The BC government has announced that businesses eligible for rent support will be safe from eviction for another month. 

Eligible businesses whose landlords did not apply for the federal CECRA program will be protected through the end of June as part of BC’s Emergency Program Act (EPA).

That EPA order will restrict the termination of lease agreements and the repossession of goods and property. 

Previously, property owners were ordered to offer a minimum of a 75% rent reduction for the months of April, May and June 2020.

The CECRA loans to landlords will be forgiven if the landlord complies with program terms and conditions, including an agreement to not recover forgiven rent amounts when the program is over.

“The federal launch of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program has been a welcome step in B.C., but we heard from small businesses that they need us to help fill a gap that has left some of them unable to get the support they need,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance.

“We’re listening to small businesses and have their backs. Preventing landlords who are eligible for CECRA from evicting tenants can encourage landlords to apply for the program and give some temporary relief to businesses who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.”

For more information on the commercial tenant program, click here.