Government Operations Committee on June 11th, 2026

[Michelle Auger]

The red tape is certainly one of the top priorities for small businesses and something to address at the federal level. We've been calling for removal of red tape for small businesses, getting them templates, streamlining those processes and even looking at reducing the amount of paperwork that is required. This needs to be taken into consideration.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

My husband and I started a business, and I can tell you that we never tried to get any of these programs, because it was impossible. I had exactly that question: Would reducing paperwork help SMEs compete for a government contract?

I know the big guys have a massive team that can do this. If SMEs represent 99.7% of our economy, why are we not helping them with a program?

[Michelle Auger]

It's the number one ask when it comes to procurement.

The number one complaint we hear is how to create an ethics program. It's not something that's required under health and safety mandatory requirements. There are no templates. A business owner has to google online what an ethics program is and put it in place to meet the requirements of a procurement program. There are a lot of procurements that depend on those. It almost seems as though you're checking a box by handing in something that you've implemented within your business.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Very quickly—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you very much.

I ask you folks to watch your own times, please.

Mr. Gasparro, go ahead.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Thank you, all, for being here.

With regard to the CFIB, I have a great deal of respect for entrepreneurs who are starting a business and trying to make it in a global economic environment that is constantly changing. I have a lot of respect for the work you do.

Everyone who has come in here supports the buy Canadian plan. I'm assuming you support it.

[Michelle Auger]

Yes, our members do, in theory.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

The government has brought in policies to try to help small businesses. The regional tariff response initiative was briefly alluded to. We allocated $500 million to it. We've increased it by giving small businesses access to working capital, expanding into new markets and helping SMEs adjust supply chains and operations impacted by tariffs. We have streamlined the application process, and there's more work to do.

The buy Canadian plan is evolving, but we are trying to get as many Canadian companies involved in that as.... You touched on some of the work still left to do. Connecting the buy Canadian plan to the regional tariff response initiative and programs like it is exactly what we're trying to do to create that bridge for SMEs, so they can be prosperous moving forward while we navigate what everyone agrees is a changing global economic environment.

Can you touch on the linkage between programs like the regional tariff response initiative and buy Canadian?

[Michelle Auger]

Yes.

On September 5, the RTRI was announced as a measure to help support SMEs. When you start digging into the details of the various programs.... The RTRI was responsible for setting its own criteria across the country.

We know that the level of awareness of the RTRI is quite low. We have specific data, and I'm happy to circulate that data to the committee. I don't have those numbers off the top of my head. However, the awareness level remains incredibly low. We know 72% of our members, regardless of the sector they're in, have been impacted by tariffs in some form.

However, when you look at—

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I'm sorry. Can I interject?

Whose fault is that? Isn't it your job to make sure your members know what programs are out there? We have to get that information out there.

[Michelle Auger]

You're correct.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Excuse me. Members of Parliament like me and others have tried to get that information out, but that's your job.

[Michelle Auger]

Have you looked at the criteria? Some of the criteria ask for 10 employees in order to apply. That's not a small business.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Excuse me. You just said that there hasn't been enough updating and that your client members don't know about it.

Whose job is that? It's your job.

[Michelle Auger]

They don't qualify, because you need 10 employees in B.C.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

No, you need—

[Michelle Auger]

In Quebec, you need to be only in manufacturing. They don't qualify. That's the problem. This program was targeted to small businesses. If you're in retail, you cannot apply at all.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

It's five members or more, not 10. I might add that it's part of your job to communicate this to your members.

[Michelle Auger]

We have communicated those programs. It's programs picking losers and winners again.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

On a point of order, Chair, I think it's very disrespectful, when Ms. Auger is here explaining what the problems are with a program, that she's being badgered.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Attacked.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

“Attacked” is a better word.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We'll restart the clock, Mr. Gasparro.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I have no further questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That is our time, colleagues.

We are going to suspend for a few moments to bring in our new witnesses. We have three opening statements to get through. We'll try to keep the suspension short.

We're suspended.