 landing pages for businesses in their respective regions to provide services and support related to deferring scheduled payments for contribution agreements, confirming eligibility for additional funding or flexible payment arrangements and providing information about federal programs and services. A generic RDA infographic has been developed and detailed information is available on each RDA’s website:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will provide a near-term credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector through Farm Credit Canada aimed at reducing short-term financial pressure. Also announced was a Stay of Default to eligible farmers allowing them an additional six months to make payments against Advanced Payment Program

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has launched a new website outlining changes to Canadian taxes and benefits. The following programs are in the abovementioned “Support for Business” link but are work mentioning here.  The CRA has established the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, up to 75% wage subsidy to help pay their employees for up to 12 weeks, and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, $500 a week for up to 16 weeks to provide Canadians with temporary income support.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has established a COVID-19 landing page for up to date information for all of its programs and services with information about the Work-Sharing Program, Employment Insurance and other ESDC programs.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has taken a number of actions to build the resilience of federally regulated financial institutions and improve the stability of the Canadian financial system and economy.

PSPC launched Supply Hub to connect Canadian buyers and sellers of PPE. 

The Province of British Columbia has established a catch-all website for COVID support programs and services.

Start-Up Guidance

Western Economic Diversification

The province of Saskatchewan has established several programs and services to support businesses, including tax deferral, utilities bill deferral and Self-Isolation Support Program.

Start-Up Guidance

Western Economic Diversification

The Province of Alberta has established support programs and services for employees and employers as well as other services that members in Alberta can benefit from.

Start-Up Guidance

Western Economic Diversification

The Province of Manitoba set up a call to action for business that is prepared to rapidly scale up production or re-tool manufacturing lines to develop products made in Manitoba to help in the fight against COVID-19 as well as an information page for businesses with links to available resources and services and a general information page.

Start-Up Guidance

Western Economic Diversification

The Province of Ontario has established the Ontario Together Fund, a $50 million to support the development of essential equipment and supplies. It has also set up several calls to action for businesses to help with COVID-19 response efforts:

  • Call for supplies - Medical products such as ventilators, swabs, masks and eye protection
  • Call for ideas - Ideas, other products or services that could help Ontarians
  • Call for innovation - Help communities withstand pandemic and provide solutions for virtual mental health, supply chain resiliency, financial planning advisory services for SMEs, and remote learning for elementary and secondary students.

FedDev Ontario

FedNor Ontario

Start-Up Guidance

The Province of Quebec has established support programs and services for businesses and citizens, including the Concerted Temporary Action Program for Businesses offering a minimum of $50k in financial support to businesses, tax credits and the Temporary Aid for Workers Program.

Start-Up Guidance

The Province of New Brunswick has created loan programs for SMEs (up to $200k) and mid-to-large businesses (in excess of $200) as well as other support measures.

Start-Up Guidance

The Province of Prince Edward Island has established a COVID response website with programs and services to support businesses employees during the COVID-19 outbreak, including an Emergency Working Capital Financing program, Income Support Fund and Emergency Income Relief for the Self-Employed.

Start-Up Guidance

The Province of Nova Scotia has established a support page for businesses outlining the changes to payment programs and other initiatives available.

Start-Up Guidance

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador have created a resources page for businesses and a general information page.

Start-Up Guidance

The Northwest Territories established support programs and services for businesses in response to COVID-19, including an economic relief package for businesses.

Nunavut has established funding program to provide a short-term relief for SMEs as well as an information page with support and guidance for businesses.

The Yukon has developed an economic stimulus package for the province to support its businesses and workers.