COVID-19 Financial Support

As part of a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package, Clarington Council approved funding to assist property owners, non-profit organizations and business owners who have been impacted by COVID-19. Council approved three separate financial support programs, click on each to view the details and find out how to qualify:

• COVID-19 Property Tax Relief Program
• COVID-19 Community Improvement Program
• COVID-19 Community Support

Property Tax Relief Program

As part of a $2 million financial support package for taxpayers and business owners negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarington Council has dedicated $1 million to a temporary property tax relief program.

The property tax relief program will only cover the local, municipal portion of the tax bill, which amounts to roughly 30 per cent of the overall bill. The relief program spans from March 17, when the Province declared an emergency, until June 19, when Clarington entered Stage 2 of Ontario’s reopening framework. Residents will need to apply for the tax relief program and will have to meet strict criteria. The program was passed under a clause in the Municipal Act, which gives a local municipality the authority to refund taxes levied if Council considers the taxes to be “unduly burdensome” on taxpayers. The definition of “unduly burdensome” has been set out by Clarington Council. The tax relief program requires residents to show that the taxes levied are unaffordable and create a financial strain on the overall household income, which may have been cut as a result of the pandemic due to job loss or other circumstances. Taxpayers will have to prove that property taxes levied are higher than five per cent of their overall household income. Also, residents will have to show that the taxes levied amount to more than 20 per cent of their non-registered savings, creating a financial hardship. To qualify for the rebate, residents will have to provide the following documents:

• bank statements or investment statements for each month of the rebate period (March to June);
• letters from employers showing job loss;
• record of employment;
• notices of assessment or supporting documentation that show receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) or Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments.

If residents meet the conditions outlined in the application process, they will receive a refund cheque from the Municipality. As an example, the annual municipal taxes on a home assessed at $500,000 are $1,965.38. This translates to monthly payments of $163.78, which covers only the local portion of your taxes, and the rebate received would be $655.12.

• Property Tax Relief Program is now closed.

COVID-19 Community Improvement Program

Clarington businesses can now apply for grant funding to assist with the costs incurred while adapting and managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP) will provide support to qualifying businesses to make physical modifications to enable them to reopen safely. The CIP will provide grant funding for various safety measures, including plexiglass barriers to protect staff and customers, signage to encourage spacing, and realignment of displays and work areas to allow for distancing.

Qualifying businesses will have to meet certain eligibility criteria and meet a financial means test.

Businesses that may qualify for the COVID-19 CIP include:

• Retail stores, food services, art and entertainment services, personal care services, and registered medical practitioners such as massage therapists and chiropractors.

Businesses who do not qualify for funding under the COVID-19 CIP include:

• Any business deemed essential that remained open during the pandemic: grocery stores, drug stores, doctors’ offices, or national/international franchises and chain corporations

Council approved the CIP in October 2020, subject to a required 20-day appeal period. We are now accepting applications for processing; however, funding will not be dispersed until the appeal period is over and the CIP is in effect.

Businesses are encouraged to apply online using the application form below.

For more information and to apply, contact Sarah Allin at sallin@clarington.net or 905-623-3379 ext. 2419.

Application Deadlines

Completed projects: February 11, 2021

• For projects where improvements are in progress or completed, the application deadline is February 11, 2021.

Proposed projects: No deadline

• For proposed improvement projects not yet started, there is no application deadline, subject to funding availability.

Please see the information sheet below for a summary of the COVID-19 CIP Program requirements, or read the COVID-19 CIP document for full eligibility and program details.

• COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (PDF)
• COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan - Information Sheet (PDF)

Download the COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan Application Form (PDF)

Submit completed applications to sallin@clarington.net.

COVID-19 Community Support Program

The COVID-19 Community Support Program will provide financial assistance for eligible not-for-profit community agencies and volunteer organizations in Clarington that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will only assist organizations suffering a loss as a result of program and service closures or reduced fundraising capabilities due to the pandemic.

The application window for this program is now closed.

Application deadline: Sunday, July 12, 2020