Saskatchewan Extends the Small Business Emergency Payment Program

Released on April 30, 2021

The Government of Saskatchewan is extending the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) program an additional month to support small businesses province-wide during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The extended support is available to businesses across the province that were ordered to temporarily close or substantially curtail operations due to public health orders.

"While we are seeing solid success with the provincial vaccine rollout, many Saskatchewan small businesses continue to be affected by the restrictions due to the pandemic," Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said.  "The extension we are announcing today will continue our support for small businesses in the province, which is the foundation of our strong economic recovery."

Through two phases and six eligibility periods, the SSBEP has provided more than $66 million in financial support to more than 6,400 small businesses as of April 26, 2021.  The eligibility criteria remain consistent with how the first two phases of the program operated for previous eligibility periods.

The maximum payment per eligibility period is $5,000.  Payments are based on 15 per cent of the business' November 2019, December 2019 or February 2020 monthly sales revenue.  Seasonal business payments are based on 15 per cent of the business' average monthly sales revenue for the months it operated in 2019.

The eligibility period is April 1 to 30, 2021, and the program will accept applications until May 31, 2021.  Those who have previously applied and received payments through the December to March offering of the program will not need to reapply.

For more information on the SSBEP program, businesses can visit www.saskatchewan.ca/small-business-emergency-payment, call 1-800-667-6102, or email ssbep@gov.sk.ca.

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