The Alberta government will introduce legislation to halt commercial evictions and rent increases while business and non-profit tenants recover from losses COVID-19 has inflicted. The announcement today accompanies a promise to disperse grants of up to $5,000 to the same parties to help with costs of relaunching operations, but few details of eligibility criteria or application processes are yet available.

“We have taken the time to listen directly to job creators, and are acting to address their needs,” says Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. “Our focus remains on ensuring a safe relaunch to get Albertans back to work and our economy back on track.”

In total, $200 million has been earmarked for the business relaunch subsidy. An online application portal is slated to “be available in the coming weeks” and recipients will have flexibility to apply the funds to risk mitigation measures, rent, employee wages or inventory replacement.

Further details of the prohibition on evictions are likewise to be finalized later in this summer legislative term. “The new measures will help address shortfalls in the current Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, and will give eligible business owners piece of mind as they reopen and help with the provincial economic recovery,” an Alberta government statement declares.