By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

PM: Rent relief coming for businesses

Apr 24, 2020 | 9:32 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced rent relief is on the way for businesses that haven’t been able to pay their landlords due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau said a deal has been reached on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program.

“We’ve reached agreements with all provinces and territories to lower rent by 75 per cent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19 for April, May and June. The government will cover 50 per cent of that reduction, with the property owner covering the rest,” he said.

Small businesses which pay rent of less than $50,000 per month will qualify for the benefit, as will non-profit organizations and charitable organizations.

Trudeau said more information will be coming on support for larger businesses.

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For small businesses that are unable to cover the 25 per cent of rent left, Trudeau pointed to the $40,000 loans available for for businesses. $10,000 of which is forgivable.

Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly told the House of Commons finance committee on Thursday that he was expecting an announcement on rent relief as early as today.

Kelly said 70 per cent of the CFIB’s 30,000 members pay monthly rent for their business premises and, of those, 55 per cent report that they can’t afford to pay their rent next month.

Kelly said struggling businesses need a non-repayable rent subsidy, not loans or deferral of rent payments.

Trudeau said that later today he will be meeting with the first ministers to work on supporting Canadians during the pandemic and will talk about reopening parts of the economy.

“Canada is a vast country and some regions have been hit harder than others by this pandemic,” he said.

The prime minster said the most important thing to consider when discussing reopening the economy is the ability to mange, control and reduce any potential outbreaks rapidly.

Continuing to follow the public health orders – proper hand hygiene, staying at home if sick, safe physical distancing when out – will be the surest way out of the pandemic and in to reopening the economy, said Trudeau.

Speaking from outside Rideau Cottage, Trudeau also said the military is being deployed in to help provinces to regain control of the situation in long-term care situations, calling it “unacceptable.”

“But this is a short-term solution. We’re also offering billions of dollars to provinces to top up the pay of essential workers,” Trudeau said. He said formal requests have been made by Ontario and Quebec, and have been approved.

“This government will be there to help Canadians who need help. Period.”

As of Friday morning, Canada has 42,739 confirmed cases, 11 probable cases and 2,197 deaths. There have been 643,398 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 3,720 cases, and 67 deaths. A total of 112,562 Albertans have been tested.

Earlier Friday, data released by the federal government revealed $22.4 billion has been paid out through the $2,000-a-month Canada Emergency Response Benefit and more than seven million Canadians have applied.

Trudeau began his address by reminding Canadians that a moment of silence will be held at 2 p.m. AT (11 a.m. MT) and of the virtual vigil happening tonight in memory of Cst. Heidi Stevenson, who died in the line of duty on April 19. She was one of 22 people killed during a shooting rampage in multiple rural Nova Scotia communities.