On Monday March 30th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clarified the additional relief for businesses which he announced on Friday. I would like to thank Prime Minister Trudeau for the following:
• Introducing a 75% wage subsidy, up to $847 per week, per employee to businesses whose revenues have dropped by at least 30%. Our Party has been calling for an increase from the original announcement of 10%.
• Announcing $65 billion in interest free loans of up to $40,000 to Businesses and Not-For-Profits through the Canada Emergency Business Accounts.
These programs will certainly help the Not-For-Profit and Business Communities in our riding, and I will continue to work with the Government to make these programs accessible to our local business owners.
The Government; however, must continue to do more. Specifically, I am calling on the Government to:
• Cancel the 50% increase in the Carbon Tax scheduled for April 1st, 2020. The increase in the Carbon Tax will add to the burden of industries such as agriculture and transportation already dealing with the impact of COVID 19.
• Expand access to the Canada Emergency Business Accounts to businesses of all sizes (currently businesses must have payroll of greater than 50K).
• Stop lecturing the business community about misusing these programs. Our business leaders will do what is right.
• Improve the Government’s execution. The Government has constantly been contradicting itself on both the severity and its response to the pandemic.
Our community is dealing with an unprecedented crisis. We need our Government to be a strong partner in coping and recovering from this crisis. I look forward to working with Government to beat COVID-19 and to helping our workers and businesses recover and rejuvenate.
On a personal note, I will be donating any salary increase to fight against COVID-19.
Simply give us a call at (905) 372-8757 or email at us philip.lawrence@parl.gc.ca
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
