Jagmeet Singh fighting for the small businesses communities rely on

While the Liberals chose to help big corporations profiteering off the pandemic, the NDP fought for small businesses struggling to keep their doors open

NANAIMO — So many main street small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in Canada, and an important part of every community across the country. Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh continued to talk about the NDP’s plan to help small businesses keep their doors open through the pandemic, recover and grow.

“Communities across the country, including in Nanaimo, rely on their small businesses for services, jobs and economic growth,” said Singh. “While small local businesses are struggling, Justin Trudeau is letting big companies take millions in public COVID relief and pay millions in dividends to their rich shareholders. Many small businesses had to shut their doors because of the pandemic and the lack of support from the Liberal government. New Democrats fought for struggling small businesses to make sure they get the help they need.”

The communities in Nanaimo rely heavily on their small businesses, especially in the tourism sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic. With people unable to travel, there has been a significant loss of business. As a result, many people lost their jobs and small businesses had to close shop. Justin Trudeau is ready to go to any lengths for big corporations, but since the beginning of the pandemic, he’s done the bare minimum for small businesses in communities like in Nanaimo. He only wanted to pay 10% of workers' wages. New Democrats fought back and delivered a payment of 75% of workers’ wages that kept millions of workers on the payroll and helped businesses stay open. The NDP will continue to fight for small businesses and make sure supports like the rent subsidy and the wage subsidy continue as long as small businesses need them to get through this pandemic.

“When it came to helping small businesses through the pandemic, Justin Trudeau didn’t understand the reality of being a small business owner struggling to keep their doors open,” said NDP candidate for Nanaimo—Ladysmith, Lisa Marie Barron. “The communities in Nanaimo—Ladymith deserve someone who will fight for them. New Democrats have shown that they are on the side of people, unlike the Liberals who are working for the ultra-rich and well-connected. I am proud to be part of an NDP team committed to fighting for a future where people come first.”

The NDP plan will put in place an excess profit tax on pandemic profits of big corporations so we can better support small businesses. The NDP also wants to continue helping small businesses by putting in place a hard cap on credit card transaction fees to allow small businesses to save money and invest in their growth. To get people back to work, the NDP will put in place a hiring bonus to pay the employer a portion of Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan for new or rehired staff. New Democrats will continue to fight for small businesses our communities rely on.