An extension to the end of the year for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is a good start, but more help is needed for small businesses following the federal fiscal update.
Louis-Philippe Gauthier, the director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, says while the extension is appreciated, more needs to be done.
“At this point, the fiscal update had given us this clear indication of how times have been quite harsh and difficult for small businesses across the country and here in New Brunswick,” he said.
Gauthier said businesses can’t use the program.
“It’s quite difficult for businesses to plan for it at this point because the details are just not available even for the current month which was the previous extension so while we applaud the federal government in bringing over an extension for the CEWS we’re inviting them to move quite fast,” he said.
Among some of the ways small businesses need more help is how to transition workers from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to the wage subsidy.
Gauthier said the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program is poorly adapted for businesses and landlords, and it shouldn’t just be landlords applying for it. He said less than 10 per cent of the money allocated.
“Rent relief as a whole is very important, it’s one of the biggest fixed costs that businesses face and we’re inviting the federal government to retool that program and unfortunately that hasn’t been done at this point.’ he said.
Gauthier said the end goal should be making sure the funds are reaching the small businesses.
