We've been begging governments to look at the plight of new business owners. I know they're sensitive to it and they're thinking about it, but, for goodness' sake, we're a year into the pandemic and these businesses have had no support at all. I don't have an exact number. There are thousands who reach out to the CFIB asking for help—people who have spent their entire life savings of half a million dollars to open a restaurant that has had no income and been shut down all of last year because of technicalities regarding their environment. This needs to change. It is desperate.
First, the program they need the greatest access to is CEBA—getting them a loan quickly. That $40,000 to $60,000 loan would help a great deal.
Second, we need to fix the wage and rent subsidy to allow them access to those two programs, because they have been real lifesavers for a whole bunch of businesses.