Vancouver Island MPs are asking Ottawa to help out small businesses who received Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans, as business owners face interest rate hikes, bills and wildfires.

The loans need to be repaid by the end of the year, however, some business owners are still feeling the pinch after years of difficulty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an NDP press release, if forced to pay now, nearly 47 per cent of Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) members in British Columbia could be at risk of closing.

B次元官网网址淭he CEBA loan was the difference between surviving COVID or closing our doors for good, now with the repayment deadline fast approaching and interest rates climbing, weB次元官网网址檙e bracing ourselves for January,B次元官网网址� said Evan Falck, co-owner of The Island Grind Coffee and Tea in Campbell River.

B次元官网网址淏usinesses in Courtenay-Alberni have been hit with one thing after another B次元官网网址� a pandemic, the rising cost of living crisis, and now the wildfires have cut off local shops from needed supplies and customers,B次元官网网址� said Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns.

B次元官网网址淲ith coping with the wildfires being top of mind for most local business owners, they shouldnB次元官网网址檛 also be forced to stress about repaying CEBA loans. The government needs to be listening to local communities and delaying the CEBA deadline.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淟ocal shop owners really feel like the Liberals have left them behind because while small businesses have had to plead for help, the Liberals hand out money to rich companies without being asked. The least the government could do is extend the CEBA repayment deadline,B次元官网网址� said North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney.

B次元官网网址淚f local businesses are going to make it through this, and keep bringing jobs to our communities, something has got to give.B次元官网网址�

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