At the moment, the reality is that not one small business in the Chinatown parkade in my riding is eligible for the commercial rent subsidy, and they're not alone. Representatives from the Hastings-North BIA tell me that small businesses there are also struggling. Even the landlords are saying they should not be the ones applying for the rent subsidy, and they all want the mortgage requirement eliminated.
It is absurd that the Prime Minister will bail out big companies that use tax havens, but he won't help out these small mom and pop shops. When will the minister realize that small businesses are the economic engines in all of our communities and fix the program so that small businesses can get the help they need?