19.79°C Vancouver

Apr 16, 2020 5:16 PM -

Loan program for pandemic-hit businesses expanding : Trudeau

Share On
loan-program-for-pandemic-hit-businesses-expanding-trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is expanding a loan program for small businesses suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and is working on a new support for companies having trouble paying rent.

The loan program will now be open to businesses that had payrolls last year between $20,000 and $1.5 million.

The Canada Emergency Business Account previously offered up to $40,000 in loans to business with payrolls between $50,000 and $1 million.

Trudeau also says a program is coming to help businesses cover rents for at least three months but the details still need to be worked out with the provinces and territories.

Latest news

BCSep 16, 2026

Harbour Air to Acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines, Expanding B.C. Network

Harbour Air is set to expand its network in British Columbia after announcing an agreement to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines. Under the deal, both airlines will continue to operate under their own brands and maintain separate identities. However, their combined fleet will grow to 59 aircraft. The newly formed regional airline group will connect 25 communities across B.C., operating nearly 300 flights a day and providing passengers with improved connectivity. According to reports, the two airlines together employ around 900 people in British Columbia. The companies will also remain Canadian-o
CanadaSep 16, 2026

Man Who Allegedly Threatened to Kill PM Mark Carney Identified

A 31-year-old Calgary man accused of making death threats against Prime Minister Mark Carney has been identified as Jamie Da Costa, who will remain in custody. During a court hearing, defence counsel said Da Costa was ordered to remain in custody earlier this month. As of Tuesday morning, he was being held at the Calgary Remand Centre. According to the RCMP, police were notified on July 28 that threats had been posted from a YouTube account. Court documents allege the incident occurred between July 25 and 26. In addition to the alleged death threat, Da Costa faces charges including extortion,
AlbertaSep 16, 2026

Alberta Safeway Workers Issue Strike Notice to Sobeys

Thousands of Safeway workers in Alberta could go on strike after UFCW Local 401 issued a strike notice to parent company Sobeys. The union says workers could walk off the job at midnight on October 7 if no agreement is reached through negotiations. The proposed strike date falls just before the Thanksgiving weekend. The move comes after nearly a year of negotiations between the union and the company. Workers are seeking better wages, improved benefits, job security and safer stores. UFCW Local 401 president Thomas Hesse said workers do not want a strike but want a fair agreement. He warned tha
CanadaSep 16, 2026

UK May Join Canada-Led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank

The United Kingdom could join Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, with reports indicating that high-level discussions are underway between the two countries. The financial institution is designed to provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence projects in allied countries. Canada has so far brought eight countries into the institution — Albania, Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, which is facing Russia’s invasion. The UK would be the first other G7 country to join the initiative. According to reports, Finance Minister François-Philippe C
stephen-harper-praises-carneys-trade-diversification-and-energy-policies
CanadaSep 16, 2026

Stephen Harper Praises Carney’s Trade Diversification and Energy Policies

Former Canadian Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has praised Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to diversify Canada’s trade during his closing remarks at the two-day Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Harper supported the federal government’s decisions in the energy sector and said Canada had little choice but to step back from trade negotiations with the United States. He said reducing Canada’s dependence on the U.S. and redirecting trade toward other countries would bring challenges, but expressed confidence that Canadians would be able to manage them. Harper also prais

Related News