WINNIPEG — Current government assistance programs aren’t enough to help businesses overcome staff layoffs, lower sales and higher cleaning costs, the Western Retail Lumber Association has said. WRLA president Liz Kovach pointed out that businesses don’t qualify for federal support unless they logged at least a 15 percent reduction in sales for March and 30 percent for April.
“Prior to COVID-19, the markets in the West were already struggling and another 10 to 30 percent drop in sales is unsustainable,” she said. “The rate for eligibility for the wage subsidy should be lowered dramatically. Members are preparing for another wave of layoffs at the end of this month.”
Among the measures advocated by the WRLA are new renovation tax credits, the removal of the mortgage stress test and short-term financing for inventory purchases made prior to the outbreak.
