Mr. Speaker, since the outset of COVID, we have seen 60,000 small businesses shut their doors. More than 200,000 are at risk, according to the CFIB, and yet we continue to see significant gaps with regard to some of the government's COVID relief supports for small businesses, including with respect to the commercial rent assistance program for companies that have both a holding company and an operating company, as well as the requirement that the full amount of rent be paid within 60 days.
Then, there was absolutely no support for new businesses that opened their doors just before COVID. It has been 15 months, and still no support.
Could my hon. colleague speak to some of those issues affecting small businesses?