Year-end Review: Secured Changes to the Wage Subsidy Program

In March, the economic floor fell out from underneath Canadians, including all those who have invested their life savings in small businesses. In our riding, one of the hardest-hit sectors was tourism. Many small businesses looking to depend on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy & Canada Emergency Business Account were left behind and my office continues to work to find solutions for many. At the outset, the Liberal government was set to announce a 10% wage subsidy, which would have done little to help Kootenay-Columbian businesses retain their workers. On behalf of business owners in the riding, and in concert with my colleagues, I went to work and we were successful in pressuring the government to raise the wage subsidy to 75%.

Since that time, I have made it a priority to stay connected with small business owners in the riding to ensure that their needs are being met and that Government supports are working. To accomplish this, I remain in contact with Chambers throughout the riding and conduct in-person visits and Zoom meetings with restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, guides, and more. Each and everyone one of them is important to our local culture and economy.