Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to all the witnesses. I'd like to thank them for their presentations.
To start, I'd like to comment quickly on what the witness just said. I believe it was the second witness who answered Ms. Koutrakis's question.
Indeed, a $40,000 loan isn't much for a larger business, but loans of up to $6.25 million are also available through the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada. The loans aren't interest-free, but the rates are low. Although the loans are repayable, businesses who need more help have access to additional liquidity.
Mr. Lefebvre, thank you for your remarks. One of the measures you recommended was rent assistance commensurate with decreased revenue. You said the loans wouldn't be enough.
This is my first question, then. Percentage-wise, how much do you think would be enough for the restaurants you represent?
I'll throw out my second question, while I'm at it.
The government announced that it would be introducing a rent assistance program soon. If that assistance came in the form of a loan that was only partially repayable—similar to the $40,000 emergency loan, which allows for $10,000 in loan forgiveness—would it be enough to help your members, or would they need more than that?