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CFIB urges Ontario to expand small business support grant

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) applauds the Ontario government for doubling the Ontario Small Business Support Grant amount for businesses that have already received the funding during the first round.

The additional funds mean struggling business owners still navigating extended restrictions and lockdowns will be better able to address their mounting debt and other COVID-related financial challenges.

However, the recently released provincial budget does not address the thousands of hard-hit small businesses that continue to remain ineligible for the Grant. This includes print shops, construction businesses, dry cleaners, caterers, the entire restaurant supply chain, breweries and regulated and unregulated health professionals, just to name a few.

“CFIB urges the Ontario government to expand eligibility for this important program. We also ask the government to extend the March 31 application deadline to ensure eligible businesses that are in application limbo or looking to correct errors are able to do so and still access the program,” said Ryan Mallough, director of provincial affairs, Ontario.