Skip to Main content

4.14°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jun 8, 2020 3:18 PM -

Montreal businesses to get $50 million in aid from Quebec and Ottawa

Share On

montreal-businesses-to-get-50-million-in-aid-from-quebec-and-ottawa

Restaurants and bars offer take out food and drinks in Old Montreal Thursday June 4, 2020 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Small and medium-sized businesses in Montreal will receive $50 million in support from the provincial and federal governments as they emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

The aid was confirmed Monday by federal Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly, provincial Economy and Innovation Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon and Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.

The money, which is mainly aimed at downtown businesses, will be distributed in the form of low-interest loans of up to $40,000 as well as grants.

Some $30 million of the money will come from the federal government through its COVID-19 regional relief fund, while Quebec will add $20 million to its fund for Montreal, which now sits at $60 million.

In addition to retail stores, restaurants and the cultural sector will also be eligible for the program.

Montreal is the Canadian city that has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 26,000 confirmed cases to date.

Latest news

pq-leader-calls-for-renewed-sovereignty-debate-following-legault-resignation

CanadaJan 16, 2026

PQ leader calls for renewed sovereignty debate following Legault resignation

The leader of the Parti Québécois says Premier François Legault’s decision to step down has reopened the question of Quebec sovereignty and created an opportunity to reset the province’s political direction. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Legault’s tenure demonstrates the limits of seeking greater autonomy within Canada, arguing that Quebec has failed to achieve meaningful gains in key areas such as immigration control and health care after more than seven years under Coalition Avenir Québec rule. Legault founded the CAQ on the idea of moving beyond the long-standing divide between fe

AlbertaJan 16, 2026

Crown seeks 16-year prison term for Calgary man convicted of ISIS involvement

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to impose a 16-year prison sentence on a Calgary man convicted of participating in the activities of the Islamic State group after travelling to Syria more than a decade ago. Jamal Borhot, now 35, was found guilty in December of three counts related to involvement with a listed terrorist organization. The court heard Borhot travelled to Syria in 2013 and knowingly assisted ISIS while the group was carrying out widespread violence across the region. During sentencing submissions, the Crown said Borhot was not a passive supporter. Prosecutors told the court

four-prominent-punjab-leaders-join-bjp-ahead-of-2027-assembly-elections

IndiaJan 16, 2026

Four prominent Punjab leaders join BJP ahead of 2027 Assembly elections

Political activity in Punjab has intensified as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 state Assembly elections. In this context, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken another step to strengthen its organisational base in the state. On Friday, former Congress Member of Parliament Jagmeet Brar formally joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. He was joined by Omkar Sidhu, former officer on special duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Charanjit Brar, and Jagmeet Brar’s brother Ripjeet Singh Brar. BJP leaders

south-korean-court-sentences-former-president-yoon-suk-yeol-to-five-years-in-prison

WorldJan 16, 2026

South Korean court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison

A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison in connection with criminal charges linked to his controversial declaration of martial law in late 2024. The ruling, delivered Friday by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict among eight separate criminal trials Yoon is facing related to the decree and other alleged misconduct. The court convicted Yoon on charges including defying authorities during attempts to detain him and fabricating official documents. Prosecutors had argued that Yoon obstructed law enforcement and abused presiden

Abbotsford hotel death under investigation by IHIT

Abbotsford police have turned over an investigation into a death at a local hotel to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Police say officers were called to a report of suspicious circumstances at a hotel along Marshall Road near Clearbrook Road. When patrol members arrived, they located a deceased person inside one of the hotel rooms. Investigators believe the incident was isolated to that room and say there is no ongoing risk to the public. Police have also stated there is no connection between this case and recent extortion related incidents reported elsewhere in the Fraser Valley. O

Related News

PQ leader calls for renewed sovereignty debate following Legault resignation

PQ leader calls for renewed sovereignty debate following Legault resignation

The leader of the Parti Québécois says Premier François Legault’s decision to step down has reopened the question of Quebec sovereignty and created an opportunity to reset the province’s political direction. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Legault’s tenure demonstrates the limits of seeking greater autonomy within Canada, arguing that Quebec has failed to achieve meaningful gains in key areas such as immigration control and health care after more than seven years under Coalition Avenir Québec rule. Legault founded the CAQ on the idea of moving beyond the long-standing divide between fe

Carney raises Greenland and Arctic sovereignty in meeting with China’s Xi

Carney raises Greenland and Arctic sovereignty in meeting with China’s Xi

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he discussed Greenland’s future and broader Arctic sovereignty issues during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, amid ongoing international attention on the strategic importance of the Arctic region. Carney told reporters the conversation included concerns about recent statements by the U.S. president regarding Greenland, emphasizing Canada’s view that decisions about the territory’s future should rest with the people of Greenland themselves. He said he found “significant alignment” with Xi on the principle of respecting sovereignty

Canada, China strike preliminary deal easing canola tariffs in exchange for EV access

Canada, China strike preliminary deal easing canola tariffs in exchange for EV access

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has reached a preliminary trade agreement with China that would ease long-standing agricultural tariffs while allowing a limited number of Chinese-made electric vehicles into the Canadian market. Under the deal, China is expected to reduce duties on Canadian canola seed to 15 per cent by March. Tariffs on canola meal, as well as lobster, crab and peas, are set to be lifted from March through at least the end of the year, offering relief to farmers and exporters who have faced restricted access to one of Canada’s largest overseas markets. In exchange, Ca

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital