Jagmeet Singh presents NDP plan to help save the small businesses our 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

BURNABY — Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh released the NDP’s plan to deliver help for main street small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic. Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are ready to go to great lengths for big corporations, but since the beginning of the pandemic, they’ve done the bare minimum for the small businesses in our communities. Singh and the NDP fought successfully for small businesses by increasing the wage subsidy, delivering a rent subsidy and paid sick leave for workers who need it.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and we must ensure they get all the support they need to recover from this pandemic,” said Singh. “The Liberals are only interested in protecting the interests of big corporations that have been profiteering from this pandemic, not small businesses struggling to keep their heads above water. The NDP will continue to fight for support for small businesses.”

The NDP plan includes an excess profit tax on pandemic profits to better support small businesses. The NDP has committed to extending the wage subsidy program until the pandemic is over so that small businesses can hold their workforce — our communities depend on it. While the Liberals maintain their cozy relationships with big corporations, the NDP will make sure the rent subsidy program is maintained so that small business owners can afford their rent and invest in their businesses. And to get people back to work, the NDP plan includes a hiring bonus to pay the employer portions of Employment Insurance and the Canadian Pension Plan for new or rehired staff.

“As we aim for a recovery, we need to ensure our small businesses grow, innovate and stay competitive in Canada and around the world,” said NDP Critic for Small Business, Gord Johns. “While New Democrats propose solutions to help small business, like universal pharmacare to reduce cost for small business owners, the Liberals and Conservatives rush to block them. Small business is the engine of job creation in Canada and the NDP will do everything necessary to support it.”