Some sticker shock in the federal government’s COVID-19 spending.
But it was overall worth it, according to Charla Robinson of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, who notes there was no other alternative.
“We are already seeing significant impacts in our communities from the loss of business activity and that is with these supports, so imagine how much worse the situation would be without them.”
Robinson goes on to say many businesses wouldn’t be able to reopen if it wasn’t for the wage subsidy because there just isn’t enough revenue to pay for employees’ salaries and overhead costs.
Going forward Robinson would like to see the federal government adjust the emergency response benefit to allow employees to work and still have the CERB to offset shorter work hours.
