Mr. Speaker, small businesses like restaurants, bars and theatres were the first to shut down during the first wave of the pandemic. They are now having to close down again because they are in the red zone. Loans are all well and good, but debt is not an option for them.
The Bloc has been saying for more than six months that in order to prevent bankruptcies, we need to provide assistance for fixed costs. Thousands of businesses are at risk of collapsing. The government agreed with us. We put assistance for fixed costs into a motion on April 11, and the Liberals voted in favour of it.
When will the government keep its word and announce real assistance for fixed costs for businesses?