MONCTON — Opportunities New Brunswick says it is enhancing and extending the province’s Small Business Recovery Grant until the green level of recovery this August. But the CEO of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce says that isn’t enough.
In a news release issued Friday, the province will launch applications for the second phase of the program starting on June 1, 2021. That phase includes improvements to ensure more accessibility and other assistance for small businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other amendments include a one-time subsidy of up to $300 that will offset the costs associated with preparing applications. It also is lowering the drop in revenue threshold to 20 percent, down from 30 percent.
Businesses that received support from the grant under its first phase can still apply for the full amount under the second. It will apply to losses businesses have incurred starting April 1, 2021.
“While the pandemic has been unpredictable, our commitment to business is not,” said Economic Development Minister Arlene Dunn in the release. “The program will ensure New Brunswick businesses continue to get the support they need in a timely manner.”
While the changes are optimistic signs for the business community, John Wishart, CEO of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was expecting more.
“The original version was too restrictive in terms of who was eligible in the criteria,” he said. “We’re not 100 percent happy with the changes.”
Wishart said the organization has been in talks with Opportunities New Brunswick about expanding small business grants. Last month, they sent a letter to Dunn advocating for greater support.
Under the updated criteria, businesses in certain sectors can apply for up to $5,000 in non-repayable funding support. Those eligible include dine-in restaurants, caterers, bars, hair salons, spas, gyms, movie theatres, larger live performance venues and non-essential retail businesses in lockdown zones.
Wishart said he would’ve wanted to see the bar for accessing funds not based on a percentage of revenue loss, and for the support to be extended to non-essential businesses regardless of recovery phases. But the chamber is happy the amendments say businesses can now access the grant under the yellow phase of recovery.
The original benefit was only available under the orange, red or lockdown levels.
Wishart also hopes the process has been made easier for businesses to apply for the benefit, explaining the original grant application was cumbersome.
Grants similar to the program offered by the New Brunswick government have been scattered. In provinces like Nova Scotia, business owners have said it isn’t enough to keep their doors open. In some cases, it still leaves businesses without financial support.
Wishart said the same idea goes for New Brunswick, citing a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The report, released in January, showed New Brunswick’s spending on direct Covid-19 measures relied on 99 percent of the federal government’s money.
That is the lowest of provincial spending across the country, he said.
“If you look over the course of the pandemic, New Brunswick has been at the bottom of the pack in terms of overall support to businesses through Covid-19,” said Wishart. “That’s been a bit of a thorn in this.”
Even though New Brunswick’s impact from Covid-19 has been less significant than areas like Ontario or Alberta, Wishart said businesses are still hurting, especially in sectors like food, hospitality and tourism.
“Surviving Covid-19 has been a bit like running a marathon and never seeing the finish line,” said Wishart.
Still, he said the enhancement of the program, along with New Brunswick’s reopening plan, is a positive sign for businesses, calling it the roadmap businesses have been hoping for.
“[The reopening plan] shows a little bit of a finish line to the pandemic after 15 months,” said Wishart. “[But], I think we’ll continue to lobby for support, even if we go green, throughout 2021.”
Aaron Sousa, Huddle.
https://huddle.today/n-b-s-extended-small-business-grant-isnt-enough-says-moncton-chamber-ceo/
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N.B.’s Extended Small Business Grant Isn’t Enough Says Moncton Chamber CEO
Friday, May 28, 2021
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Business Truth & Reconciliation
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce takes proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework.
Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.
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