JASON KENNEY MUST EXPAND SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM: NOTLEY

EDMONTON – Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley issued the following statement on the Government of Alberta’s partnership with the federal government to deliver commercial rent assistance for small businesses:

“Jason Kenney’s announcement that he will pay into Ottawa’s small business plan comes with some serious pitfalls. Providing assistance to cover up to 75 per cent of commercial rent is a positive step, but the plan announced by the federal government today falls short.

“We know tens thousands of small businesses have been forced to close their doors, and they need urgent help to cover the cost of rent. Yet, small businesses are only eligible for rental assistance if they have lost 70 per cent of their revenue, meaning thousands of struggling entrepreneurs who have seen a significant loss of business—40, 50, 60 per cent of their revenues—won’t get any support.

“Jason Kenney should stop letting Ottawa take the lead, step up for small businesses, and expand commercial rental assistance to all small businesses that are experiencing hardship in the face of COVID-19. If we want Alberta’s economy to be ready to rebound from this pandemic, we must ensure that all businesses have the support they need to weather this storm.”