Skip to main content

Featured

Jeneroux’s Defection Pushes Carney Closer to Majority

                                                      MP Matt Jeneroux Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has moved one seat nearer to a majority after Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux crossed the floor from the Conservatives to join the governing caucus. Jeneroux, who had previously announced plans to resign, instead opted to align himself with Carney’s agenda, becoming the latest in a string of Conservative MPs to defect. Carney welcomed Jeneroux publicly, highlighting his experience and announcing that the Alberta MP will serve as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships. The move spares the government a byelection in Edmonton and adds further momentum to the Liberals’ recent gains, which have included multiple high‑profile floor crossings.  Jeneroux’s decision underscores shifting political dynami...

article

Small Businesses in Canada Face Bankruptcy Risk Amidst Pandemic-Era Support Withdrawal

 


According to a recent report, thousands of small businesses in Canada are at risk of bankruptcy after the government ended pandemic-era support last month with the economy slowing at a time of high interest rates. 

Small firms that employ fewer than 100 people are critical to the Canadian economy as they give jobs to almost two-thirds of the country’s 12 million private workers. A spike in bankruptcies, which jumped 38% in the first 11 months of 2023, would weigh on economic growth, lobby groups and economists warn. 

Last month, small businesses faced a deadline to repay interest-free loans of C$60,000 ($44,676) made available to each of them during the pandemic. Of the 900,000 who had taken the government support, a fifth have not yet repaid their loans, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday. Katherine Cuplinskas, a spokesperson for the Finance Minister said in an emailed response that the Department of Finance did not expect there will be a negative impact on the economy on account of repayment of the loans given as support during the pandemic. She said loan recipients have long had full information on timelines and have been able to plan accordingly.


Comments