• they are not eligible for compensation from their employer such as sick leave or vacation;
• they do not have private insurance covering such matters;
• they are not covered by federal programs.

Yukon Tax Measures

The Government of Yukon announced the following measures:

Measures for businesses

• Employers can apply for the Paid Sick Leave Rebate to pay up to $378.13 per day per employee for ten business days for employees who take sick days or self-isolate. The funding is only accessible once all existing regular paid sick leave for the employee is used. Employers can only access the program once per employee. To be eligible, the employer must:
  • have an office with a physical address in Yukon;
  • be subject to the Yukon Income Tax Act;
  • be registered as per the Business Corporations Act or the Partnership and Business Name Act, where applicable;
  • have a valid municipal business licence where applicable.

  ^[186]

• The Yukon Essential Workers Income Support Program provides temporary financial support, up to 16 weeks between March 15, 2020, and October 3, 2020, for lower-income workers for the delivery of essential services during COVID-19. This program is not available to workers that have accessed the CERB during the same period in which they are applying for the Yukon Essential Workers Income Support Program. To be eligible, workers must earn less than $20.00 per hour; and provide a critical or essential service, regardless of whether they are full time or part time employees. Workers will receive the lesser of:
  • a top-up of either $4 per hour, for up to 40 hours per week; or
  • an amount that brings their wage to $20.00 per hour, for up to 40 hours per week

  ^[187]

The deadline to apply for this program is November 3, 2020.

• Businesses can also apply for a grant (non-repayable) to pay certain fixed costs through the Yukon Business Relief Program. The program is aimed at businesses in the Yukon Territory, including home-based businesses, which are operating at a deficit on a monthly basis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To be eligible, a business must meet at least three of the following criteria:
  • have an office with a physical address in the Yukon;
  • be subject to the Yukon Income Tax Act;
  • be registered under the Business Corporations Act or the Partnership and Business Name Act, where applicable; and
  • hold a valid municipal business license, where applicable.

  ^[188]

Businesses may receive funding to reach their financial break-even point up to a maximum of $30,000 per month. The maximum amount that a business can claim from this program is $100,000. The program initially covered eligible costs incurred between March 23, 2020, and July 23, 2020. The extension^[189] covers costs incurred from August 1,2020 to March 31, 2021. Eligible costs are: