'We all deserve and need help': Alberta businesses hope pandemic subsidies are more inclusive
While some businesses are relieved the federal government is continuing critical assistance programs, others are disappointed and confused by the new subsidies.
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy expired Saturday, but Ottawa announced a new set of relief measures to continue supporting small businesses.
The new Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program targets the tourism industry, restaurants and bars. They are eligible to receive a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.
Another funding stream is available for any business that can prove it lost at least 40 per cent of its regular revenue due to COVID-19.
Different types of businesses fit within funding brackets, ranging from a subsidy of up to 50 per cent down to just 10 per cent.
It’s left Shara Vigeant, owner of SVPT Fitness and Athletics, and other business operators wondering where they fit in and why their losses aren't covered to the same extent as others.
Gyms currently fit into the 10 per cent funding bracket, Vigeant told CTV News Edmonton.
But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says arts, culture, events-based and fitness sectors were only closed in Alberta 50 days less than restaurants.
“I don’t understand how they make the decisions on which industry is more deserving than the other,” Vigeant said. “We all deserve and need the help.
“It kinda leaves us in the dark and out in the cold,” she added. “We don’t qualify for the industries that are still being covered at 50 per cent.”
Vigeant said the federal programs were one of the only certainty she had during the pandemic as restrictions changed and waves of cases came and went.
“(The pandemic) has been an emotional rollercoaster,” she added. “Recovery is on our mind as we are trying to dig out of the fourth wave.
“Every bit helps.”
She described how the turf floor of her gym needs replacing because of all the sanitizing. Now she doesn’t know if she should replace it or save her money in case more restrictions come.
“There are so many what-ifs, what if, what if, what’s going to happen next. You can’t plan for anything,” Vigeant said.
Annie Dormuth, CFIB director of provincial affairs, told CTV News that many businesses think the threshold of money lost during the pandemic is too high or that the programs are unclear.
“It’s quite unclear about the definitions or what they will be using to define these businesses to fit into either of these funding streams,” Dormuth said. “(All of them) face just the same great uphill battle as hospitality and tourism to get back to economic recovery.”
The CFIB launched a petition to push the government to change the funding supports so that more small businesses qualify, saying “it is way too soon to end critical business supports” and that “small businesses are still at risk.”
Until Vigeant gets more answers she hopes to stay open as long as possible.
“We’ve been locked down three times with a lot of ups and a lot of downs,” she said. “Now, we just are trying to figure out if we’ll ever recover.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.