Calgary Chamber urges sustained focus on fixed-cost relief for business as CECRA comes to an end

The following statement is attributable to Murray Sigler, interim CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce

Calgary, September 8, 2020 – "On the long and bumpy road to economic recovery, government support programs that provide fixed-cost relief have been vital for business.

"The one-month extension of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program is beneficial in the short-term, but it is coming to an end just as businesses begin to face a new set of challenges, posed by the arrival of the fall season and resulting uncertainty over the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Going forward, we urge the federal government to sustain their focus on providing fixed-cost relief – including rent relief – while working closely with businesses to ensure these programs are timely, accessible and flexible to all businesses who need them.

"A revised and more accessible rent relief program could include a direct-to-tenant approach and a sliding scale of support based on revenue lost, versus a fixed threshold.

"On behalf of Calgary’s business community, the Chamber will continue to advocate for policies and programs that ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery through and beyond COVID-19 for our city, our province, and our country."

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About the Calgary Chamber

The Calgary Chamber is an independent non-profit, non-partisan business organization. For 129 years the Chamber has worked to build a business community that nourishes, powers and inspires the world.