Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today issued the following statement to mark Small Business Week, which runs from October 17 to 23, 2021:
“Small businesses are at the heart of our communities across the country. It’s the little neighborhood cafe that brews the perfect cup of coffee, the entrepreneur who launched a new online store, and the family-owned store that turned to making face masks at the start of the pandemic of COVID-19. Small businesses power our economy by creating the goods and services we need, while employing millions of Canadians.
“Today, as we mark the start of Small Business Week in Canada, we recognize that the past year and a half has been difficult for small businesses, their owners and employees. Small businesses across the country have been called upon to make countless sacrifices to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities. Through it all, they have shown incredible courage and resilience, as well as an unprecedented capacity for adaptation and innovation. And while some businesses have now reopened, many still need support as they continue to fight the impacts of the pandemic.
“Support for Canadian businesses is essential to ensure a strong economic recovery. That’s why the Government of Canada has put in place a range of support measures to help small businesses during the pandemic – from spending assistance to interest-free and partially repayable loans with the Canada Emergency Business Account praise relief with the Canada Emergency Rent Grant. We’ve also helped businesses keep their employees on the payroll with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Recovery Hiring Program, and created the Credit availability program for heavily affected sectors (HASCAP) to help particularly affected businesses that need additional support to overcome the pandemic. These measures have helped support hundreds of thousands of small businesses in Canada, and the workers and communities that depend on them.
“Small businesses rely on us to get vaccinated, so we can avoid preventable blockages and help them get back on track. By being there for businesses and their workers every step of the way, the government also continues to create jobs, strengthen the middle class and grow the economy. We support our hardest hit sectors, including tourism, hospitality and cultural industries. The government is also working to improve the Canada Small Business Financing Program, so that small businesses and entrepreneurs can access the funds they need to recover, innovate and achieve long-term growth. We also help small and medium-sized businesses grow and prosper so they can compete in Canada’s digital future. With initiatives such as the Canadian Digital Adoption Program, we support them in adopting new digital technologies and putting their products and services online.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to join me in thanking small and medium-sized businesses for their dedication, persistence and innovation on a daily basis, and especially over the past year and a half. Let’s continue to support our local businesses so that together we can build a more resilient economy and a better future for all. “
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