Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses

Retail Council of Canada applauds today’s announcement on Commercial Rent Assistance to help small and mid-sized business

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) welcomes today’s announcement by the Prime Minister on the federal government’s newly created Canada’s Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program. The government’s readiness to help small and mid-sized retailers pay their rent in April, May and June is important as many of these independent retailers, who are the backbone of our communities, are in dire straits as they don’t have the required cashflow to cover their fixed expenses.

The federal government also understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to broad challenges for retailers of all sizes in their capacity to pay rent in a timely manner. As such, we expect that the government will move even further in the coming days with a broader relief program for retailers of varying sizes to cope with rental challenges.

RCC appreciates all measures to date that have been announced by the federal government to assist retail businesses – Canada’s largest employer – in remaining viable until we get to the other side of this crisis and today’s announcement on commercial rent assistance is a continued step in the right direction.

Diane Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada

For more information or to schedule media interviews, contact:
Michelle Wasylyshen
mwasylyshen@retailcouncil.org