With the return of travel “under way,” ACTA is reminding agencies that they may qualify for the federal Canada Recovery Hiring Program, which supports businesses experiencing sufficient recovery to hire employees or increase hours of work of existing employees.

ACTA is also pointing out that agencies, which may have overlooked the program to this point, can apply retroactively and, importantly, that the program expires May 7.

The CRHP is a wage subsidy that runs parallel to the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) wage and rent subsidies. Eligible employers can access either the CRHP or the THRP, but not both during the same period. Eligible employers, including travel agencies and independent travel agents who had an active payroll account as of March 2020, could previously access wage subsidies –and now can access the CRHP.

The THRP wage and rent subsidies require a minimum period-over-period revenue loss of at least 40% and some employers no longer meet the 40% revenue loss requirement to qualify for the THRP.

Employers in this scenario, ACTA advises, should examine the CRHP. However, like the THRP, this program expires May 7, 2022, but applications can be made retroactively up to 180 days after the end of a period.

The CRHP provides up to 50% wage subsidies for new employees or existing employees who are working increased hours or earn a higher wage. Eligible employers must have a revenue loss of more than 10% to qualify.

Applications to the CRHP are made through the same system as the THRP. For more information, click HERE.