CHNE produces weekly interviews with Cape Breton – Canso MP Mike Kelloway where community members can send in their questions. Today we talk about the Wage Subsidy for business owners employing family members and help for businesses that are closing due to COVID-19.

A wife working for the family business under the husband’s same asked what could be done about the Wage Subsidy. At the moment, business owners employing family members don’t qualify for the subsidy, so she would have to hire someone else to do her job. The practice of employing family members is common among local businesses, particularly in the tourism and fishing industries.

Mike Kelloway acknowledges there are gaps in the government’s response to the pandemic. “What we’ve seen through all of this is that there is a lot of strengths in measures that we put out that are helping people but when the entire country is impacted, you’re going to miss some real, key, fundamental things,” he said. “Not because of neglect or intent, just by the fact it’s a massive, massive pandemic. So, your point is really valid and that is something that’s emblematic of - in particular the tourism sector but other sectors as well - in the riding. We’re on top of it. I hope to have more information for you and your viewers as we progress but no doubt it’s problematic. It’s stressful. It causes great anxiety and it also has the impact on the ability to operate or not operate.”

The family that sent the first question is in fact considering closing their business. They want to know what type of help they could access if that’s the case.

Mike Kelloway said the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would be an option. He also recommended getting in contact with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), which offers different financial programs.

While the current Wage Subsidy does not apply to this particular business, Kelloway said he hopes it will be both extended and modified. “On August 28, the current edition of the Canada Wage Subsidy concludes but we’ve been holding focus groups in the riding to talk about people’s experiences with the Wage Subsidy. The good and the challenging,” he said. “And my expectation as an MP, and my hope in the drive I’m putting behind it is that that’s extended, but extended based on modifications from people that have been providing this grassroots information from the riding.”