June 05, 2020
Our small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, but the crisis caused by COVID-19 is devastating.
There are many great businesses in York Centre that have innovated and adapted to help address this crisis, but for a each of those businesses there are many more who are unable to operate and need our support.
To ensure that businesses are able to see this crisis through and bounce back, the federal government has a number of support programs, including wage subsidies, interest-free loans, and tax deferrals.
Please, if you haven’t done so already, visit the federal government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan website for information about supporting your employees and business. It’s constantly updated as the situation evolves, at www.canada.ca/coronavirus. You can also find supports tailored to you at www.innovation.gc.ca.
Lastly, the Business Resilience Service hotline launched last week to help small businesses facing unprecedented challenges during COVID-19. It provides business and non-profit owners with customized financial guidance from qualified professionals—from navigating tax regulations and government supports, to planning a path to recovery—and will be offered for four weeks. You can call 1-866-989-1080, seven days a week for expert advice tailored to your business needs. More information can be found at www.canadianbusinessresiliencenetwork.ca/brs.
As an entrepreneur myself, I know times are beyond tough for many businesses, but we’ll get through this together. If you have any questions about federal programs, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to get you the information you need: michael.levitt@parl.gc.ca or 416-638-3700.