Mr. Speaker, I have two specific questions for the minister that reflect concerns I am hearing directly from business owners in my riding.
The first question is about the payroll requirement associated with the loan to businesses. I am hearing from businesses that many may operate on a dividend basis, where they pay the owner-operator through dividends. There may be cases of family-run businesses where there is not much of a payroll because everybody is chipping in and doing the work together. Is the minister open to ensuring that those who are paid through dividends or those in family-run businesses can access the business account as well?
The second question is about concerns being raised by businesses about what will happen to the wage subsidy when that is scheduled to sunset. Businesses are thinking in advance. What is going to happen if they are forced to lay people off because they are not in a position where they are able to retain them after the period set for the wage subsidy ends? Businesses are looking for clarity so that they can plan and make decisions now. They have to know what will happen at that point of sunset. I would appreciate it if the minister could answer those two specific questions.