Struggling businesses are urging the federal government to keep pandemic aid programs open for the remainder of the year.
The Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses has penned a letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, requesting federal wage and rent subsidies to be extended past the June 5th deadline until December 31st.
The coalition is made up of businesses in the arts, hotel, tourism, travel, culture and hospitality industries.
A survey of its members indicated that 60 percent expect to go bankrupt without federal assistance.
"We have every confidence that travel will resume once all barriers are lifted, but unfortunately, we are months away from a world in which borders (provincial and international) are open, mass gathering bans are removed and Canadians are encouraged to travel, rather than stay at home. Until this day comes, our industry will need additional Government support to get to the other side."
Just yesterday, Freeland announced the federal government will present its first budget in over two years on April 19th.
The coalition is asking for the Canada emergency wage subsidy to be prolonged at a rate of 75 percent for businesses struggling the most, as well as an extension of the Canada emergency rent subsidy.
According to the coalition, about 2 million Canadians were employed in the sectors it represents prior to the pandemic.
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