Page 5 - CFIB

calls were for help in accessing one or more of the

key government support programs as there were so

many rules to consider. Other calls were related to
the need for a reopening plan or for HR support in

dealing with staffing issues, like layoffs or rehiring.

Three, CFIB did thousands and thousands of

media interviews to ensure the public understood
the impact of the pandemic on small businesses.

We’ve used this platform to reinforce the need for
consumers to support small business, such as our

#SmallBusinessEveryDay campaign. As many

Canadians used big box stores and online giants
during the lockdown phase, it will be critical to get

the public reunited with the smaller independents

they love.

Q: What will the CFIB continue to do going forward

to alleviate some of the negative impacts?
A: Our pandemic related work is far from over. As

I mentioned earlier, the average small business
had inherited $160,000 in fresh COVID debt and

we are calling on Ottawa and the provinces to help

remove some of this burden. And as only 35% of our
members report they are back to normal levels of

revenues, we are also calling on Ottawa to postpone
the phasing out of the rent and wage subsidies.

These are to end in September but CFIB believes

it is just way too soon to end these programs until
subsidies can be replaced by sales. We will be

using the pressure of the upcoming federal election

to get all parties to commit to ways to support small
businesses in the months ahead.

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