Ms. May, as usual, you're exactly right in terms of the situation in which many businesses find themselves.
Businesses are afraid of taking on debt. When a third of small businesses report they are worried that, because they are shut down, they will never reopen, it is a little tough for them to consider taking on additional debt at this time, which they will be personally on the hook for potentially down the road. Even if the loan is guaranteed by government, it doesn't give them the breathing room to help. They need these costs taken away; they don't just need loans.
I think the Canada emergency business account is a good vehicle, and having the banking partners deliver it is also the right measure. My suggestion is that the upfront piece be $10,000 whether or not you're able to borrow anything. If we kick in $10,000, and we get other parties, such as banks and provinces, to kick in money, that would allow the smallest guys to participate and access that money. There are so many self-employed people who are absolutely desperate right now, and we need to make sure that there are some dollars in their hands so they can make it through.
I talked about the CERB challenge as well, because many self-employed people have a trickle of income coming in and they're now finding themselves ineligible for that. I know the government is talking about a fix there, but that can't come soon enough.