House of Commons Hansard #27 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was ndp.
Mary Ng LiberalMinister of Small Business
Madam Chair, I appreciate that important question. That is exactly why we are here tonight: to debate this important piece of legislation to give those businesses the help that they need for those important fixed costs like rent, in addition to the lockdown support that businesses will need in an effort to fight COVID-19.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, Quebec has already taken steps to help certain Quebec companies and SMEs pay their fixed costs. In Canada, these consist solely of mortgage interest, property taxes and insurance. Quebec has added telecommunications expenses, permits, gas and electricity bills, and association fees.
Why is Canada not providing assistance that is this effective, generous and accessible to corporate tenants?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, I am thrilled to have met with a number of female business owners in Quebec who have been able to take advantage of the emergency supports that we have had. The CEBA loan, which is a small-business loan, helps give businesses that additional flexibility and working capital to help bridge through expenses like the ones the member just talked about.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, I would really appreciate it if my colleague would listen and answer the question. We see that in this version of Bill C-9, the federal assistance will end in June 2021.
Will there be a transitional measure for companies and organizations that operate in certain sectors where business is seasonal?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, it is really important that we provide support to all Canadian small and medium-sized businesses, and that is what tonight's legislation is about. We committed to helping them with payroll costs, with fixed costs like rent, and with that important lending support so that they could get by and manage their businesses during this time.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, I did not hear the answer to the previous question because the interpretation was not working.
I will continue with another question.
If some organizations want to start operating again in the next high season and want to prepare well in advance of collecting their main source of income, will there be some assistance for tourism, culture, festivals and summer camps, for example, to get through the summer season?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, we have provided a range of program supports for businesses, and the regional development office in Quebec, CED-Q, provides additional support for those businesses that may not have access to the other programs that we have.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, it is all well and good to want to extend the program until 2021, but what will the parameters be as of January 2021? We know that business owners need predictability. We only know the parameters until December 31, 2020. What will they be after that?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, absolutely, I agree with the member that businesses need this predictability. This is why we have this legislation here. What businesses can rely on is that there will be support all the way until June, and—
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, once again, she did not answer my question.
Rent assistance must be given to those who need it, particularly to home-based businesses.
Will the program be adapted to that reality? Will there be provisions in the budget for the fixed costs of entrepreneurs who run a business out of their home?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, we have provided a wide range of supports, from the CEBA loan to the wage subsidy as well as this commercial rent subsidy for businesses. It is a wide range of program supports that we are providing Canada's entrepreneurs and businesses.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, many business owners have paid a lot of money in interest charges since the beginning of the pandemic.
Will the assistance that has been announced enable business owners to pay off all of the interest charges they have incurred?
Is there a cap? How much can a business owner be reimbursed for?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, this is where I am very happy to talk about the Canada emergency business account, which is interest-free: $40,000 is now going up to $60,000. Of that, $20,000 is forgivable, and it is interest-free.
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Chair, the question is, when will business owners have the money in their account? Can we have a date, for the sake of predictability?
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Madam Chair, our commitment is to make sure those businesses are supported with that liquidity.
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Madam Chair, I would like to use my five minutes to ask questions of my hon. colleague, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. On behalf of my constituents, I want to thank her for her tremendous work throughout this pandemic. She has been a real leader and I want to make sure that is on the record.
Unlike the member of Parliament for Carleton, who would ask a two-second question and expect a two-second response, I would like the minister to have the opportunity to answer the questions because I really do want to hear from her.
This bill deals with, of course, the wage subsidy and the rent subsidy, which are two really important programs. I have heard that from my constituents, particularly the wage subsidy for tourism-related businesses.
Can the minister speak to how these programs will remain the same, or to some of the changes, particularly as it relates to the rent subsidy?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Madam Chair, I would like to thank the hon. member for his really hard work, not only representing his riding, but also speaking for rural Canada. I always appreciate his advice on these issues.
When it comes to his question about what is so valuable about the measures all of us are supporting in this House tonight, we are now going to be able to say to small businesses across the country they will get up to 65% of their wages covered and up to 90% of their rent covered if they are subject to a local lockdown. Let us not forget about the expansion of CEBA, up to—
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Madam Chair, the point about the lockdown is extremely important. Here in Nova Scotia, we have been very blessed with the Atlantic bubble, and we have not seen some of the issues that other areas of the country have.
Could the minister go into a bit more detail on what that lockdown measures means for businesses being forced to shut down?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, I am glad the member mentioned the Atlantic bubble. This was controversial when Atlantic premiers first introduced it. The significant restrictions they—
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Madam Chair, I appreciate we have to have a similar amount of time for the answers and the questions, but I do hope you will let the hon. minister answer the questions if she has the ability to do so.
I want to ask about our government's overall vision. I know the minister had to speak in two forums in Montreal and Toronto. For my constituents who might not have been able to see that, my question is this: What is the government's economic vision moving forward?
We have done a very good job trying to put out measures to help support businesses and individuals. There is a lot of uncertainty about what the future looks like, but can she summarize for my constituents and all Canadians about where our vision is in the days ahead?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, I would summarize our plan this way: Right now the focus for all of us needs to be fighting the second wave of the coronavirus, and for the government and all members of the House to be supporting Canadians and Canadian businesses as we get through that fight. Then, once the virus is vanquished, it is going to be time for all of us to turn our attention to investing for a roaring-back Canadian economy. We have been talking about that, too, a lot tonight, and that is going to be something we are going to be well positioned to do, and I know that we are all going to contribute to that effort.
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Madam Chair, as the hon. minister mentioned, I come from a rural riding. I am very proud to be the rural caucus chair of our governing party.
Agriculture is an industry that matters across the country, but indeed in my riding of Kings—Hants we have a very diversified mix of commodity groups. I will go on record saying that when it is safe to do so, I hope the hon. minister will consider coming and having a Tidal Bay glass of wine down in Kings—Hants. We would love to see her.
As it relates to the agricultural sector writ large, I know we have had investments. Can she speak to how it would be important for our government in the days ahead to partner with the industry to make sure it is part of the economic recovery?
