Question Period Note: Support for Indigenous Businesses

• Indigenous businesses are backbones of communities across the country and are an important part of the Canadian economy.

• We recognize that these businesses face unique challenges and may be disproportionately affected by this unprecedented situation.

• That is why we are providing up to $306.8 million in funding to help Indigenous businesses and ensure business owners have access to the support they need to get through this crisis.

• It is estimated that 6,000 Indigenous-owned businesses will benefit from this funding.

• We will continue to take action to protect the health and safety of Canadians and stabilize our economy.

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Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
• Indigenous businesses are the backbones of communities across the country and are an important part of the Canadian economy.
• We know there are concerns regarding eligibility for First Nations governments and their businesses for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• My officials have been working closely with the Department of Finance to bring clarity to this issue and find a solution.
• Taxable Indigenous-government-owned corporations, are already eligible for the wage subsidy.
• We have adjusted the eligibility for the wage subsidy to include Indigenous government-owned corporations and partnerships to support them in retaining employees who are still on the payroll and to rehire workers previously laid off.
• This means that corporations carrying a business that is at least 90 percent owned by one or more Indigenous governments or who have Indigenous governments as partners will be eligible for the wage subsidy.