The provincial government is deferring a list of $6-million in fees to help local business free-up cash flow.
Acting Service NL Minister, Tom Osborne made the announcement this morning.
Effective immediately, the provincial government is implementing a number of initiatives to help local business, including the deferral of Workplace NL assessments to August 31st, and the extension of safety training certificates to August 31st.
Minister Osborne says more discussion is scheduled for later today with the business community.
He indicates more announcements are coming regarding the tourism, oil and gas and mining sectors.
Further details on the measures government is taking can be found below:
•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.
