The Yukon Emergency Relief Program (YERP) supports Yukon businesses and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) impacted by the state of emergency declared on November 8, 2021, and restrictions imposed under the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA). The funding program focuses on funding eligible fixed costs for businesses and non-recoverable financial commitments or incremental expenses incurred by NGOs for events cancelled or significantly altered due to CEMA orders.
The program is very similar to the Yukon Business Relief Program (YBRP) which was discussed in detail in the COVID-19 Stimulus Programs updated PIA completed in September 2021 (included in Appendix D). As noted in that PIA, any information collected relates to a business and not a specific individual.
YERP provides funding for eligible businesses that can demonstrate operating at a deficit as a direct result of the state of emergency. Funding is to cover eligible costs incurred from November 13, 2021 until 2 weeks following the end of the state of emergency. Documents
that applicant businesses will submit to support their application will include business revenue and fixed costs. Eligible fixed costs include: property taxes; business insurance; commercial rent or lease; electricity and heating; business licenses; mortgage interest on owned business premises; pest control; software, data services and financial and booking systems; telephone, cable, internet and satellite; vehicle leasing for vehicles used solely by the business; water, sewage and waste disposal. Home-based businesses are not eligible for
YERP.
YERP also provides funding for NGOs that can demonstrate they incurred costs relating to an event that was cancelled or significantly altered. Eligible events are those that were scheduled before November 8, 2021 and were intended to occur between November 13,
2021 and January 1, 2022. Due to additional restrictions imposed, the program was adjusted to include events scheduled between January 7 and February 5, 2022, or while the state of emergency was in place. The NGO may be eligible to receive a rebate to cover the actual
amounts incurred due to the cancellation of the event, or incremental costs for significantly altering the event in order to comply with health and safety measures (such as requiring a larger venue to accommodate the same number of guests). Examples of events include
conferences, trade and craft fairs; workshops with more than 25 confirmed participants; and seated, ticketed events (such as arts and sports). In this NGO stream, eligible costs may include perishable food and drinks; printing and advertising services; service booking and
cancellations with vendors; venue rental costs.
The program ended March 31, 2022.