The federal government is giving $600 million to help small- and medium-sized businesses deal with possible lockdowns amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Radio-Canada has learned. About $456 million of the new money will be made available to help businesses struggling to bridge their finances through another lockdown. Another $144 million will help provide capital and technical support to rural businesses and communities through the offices of Community Futures Canada, which provides small business services to rural communities. For example, the CFIB is calling for the commercial rent assistance program, which expired on Wednesday, to be renewed and made more accessible to small businesses. The minister of economic development indicated Thursday the government was preparing to provide more help.

Source: CBC News October 02, 2020 09:00 UTC