Members of the Antigonish area business community gathered for a virtual meeting with
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser
representatives of the three levels of government to talk about programs designed to assist the private sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Central Nova MP Sean Fraser told the webinar the federal government has developed a number of programs to assist. Fraser says after rolling out programs to help individuals, government realized quickly it had to develop programs for businesses.
Fraser says another support is the Canada Emergency Business Account, which covers fixed costs like rent and utilities, is a partially forgivable interest free loan. Fraser says more than half a million Canadian businesses have signed up for this program.
Other speakers included Cape Breton Canso MP Mike Kelloway, Provincial Business Minister Geoff MacLellan, Antigonish Mayor Laurie Boucher and Antigonish County Warden Owen McCarron . MacLellan says we will get through this, but once the economy begins to reopen, it may look different from before.
MacLellan says in helping those impacted by the pandemic, it has been policy on the fly by both the federal and provincial governments. He says both governments have been developing programs quickly to get them out the door to assist , followed by refinements to the supports.
Antigonish Mayor Laurie Boucher says she’s pleased with the quick responses by both the federal and provincial governments to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing supports to both individuals and businesses. Boucher was speaking to a webinar as members of the business community met virtually to talk with government representatives about programs designed to help the private sector during the pandemic. Boucher was also pleased how some businesses were able to adapt.
Boucher says she was also pleased by the commitment of the community to shopping local. Boucher says she’s also been impressed with the support of the local community to front-line health care workers and donations to help less fortunate members of the community.
Antigonish County Warden Owen McCarron says the stimulus offered by both the federal and provincial governments to individuals and the business community has taken the pressure off.
McCarron says one of the positives from this pandemic is that we are focused more on one another.
McCarron says the county has a strong small business sector and construction industry. McCarron says the municipality just adopted a $4.2 million capital plan and tenders are going out. He says that’s critically important to have that sector of the economy moving.