Bill C-9 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy)

This enactment amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria, as well as the level of subsidization, under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) as part of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019. It also extends the CEWS to June 30, 2021. The enactment further amends the Income Tax Act to introduce the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) in order to support those hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019. This subsidy provides relief in respect of rent and interest on debt obligations incurred to acquire real property used by businesses, charities and not-for-profit organizations in the course of their businesses or other activities. The rent subsidy is effective as of September 27, 2020.

Income Tax Act

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Chair, does the minister think the reason no one wants to bid on the tender for the buyback is because the price tag will be way higher than the government anticipates?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, what I think is there is a clear line between us and the Conservatives. We believe military-style assault weapons have no place in the hands of Canadians.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Chair, did the government consult with store owners who sell firearms on what the cost and the impact to their personal business would be before it implemented the order in council?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, as I said, on this point we differ, and I am proud to be on our side. We need to get these weapons out of our country.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Chair, does the finance minister believe that the subsidies, like the wage subsidy and the rent subsidy, maybe along with other programs, will be enough to get the Canadian energy sector back to pre-COVID employment levels?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, these subsidies are about helping our businesses get through the fight against COVID. They are about helping businesses across the economy and across—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We can have a very brief question from the hon. member.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Madam Chair, is the minister concerned that some organizations opposed to certain industries might receive these funds while they are working against other Canadian jobs?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Madam Chair, we have supported, through the wage subsidy, more than 60,000 resource workers. This is a testament to the diversity of our sectors, and more importantly, the support for this key sector.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Madam Chair, as has been stated by other colleagues in the House, I am glad to see the bill come forward to implement long-overdue changes to these COVID-related relief programs. As the saying goes, it is never too late to do the right thing.

In this case, I worry that the very long time it has taken the government to do the right thing is in fact too late for thousands of small businesses across our country and in my riding. While the wage subsidy has been helpful, for many owner-operator businesses the real problem has been ongoing fixed costs. Many of them have received no help thus far with their rent, either because their landlord would not participate or, in the case of several businesses in Maple Ridge, because their landlord could not participate.

Properties owned by municipal agencies were excluded from CECRA. At those daily 4:30 p.m. calls organized by the health ministry, we all remember those, I asked for the municipal exclusion to be removed. Officials said that they would look into it. My local mayors said they were open to it, if it were not for the exclusions.

Over 700 people in my riding signed a petition to remove the exclusions. It was initiated by Sally and James with Sushi Ebenezer and Temptations Salon, owned by Lisa. Everyone was on board except for the government.

Why have these exclusions remained for so long? After nearly eight months of pleading from tenants, residents and me, will the minister confirm that this completely unjust exclusion is removed in the new program?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Chair, let me start by thanking the member opposite for his truly heartfelt question, a question that, to me, reflects real knowledge of his community and real advocacy for his community. I really respect that and I am grateful for the input.

In terms of the measures that we are going to be voting on tomorrow, together we can all be really proud that once we have passed this legislation, Canada will have a set of measures that are mutually reinforcing, that will be in place until the summer, that support businesses and support Canadians, and that I think are second to none anywhere in the world.

We will have done our job helping Canadians to get through. That is what we need—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Madam Chair, what I am hearing is more waffling, not an answer to the question I asked.

I look forward to finally seeing some of those tenant applications coming back approved after eight months of rejections. That is the issue with these programs and has been since day one. They get rushed through this place, and within days, if not hours, inadequacies are quickly pointed out.

I wonder if the minister could advise what the most likely complaints are that I can expect to hear from my struggling local business about this program?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Madam Chair, I want to share some comments from a couple of businesses.

Aphrodite's café, says, “We are not completely out of the woods yet, but without these programs like rent support, I would have had to close my doors almost immediately.”

Eby Manor milk states, “It is important that we are able to hire staff. We have hired a number of part-time staff and it is because of the Canada emergency wage subsidy.”

This legislation is going to help businesses like this. I am really glad we are getting support so we can pass the legislation.