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Small Business

During question period on small business, the Bloc Québécois said new U.S. tariffs announced on April 6 are hitting Quebec’s small and medium-sized businesses hard, that the government’s economic update offered no protection against these tariffs, and that Quebec had lost 300 jobs; the member asked the government to help pay workers’ wages to keep those jobs. The parliamentary secretary to the finance minister, a Liberal, agreed the situation is serious, criticized the U.S. for arbitrarily changing trade rules, and said an announcement of support for businesses would be coming soon.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

1 statement

Mario Beaulieu

Bloc Québécois
“New American tariffs hurt small businesses in Quebec. The government's economic plan does nothing to protect them, and Quebec just lost 300 jobs. I want the government to help pay workers' wages to save these jobs.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the new U.S. tariffs announced on April 6 specifically target Quebec’s SMEs. The economic update should have included protection for Quebec against these tariffs, but it is completely absent from the document. The economic update needs an update, and it needs it now. Quebec lost 300 jobs this week. How many more Quebeckers will face the same fate before the government finally introduces a wage subsidy?

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