MH & District Chamber of Commerce logo

By Chantal Wagner

extending wage & rent subsidies

Chamber says the federal budget’s business top-ups are positive

Apr 20, 2021 | 4:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Ottawa’s budget measures for small and medium-sized businesses include pandemic-related program extensions and funding boosts even as the government rolls out a $15 federal minimum wage.

The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is happy to see the federal government continue subsidies for businesses.

The Liberal government says it will extend the wage subsidy, the rent subsidy, and its lockdown top-ups to September 25.

That will then gradually decrease starting in June as vaccinations become more widespread.

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Chamber president Marcus Campbell says it’s hard to know if those supports are enough but the supports are positive given a pretty subdued budget announcement.

“We have such a diverse industry of businesses across the city of Medicine Hat and in our region. I think the restaurant industry is particularly struggling right now, retail, so it may be enough for some businesses and not nearly enough for others.”

Campbell is concerned about the magnitude of debt in the budget, and he believes there needs to be more discussion on how it’s going to be reduced over time.

“Happy to see some of the green technology announcements, but from a chamber standpoint we want to ensure that we’re advocating for a balanced approach when it comes to that kind of stuff that we got a balanced energy sector with a mix of renewables and conventional energy,” Campbell added.

The government will also expand the time frame of its COVID-19 income support programs for those taking sick leave because they’ve contracted the virus, are in self-isolation, or must take time off work to care for children and family.

As the rent and wage programs wind down, the government plans to introduce a new hiring subsidy of up to 50 percent on the incremental remuneration paid to eligible employees between June 6 and Nov. 20 for a maximum of $1,129 per employee per week.

The government proposes a new Canada Digital Adoption Program, which would train and deploy 28,000 young Canadians to help small businesses move online and support e-commerce initiatives.

On the other side of the leger, some small business costs will increase with the new minimum wage set to rise with inflation and include provisions to ensure that where provincial or territorial minimum wages are higher, the higher wage prevails.

(contains budget content from the Canadian Press)