Ottawa’s silence on the future of its pandemic aid programs is becoming more and more deafening for SMEs, which are quickly seeing the expiry date of these measures approaching.
Many federal assistance programs for victims of the COVID-19 crisis are due to expire this Saturday, October 23, to the dismay of its beneficiaries. A word from the Minister of Finance would suffice to extend them by one month. But Chrystia Freeland still hasn’t announced anything.
“Nothing prevents Mme Freeland waits until the very last minute to pull a rabbit out of his hat. But entrepreneurs are nervous and worried. It would have been wise for the government to announce its intentions much earlier, ”observed in a telephone interview with To have to Wednesday Jasmin Guénette, Vice-President of National Affairs at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
As any extension beyond next month will then require the passage of new laws, we also do not welcome the government’s decision not to recall elected officials to Ottawa before November 22. “Let’s say that it will have to be their first priority – as said [l’ancien premier ministre] Jean Charest – as soon as they get back to the House of Commons. “
Representatives of the Canadian business community have been urging the government for weeks to extend, among other things, its Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (SSUC), its Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (SUCL), as well as its hiring program. for Canada’s Economic Recovery (PEREC) at least until next spring. Believing that the crisis is now out of its most acute phase, Justin Trudeau’s liberals have indicated their intention to maintain some form of aid, but for the sectors most affected, notably “culture and tourism”. “.
“These programs are already made to help businesses that have significant revenue declines due to the restrictions [sanitaires], retorts Jasmin Guénette. There is no reason to limit access to only two or three areas. “
Three other programs, those intended for individuals, are also to end on Saturday, unless the government intervenes at the last minute. These are the Canadian Economic Stimulus Benefit (PCRE), the Canadian Caregiver Economic Stimulus Benefit (PCREPA) and the Canadian Economic Stimulus Sickness Benefit (PCMRE).
If the business community is less keen on defending these latter programs (particularly the PCRE, which they accuse of discouraging the unemployed from returning to work), this is not the case for the unions. “Unfortunately, the pandemic is not over,” Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labor Congress, recalled Monday after a meeting with Chrystia Freeland. “Given the very large number of people who remain unemployed – for a year or more, in many cases – and the very large number of others who still do not qualify for EI benefits, there are still a critical need for emergency supports such as PCRE. “
With Boris Proulx