Income Tax Act  With our pressure, working beyond the normal means of lobbying and advocacy, we worked together with organized labour, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Our party, our leader and I signed a letter calling on the government to raise that wage subsidy. We were glad to see them do that. My colleague from New Westminster—Burnaby brought forward a proposal to bring forward a commercial rent program, similar to what they were doing in Australia.

Business of Supply  We therefore ask the government to adopt the motion and join those who are asking it to delay the audits. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business made the same request, which was denied. In conclusion, the crisis affects everyone, but it does not affect everyone equally. Some sectors of our economy, some of our workers, are in more urgent need.

Business of Supply  In fact, at the end of the program, even in its extended version, only 128,000 businesses were able to access the program. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business cited that there were 400,000 businesses that wanted to apply, but only one-third of them were eligible. By not fixing the program, the government left $1 billion unspent.

Income Tax Act  Madam Speaker, the member for New Westminster—Burnaby is right that, among the Canadian Federation of Independent Business taxpayers, L'Union des producteurs agricoles and the Chicken Farmers of Canada, there is a broad base of support for this particular bill to go before the House. We did spend a considerable amount of time working with Mr.

Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act  We know what the cost of the carbon tax is to Canadian agriculture. It is crippling. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the carbon tax is costing Canadian farmers about $14 million a year. Conservatives are offering a very easy solution. There are already exemptions for purple gas and diesel.

Canadian Heritage committee  However, I think it's important that we all understand what a paid holiday means. My colleagues at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business conducted some research a couple of years ago and concluded that a paid statutory holiday across the entire country basically costs the economy, in effect, $3.6 billion.

COVID-19 Emergency Response  Madam Speaker, at least 400 of the summer camps across Canada employing 70,000 people are facing bankruptcy next year. Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports that hundreds of thousands of small firms have received zero support because they fall through the cracks. Every day, more and more shops, restaurants and hotels in Parry Sound—Muskoka and all across Canada are forced to close their doors.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  He has research on the requirement for additional funds. I would just say that if we look at the recent report of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business on business survival rates, in their second group of business survivors are professional services or health care services as the businesses that are of most concern in terms of not being able to survive.

Status of Women committee  We're going to switch gears right now and start our second panel. We are very fortunate to have with us, from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Corrine Pohlmann, who is the senior VP, national affairs and partnerships, and from Femmessor, we have Sévrine Labelle, president and chief executive officer. We'll have them each make their five minutes of comments and then we'll begin our rounds of questions.

Status of Women committee  Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I'll be focusing my remarks on the impacts of COVID-19 on female entrepreneurs. I'll be walking you through a slide deck that I hope you all have in front of you. Right away, I want to talk a bit about CFIB. It's a not-for-profit member-based organization that represents the interests of independently owned Canadian companies.

Income Tax Act  As an example for this piece of legislation, I am a big supporter of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the advocacy it does. If it had the opportunity to bring these things forward at committee, when we have all these things going back and forth, for example the rent subsidy program, we would have had a better bill months ago.

Income Tax Act  The government has left $1.2 billion on the table from the previous commercial rent assistance program. It only spent $1.9 billion of the allotted funds. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 128,000 businesses did get support from that program, but 400,000 businesses would have qualified had the government made it a tenant-driven program. Another flaw in the previous program was that businesses which rented from a local government or government agency were immediately disqualified from applying for the program.

Income Tax Act  That is the take-away from the September 30 survey of 1,700 SMEs conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. It also shows that 50% of Quebec businesses, or one in two, believe they would not easily survive a second wave of restrictions. This same survey showed that 27% of SMEs will survive less than a year with the revenue they are currently taking in.

Business of Supply  It is the heart of the restaurant scene in Edmonton. We know that Alberta has been deeply hit by COVID-19. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has said that there is a higher risk of small businesses closing in Alberta than anywhere else in the country. Between March and May, 8,500 businesses closed in Edmonton.

Business of Supply  We already knew at that point that the program was not working very well, since only 10% of businesses were eligible for it, according to a survey undertaken very early on by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. June, July, August, September and October have gone by and now it is November. It is only now, on November 2, that the government is tabling an amendment to this program.