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Nov 23, 2020 8:29 PM -

Conservatives say new commercial rent-relief program has taken too long to arrive; call for a halt to the audits of small businesses that have received federal wage subsidy

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The Opposition Conservatives say a new commercial rent-relief program offered by the federal government has taken too long to arrive, and there are still shortcomings in the related legislation that have yet to be fixed.

Conservative small business critic Pat Kelly says December's rent is due in about a week, and today is the first day that businesses can apply for the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy.

The Conservatives are accusing the Trudeau government of circumventing the will of Parliament by failing to push off audits of small businesses that have received the federal wage subsidy.

He also says the Liberals need to accept a motion passed two weeks ago calling for a halt to the audits of small businesses that have received the federal wage subsidy.

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