Minister Osborne Announces Measures to Ease Pressures on Local Businesses #nlpoli

To assist the business community in Newfoundland and Labrador during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Provincial Government has announced the deferral or waiver of a number of fees, as well as steps to reduce regulatory burden.

The deferral of more than $6 million in fees will help ease some of the operational pressures facing businesses and free-up cash flow.

Effective immediately, the following measures are in place:

• Collection of WorkplaceNL assessments from employers has been deferred to after August 31, 2020, with no interest or penalties;

• Clearance letters will continue to be provided during the payment deferral period to allow contractors that meet certain reporting criteria to continue to bid on work and operate;

• The interest-free payment plan for workplace injury insurance is extended beyond 2020 to March 31, 2021 to allow employers more flexibility to pay;

• Safety training certificates are extended to August 31, 2020 for confined space entry, fall protection, mine rescue, power line hazards, traffic control person, first aid and Occupational Health and Safety Committee members;

• Elimination or offer of rebates on aquaculture licence fees, and deferral of annual Crown Lands fees for aquaculture sites;

• Full rebate of base fish processor and buyer licensing fees to assist fish processing plants and fish buyers;

• Licences will not be cancelled for non-application for renewals until the public health restrictions have been lifted for real estate salespersons and agents; mortgage brokers; insurance companies; insurance adjusters, agents, representatives and brokers; and prepaid funeral services;

• New licence applications will be processed for real estate salespersons and agents; mortgage brokers; insurance companies; and insurance adjusters, representatives, agents and brokers;

• Businesses are eligible to have a portion of vehicle registration fees for vehicles registered to the business refunded, if they are not in use;

• Commercial vehicles of 4,500 kilograms or greater are not required to have their safety inspection completed while they are not operational;

• Deferral of the requirement for businesses to file yearly returns under Companies and Deeds Online (CADO) and remittance of the accompanying filing fee; and

• Payment of water use charges for 2019 related to microbreweries and wineries and aquaculture due in the 2020-21 fiscal year have been waived. Payment of water use charges for all other industries will be deferred until March 31, 2021.

• Additionally, the Provincial Government will launch a red tape reduction portal in June where businesses can suggest opportunities to ease regulatory pressures.