Wednesday, December 31, 2025
ADVT 
National

Groups seek specific COVID help in throne speech

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Sep, 2020 06:37 PM
  • Groups seek specific COVID help in throne speech

The head of a group that represents small businesses countrywide says he's hoping tomorrow's throne speech throws a lifeline to some of his members who are barely hanging on.

Dan Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says he's hoping the government focuses its throne speech tomorrow on navigating the pandemic.

Non-essential businesses were forced to close during lockdowns earlier this year to slow the spread of COVID-19, but have reopened since as restrictions have eased.

Kelly says it could be years before thousands of small businesses in the country have revenues equal to what they made before the pandemic.

His group is hoping to see a rejigging of commercial rent assistance that has fallen short of expectations, among other aid to businesses.

The speech is expected to lay out promises on child care and health care as part of the Liberal government's short-term and long-term vision for the country.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. defers stumpage fees to aid forest industry during pandemic

B.C. defers stumpage fees to aid forest industry during pandemic
Premier John Horgan says in a news release the government will defer stumpage fees for the next three months to help forest companies with their financial liquidity during the crisis. Stumpage is the fee forest operators pay the province to harvest, buy or sell trees from Crown land.

B.C. defers stumpage fees to aid forest industry during pandemic

'Suspected' explosive device detonated after traffic stop: Vancouver police

'Suspected' explosive device detonated after traffic stop: Vancouver police
A traffic stop by Vancouver police led to a device being detonated by the bomb squad on Tuesday. The incident began when a suspect was pulled over in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and officers noticed what appeared to be fentanyl in his car.

'Suspected' explosive device detonated after traffic stop: Vancouver police

Snowbirds to boost morale amid COVID-19 with cross-country tour

Snowbirds to boost morale amid COVID-19 with cross-country tour
The Canadian Armed Forces is deploying its famed Snowbirds aerobatics team on a cross-country tour aimed at boosting morale as Canadians continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Snowbirds to boost morale amid COVID-19 with cross-country tour

Provinces, regions weigh different COVID-19 factors on reopening: PM

Provinces, regions weigh different COVID-19 factors on reopening: PM
As some provinces considered staggered steps Wednesday towards reopening their economies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made clear some of them may ease restrictions at different speeds.

Provinces, regions weigh different COVID-19 factors on reopening: PM

More than half of Canadian companies see sales drop at least 20%: StatCan

More than half of Canadian companies see sales drop at least 20%: StatCan
Almost one-third of businesses could stay open if physical distancing rules remain in place for six months, but nearly as many suggest they won't survive that long, according to survey results from Statistics Canada that provide a window into the financial strain of anti-pandemic rules on companies large and small.

More than half of Canadian companies see sales drop at least 20%: StatCan

Doctors fret over surgery backlog after immediate COVID-19 crisis

Doctors fret over surgery backlog after immediate COVID-19 crisis
Doctors say they're becoming increasingly concerned about how they're going to handle the swelling backlog of elective surgeries once the immediate COVID-19 threat has ebbed.

Doctors fret over surgery backlog after immediate COVID-19 crisis