April 22, 2021

 Dear MP Michael Barrett,

I am writing you on behalf over 300 businesses who are in dire need of support from the Federal Government to make recommendations so that they will provide more support and easement to the small business community.

Over the last few years, the Federal Government has given a large amount of financial support to large corporations for example, Air Canada $5.879 billion, Mastercard $50 million and Bell Canada $240 Million in wage subsidy program or other related programs, yet our small businesses have to pay back loans of $60k by December 2022 after being closed for six months or more and operating at 50% capacity for the other months, which has been next to impossible to accomplish for many SME’s.

Our Chamber is concerned over the recently released Federal Government Budget specifically the limiting of the programs and winding them down by September. We would like to see them exist until March 30,2022 as well as a recommendation to allow small businesses that make under $1 million dollars per year keep the 60k loan.

The Chamber strongly recommends that by allowing this to happen, these measures will allow small businesses to get back on their feet and have some relief of not having more debt to pay off. Thereby providing some comfort for them to focus on bouncing back from covid-19 and keep their doors open.

The small businesses in our community are the backbone of economic growth and job creation, please forward our recommendations on behalf of all small businesses in the region. We look forward to hearing from you and how you can advocate for small businesses.

Best regards,

Pamela Robertson

Executive Director

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce

613-342-6553