Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff is pressing the government to make businesses that use personal chequing accounts eligible for the Canada Emergency Business Account. (CEBA)
CEBA offers loans of up to $40,000 for qualifying businesses.
Ruff, who was was one of a small number of MPs in Parliament Wednesday for the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic, told the House, “I'd like to recognize the government for making important changes yesterday to the CEBA. This will help many sole proprietor businesses and farmers in Bruce Grey Owen Sound, however, businesses are still required to have a business chequing account.”
Ruff pointed to a local construction company that's been operating in Grey Bruce for over 25 years but fails to qualify for the loan because it uses a personal chequing account.
In response, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Mona Fortier said the government will continue to work on “potential solutions to help business owners and entrepreneurs who operate through their personal bank account,” she added, they are also working to find potential solutions for those businesses that are so new, they haven't yet filed a tax return.
Ruff also raised the issue of a lack of access to Service Canada offices, telling the House he asked the government a month ago to look into opening some service Canada offices in a limited capacity to serve those who don't have internet or phone access.
He also advocated for better business risk management programs for farmers in Grey Bruce and nationwide, telling the House of Commons committee, “If the government fails to protect our farmers some may never recover financially and we will all face food security challenges for years to come.”
Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau replied the government is working to improve risk management programs saying they are shared cost programs with the provinces, adding she meets with provincial reps weekly to look for improvements they can make to the risk management programs. She encouraged farms to apply for existing programs that offer $1.6 billion in support annually, adding “In a year like this it could be much more.”
Ruff opened his allotted question time Wednesday by acknowledging the recent deaths of six Canadian Armed Forces Members in the Cyclone Helicopter crash near Greece in late April and the Snowbirds crash that killed Captain Jenn Casey on Sunday, he honoured the memory of Sgt. Retired Kyle Parker who also recently passed away and noted this past Monday was the ten year anniversary of Colonel Geoff Parker being killed in Kabul, Afghanistan. “My thanks to all that have served and are still serving in the Canadian armed forces along with your families. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten.”
@OurCommons today. Recognized the @CanadianForces recent tragedies along with their families. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten. Asked govt about spt for #cdnag, #SmallBusiness, @ServiceCanada_E. #BruceGreyOwenSound https://t.co/49JGxOYXTn
— Alex Ruff (@AlexRuff17) May 20, 2020