The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on many people in our region and across Canada. It is particularly impacting on small businesses across the country.
We have been calling on the government to bring in a rental assistance program that directly helps small business owners.
We are encouraged to see the government finally acting on our recommendations. We are now asking they make the eligibility for the new assistance plan retroactive so that small business owners who shut their doors to support public health get the help they needed from the start.
The majority of small business owners received no help at all under the original program. Small businesses have made huge sacrifices for the good of the public and the second wave of COVID-19 is putting them under enormous threat once again.
Our message has been clear. The government has to act to ensure small businesses get through this pandemic.
