We’ve listened to businesses and have removed the requirement of tenant businesses to have 5 or more employees to be eligible for the program. The revised guidelines are online and there is no employee minimum to be eligible https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/#support

The Small Business Rental Deferral Guarantee Program is designed to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. The provincial government is encouraging landlords to defer payment of commercial leases for three months and spread those payments over the remainder of the lease agreement. Landlords who enter into a rental deferral agreement with their eligible tenants will be able to claim losses of rental income. Below are links for more information:

https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/COVID-19-Rent-Deferral-Support-Program-Guidelines.pdf

Rental deferral agreements must be in place by April 1 and you must register your intent with the Department of Business by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, by emailing NSRentDeferral@novascotia.ca. By April 30, 2020, the landlord must submit an application to the Department of Business which will include an application form and a copy of the deferral agreement. Each landlord will be contacted directly by the Department.

We continue to ask landlords and retail and commercial tenants to work together to find a solution that works for both sides. This is not a stand alone program; the provincial government will be announcing more supports for businesses in the coming days that complement federal programming.

Direction of the Minister Under a Declared State of Emergency: A Message from Hon. Chuck Porter, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/Direction-of-the-Minister-under-a-Declared-State-of-Emergency.pdf