Nightclubs, drive-ins and vacation camps will continue to benefit from the new federal subsidy covering part of salaries and rents, as will a host of businesses in the tourism and accommodation sectors, specifies a bill tabled Wednesday in the Commons.
This first text tabled by the government since the September 2021 elections provides additional details on the future of aid programs during the pandemic. The main lines were announced last month, however, such as the death of the Canadian economic stimulus benefit (PCRE).
“The bill allows us to move forward while keeping in mind that the recovery is still uneven, and that public health measures that save lives continue to restrict certain economic activities,” explained the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.
A summary of the bill prepared by officials and provided to journalists at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday lists the types of tourism and hospitality businesses for which the federal government will pay up to three-quarters of their expenses in hand -work and premises.
These include bars, restaurants and hotels, but also a whole variety of leisure businesses, such as campsites, ski centers, cinemas, casinos and museums. Travel agencies, charter bus carriers and other businesses dependent on airports or cruise ports are also eligible. The bill specifically excludes convenience stores and grocery stores, as well as golf courses, but includes duty-free shops located at borders.
As previously announced, companies in other sectors but still among those most affected by the pandemic will benefit from a special wage and rent subsidy program of up to 50%. In the event of a new regional confinement, workers will also be able to receive a new benefit of $ 300 per week.
Still no artist program
During her press conference, held before the text of the bill was made available, Minister Freeland stressed at length that “when [le gouvernement] imposes a lockdown on the economy for public health reasons, it is appropriate that the government is there to provide support to businesses and people who cannot work because of it. “
However, his bill entitled C-2 provides no direct assistance for artists, even if the income of many of them is still compromised by the slow recovery of the scene and the health measures in force. Unless they are re-locked, they are not currently eligible for any emergency benefits, a situation that has now persisted for more than a month.
According to the explanations of Minister Freeland, the file of individual aid to artists is “too complicated” to be included in this first bill. However, she promises that artists will not have to wait for the reform of Employment Insurance to obtain the aid promised during the election campaign.
“To reassure workers in the cultural sector: Pablo Rodriguez [le ministre du Patrimoine] is in the process of specifying the details, ”she said. Earlier today, Minister Rodriguez said that transitional assistance to artists is “a top priority” for his government.