The risks of bankruptcies associated with the scheduled date for repayment of the Emergency Business Account are strongly criticized! – Succession

It was at Pub Le Charlotte that the federal deputy for Montarville, Mr. Stéphane Bergeron, accompanied by Mr. Pascal Déry, owner of the SpartanFit branch: Circuit training and obstacles in Sainte-Julie, Mr. Jean-François Saucier, general director of the Mont-Saint-Bruno Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Chantale Brais, general director of L’Envolée, Sainte-Julie Volunteer Action Center, and Mr. François Vincent, vice-president for Quebec of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), decried the lack of flexibility and understanding shown by the federal government towards organizations that took out a loan from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) during the pandemic.

“Many entrepreneurs have benefited from a CUEC loan to be able to get through the crisis. Many of our SMEs, which constitute the very fabric of our economy, have not necessarily returned to their pre-pandemic cruising speed. They therefore expect a little flexibility from Ottawa to allow them to deal with the debt contracted… The reprieve granted, which is only three months, is too short to prevent the wave of bankruptcies which is looming in the horizon!” declared Mr. Bergeron.

“We too often forget the “P” in “SME”, that is to say these small and micro businesses, often family-run, which are run by passionate, hard-working and courageous individuals, who must make serious daily personal sacrifices. to support their (life) project. The draconian and inflexible CEBA reimbursement conditions take no account of the ability of these small businesses to pay, nor of the commercial sectors seriously affected — or even destroyed — by ill-advised pandemic measures. If the federal government continues to be deaf to the groups, businesses and entrepreneurs that have alarmed it for several months, it is the dream of thousands of Canadians that will collapse and all their sacrifices that will be flouted,” continued Mr. Déry. .

“It is of crucial importance to extend the CEBA repayment deadline until January 2025. Faced with increased difficulties, various sectors, including catering and sports halls, require this support to stabilize their activities and preserve jobs and the local economy,” underlines Mr. Saucier.

“Community organizations are not spared from this lack of understanding from the federal government… While the pandemic has put a strain on the social fabric, galloping inflation is making it impossible to return to an optimal level of activity to serve vulnerable clients, particularly the elderly. With such a short deadline, further restricting the assistance that can be provided by organizations, Ottawa must become aware of the reality on the ground and act!” explained Ms. Brais.

“More than 55,000 entrepreneurs signed the petition asking for the postponement of the CEBA loan repayment deadline allowing the grant portion to be kept, including nearly 100 here in the Montarville constituency. The CFIB is simply asking the government to extend the deadline by one year,” added Mr. Vincent.

“There is consensus on the idea that the federal government must show greater flexibility regarding the terms of repayment of loans taken out under the CEBA. The entrepreneurial and community circles, both in the federal riding of Montarville and elsewhere, the deputies of the National Assembly of Quebec, led by the Prime Minister, the prime ministers of the provinces and territories of Canada are unanimous in requesting an extension of ‘one additional year of the loan repayment period with grant. As the holiday season approaches, common sense demands that the Trudeau government agree to this postponement; the survival of our SMEs depends on it!” concludes Stéphane Bergeron.