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Small Business

During question period on small business, Bloc Québécois members said U.S. tariffs are hitting Quebec harder than the rest of Canada, putting some 170,000 jobs at risk, and they pressed the government for wage subsidies and direct grants rather than loans for businesses at risk of closing. Liberal ministers responded that the government had announced $1.5 billion in one-time support, on top of about $5 billion announced earlier, including cash-flow help for manufacturers and small businesses affected by the tariffs. They also pointed to a large new order for Canadian-built airplanes announced at Mirabel and suggested the Bloc support the Alto train project. The Bloc members replied that the support was poorly targeted and that businesses in jeopardy need help that does not add to their debt.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“American tariffs are hurting Quebec twice as hard as the rest of the country, putting 170,000 jobs at risk. I want the government to give businesses a wage subsidy to protect these jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a month ago today, Donald Trump made utterly indefensible changes to his tariffs. Desjardins has shown that Quebeckers are the ones paying the price. Quebec is being hit twice as hard as the rest of the country. A quarter of our manufactured goods are now affected. The employers of 170,000 Quebeckers have been targeted since April 6. That is why Quebeckers need a wage subsidy, to protect jobs and offer businesses some relief. We have been asking for this for a month now. When is the government going to take action?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We just announced financial help for manufacturers and small businesses hurt by American tariffs. Also, the Prime Minister is announcing a record-breaking order for Canadian-built airplanes today, which will help Quebec's economy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we just announced one-time assistance. It consists of cashflow support for manufacturers and SMEs affected by the U.S. administration’s unfair and unjustified tariffs. Today, we have good news. As I just mentioned, the Prime Minister is in Mirabel right now to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history. The aircraft is one designed and built here in Canada by Canadians. We are extremely proud of that. That is going to help Quebec’s economy.

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Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The government's business support is not helping the businesses that need it most, especially in Quebec. When will the government bring in a wage subsidy to protect them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, no one is going to refuse the support, but it is poorly targeted. To quote the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, “For businesses whose survival is currently in jeopardy, this is not enough.” When support measures leave the most vulnerable businesses behind, I would not call that a success. That is a failure. As Desjardins has shown, the businesses most at risk are disproportionately those in Quebec. Quebeckers are the ones at risk. When will a wage subsidy be introduced to protect them?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We gave $1.5 billion in help, along with other support for forestry and other industries. The Bloc Québécois should congratulate us and Airbus on a new plane order. They should also support the Alto train project, which will help businesses across Quebec.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 39 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a one-time boost of $1.5 billion is not insignificant. It also comes on top of the one-time assistance we have provided to the forestry industry and other industries in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois’s silence in response to the aircraft order. The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and congratulate this government and Airbus on that order. The second thing they should be doing is support Alto, which will help industries and SMEs across Quebec.

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Gabriel Ste-Marie

Bloc Québécois
“Small businesses hurt by tariffs do not need loans. They need direct money and wage help without taking on debt. I want the government to give them better support now.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the SMEs at risk of closing because of the tariffs do not need more loans. They need wage subsidies and direct support, without incurring debt. We do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but the crisis is far from over. Businesses are currently surviving thanks to contracts signed before the new tariffs took effect. Under the new tariffs, they are no longer competitive, and there will be no new contracts. The current crisis has not peaked. It is just the beginning, and the federal government must act now. Will the government improve its support measures to protect small businesses, please?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“We will always support workers and businesses hurt by unfair U.S. tariffs. We recently added $1.5 billion in help, on top of the $5 billion we already announced.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will always be there to support the workers and businesses affected by the U.S. administration’s illegal and illegitimate tariffs. We have been there from the beginning and we have stepped up our efforts even more recently with the $1.5 billion that was announced by the Minister of Industry on top of the $5 billion that had already been announced, specifically to help our businesses and our small and medium-sized enterprises affected by tariffs. We will always stand by the workers.

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