The CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce has reacted positively with the details of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today (Monday) any company no matter the size and how many people they employ are eligible if they have suffered a 30-percent wage reduction.
Todd Corrigall said the 75-percent subsidy should apply to the majority of businesses in PG.
“I would challenge that a 30% wage reduction in revenues would qualify 99.9% of the businesses, not-for-profits, and charities in Prince George.”
Trudeau clarified the increase represents up to the first 58-thousand dollars an employee earns which will be $847 per week into employee’s pockets.
Corrigall states the updated thresholds are nothing to sneeze at.
“Take a restaurant or a hair salon or beauty parlor that’s been forced to close or come out with various mitigation strategies, that’s a huge, huge boost to your bottom line and allows you to retain some of your staff.”
Corrigall added the #SupportPG campaign has been successful.
“We have received a tremendous response and in fact, we are looking at some new partners this week and streamline that process a little bit.”
“There’s never too much engagement so it’s really great and encouraging to see people engaging in that process and the hope is that when we come out of this, everybody has been supporting Prince George so well that these businesses should be our first go to.”
He added it’s encouraging that Ottawa has listened to all chambers across the country and developing its programs around that messaging.