Landlords who were eligible for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program but chose not to apply are now facing a moratorium on evicting small business tenants who are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the temporary commercial eviction protection to protect small business owners facing financial stress due to loss of revenue.
The eviction protection will go into effect immediately.
“This is great news for tenants to buy them some time to get their business back to some form of normal,” said Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan, in a press release. “It should be seen by landlords and tenants as a tool to sustain a long term relationship. COVID-19 has impacted all businesses and this provides positive news and some welcome temporary protection for many. We thank the province for taking this proactive step.”
The CECRA program began on May 27, offering rent relief to small businesses whose operations have been impacted by COVID-19. Property owners who applied to the program were to provide a 75 per cent rent reduction to tenants who have experienced a minimum 70 per cent loss of revenue, with the CECRA providing 50 per cent of rent as a loan to the landlord.
The moratorium is issued under section 18 of the Emergency Planning Act.
For more information on COVID-19 support for businesses and workers in Saskatchewan, please visit saskatchewan.ca/covid19-businesses.
