Small, medium businesses need more support: survey

The economic fallout from the pandemic, the slowness of the vaccination rollout, COVID-19'S threat to public health and growing debt are the main worries of owners of Quebec's small and medium-sized businesses, a new survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) suggests.

The poll, published Tuesday morning, suggests 62 per cent of business owners need more support from the provincial government to get through the crisis.

Businesses forced to shut down because of health regulations are eligible for the province's Aide aux entreprises en régions en alerte maximale (AERAM), which partially covers fixed costs.

However, since Feb. 10, businesses can no longer seek government assistance retroactively, a decision the CFIB opposes.

“The first thing to be done is to review the decision to block access to reimbursement of costs incurred between October and December during the AERAM program. That assistance was meant for them,” CFIB Quebec vice-president François Vincent said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 88 per cent of business owners polled want the province to establish “a precise plan that will explain how it intends to reopen the economy,” and the CFIB wants the Legault government to follow the lead of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

“The Alberta government has given certain indications concerning the reopening of businesses as a function of the number of hospitalizations.

“This approach provides a perspective that facilitates planning for business owners,” the CFIB statement says.

Fifty-five per cent of business owners think their enterprise would benefit from a delay in filing their taxes.

“Pushing back the date won't prevent those able to do so from filing their return at the regular time, but it will help those focusing right now on reopening their business or provide a break to those still struggling with the crisis.

They can meet their obligations at the appropriate time,” said Vincent.

According to the survey, the economic fallout from the pandemic (66 per cent) and its effects on public health (49 per cent) are the primary worries of Quebec business owners.

The poll of 775 CFIB members was conducted from Feb. 4 to 19 and does not have a margin of error.