The Winnipeg Chamber’s Director of Policy, Colin Fast, highlights five things Winnipeg businesses should be aware of this week:

Financial help for summer hires

The Manitoba government has launched two programs to assist employers with the cost of hiring young people to work this summer. The Manitoba Youth Jobs Program will provide employers a 50% subsidy on wages paid to eligible employees during the program period of May to September 2021, with a maximum of up to $25,000 per employer. And non-profit organizations are eligible to receive 100% of wage costs and $250 per position for support costs for hiring youth aged 15 to 29 to work on community projects between May 1 and Sept. 30. More information is available online for the Manitoba Youth Jobs Program here and for the Green Team program here.

Job Grant provides assistance for training costs

The province has opened intake for the Canada–Manitoba Job Grant. Eligible employers can apply for up to $10,000 per employee to assist with training costs delivered by a third party. Employers with 100 or fewer employees must contribute a minimum of 25% of training costs, while employers with over 100 employees must contribute a minimum of 50%. Employers can apply for up to a maximum of $100,000 in funding. For more information on the program and updated application form, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/wd/ites/is/cjg.html.

Hotel relief program now open 

The Hospitality Sector Relief Program provides support to hotels and motels that have been impacted by the pandemic. $6 million is available to help with fixed costs that have not been covered by other COVID-19 relief programs. The deadline to apply is May 31st. Further information can be found here.

Competition and Growth Summit looks at economic recovery

As governments transition from crisis management to economic recovery, a key question is how to foster economic growth when public finances and entire sectors of the economy have been upended. The Competition Bureau’s Competition and Growth Summit will examine this issue and the role that competitive markets can play in driving economic growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the virtual event from June 1 to June 3, international and domestic experts will discuss topics like how competition can foster inclusive growth, government strategies to apply a competition lens in achieving policy goals, and lessons learned by competition authorities through the pandemic. You can learn more and apply to register here.

Count yourself in Canada’s census

Statistics Canada officially launched the 2021 Census this week. Information collected through the Census is vital for businesses, community organizations and governments to plan services and make informed decisions about employment, education, health care, market development and more. Look for your access code in the mail and you can complete your census questionnaire online at https://census.gc.ca/index-eng.htm.