COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on April 29th, 2020

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Mr. Chair, I can commit to the House that we will ensure that our officials are clearly sending the message in their briefings that we want workers to go back to their jobs. One of the reasons we're putting in place the wage subsidy is for that very end. We're paying up to 75% of payrolls so that we can ensure that people are working.

Canadians have a number of different reasons for not going back to work, including child care and other responsibilities. I can assure the House that we're making every effort to get the message out that we want people to go back to work.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Mr. Rayes has the floor. There is time for one quick question.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Chair, many restaurateurs, bar owners, hairdressers, barbers and estheticians don't qualify for program support for various technical reasons. This is April 29. Can the government tell us today when those people will hear, yes, they are going to receive assistance as part of the economic recovery, which is already under way in Quebec and other provinces?

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The Minister for Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade has the floor.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have put out a number of measures to help businesses in Quebec and across the country to manage through this period, whether it is by getting access to a small business loan or getting access to the wage subsidy, so that we can keep people employed. In the very early days of both of these, we are seeing almost 500,000—almost half a million—Canadians, businesses, who are getting loans approved to help them through this period, and over 60,000 have applied for the wage subsidy so that they can keep their employees together.

We are going to continue working to help these companies and entrepreneurs across the country.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

That brings to an end the questioning of ministers.

Please note that, pursuant to the order made on April 20, the House has been recalled. As such, the committee will now adjourn, and the House sitting will begin shortly thereafter. The bells will be rung to call in members and a parade will begin the sitting.