North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney addressed federal provisions for smaller businesses, COVID-19 updates, the April 8 Campbell River apartment fire and the Nova Scotia shootings.

Speaking from her new Campbell River office, Blaney approved of the lowering of the payroll threshold to $20,000 per year in order to be eligible for the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA). With the initial payroll cut-off placed at $50,000 per year, this new revision comes as a welcome relief for smaller businesses who can access an interest free loan up to $40,000.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad to see that go down to $20,000, and it has gone up as far as $1.5 million for businesses to be able to apply,B次元官网网址� said Blaney.

But, Blaney said, organizations and businesses that are connected to local credit unions have not been able to access funds under CEBA.

B次元官网网址淲hen it was initially rolled out, the government rolled it out with the larger banks and not with the local credit unions.B次元官网网址�

Blaney provided an update from the finance department regarding this matter which said that B次元官网网址淭hey will be working on this more rapidly to get credit unions up to speed.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hat is going to be happening so weB次元官网网址檙e happy to see that.B次元官网网址�

Expanding the inclusivity of federal provisions is something the federal NDP has been vocal about. Leader Jagmeet Singh last week called on Ottawa to address the gaps in the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB) and lift all criteria to allow universal access of funds for any Canadian in need of the benefits

Pertaining to the extension of the Canada-US border semi-closure, Blaney said that at this point, B次元官网网址淥nly essential services and essential supplies that we need are allowed to cross the border.B次元官网网址�

In tackling COVID-19, she applauded B.C.B次元官网网址檚 two week isolation measures for CanadianB次元官网网址檚 and permanent residents coming back to Canada.

B次元官网网址淲e see in B.C. that curve going down and we need to keep doing that.B次元官网网址�

Blaney reported on the House of Commons sitting on April 20 with a small group of 32 MPs.

B次元官网网址淲e still feel strongly that like every other Canadian, members of parliament also have to respect the rules. Businesses and organizations are finding new ways to address their businesses,B次元官网网址� she said adding that members of parliament and house of commons should do the same.

The NDP is incorporating these measures and supporting one-day-a-week sitting in the House of Commons with a reduced number of members, and two electronic virtual question periods. These measures allow the opposition to B次元官网网址渁ddress the most important issues that I think all Canadians want to see addressed,B次元官网网址� she said.

Also citing it as a form of B次元官网网址� accountability,B次元官网网址� Blaney said, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important that the voices of Canadians are heard and members of parliament do that work. We can do it virtually.B次元官网网址�

Blaney also took a moment to acknowledge the fire in Campbell River where over 90 people lost their homes.

B次元官网网址淲e had a significant fire at Campbell River. We are working with all of the government to try and find a way to cover some of these cost and make sure we donB次元官网网址檛 have an increase in the number of people who are homeless in the community.B次元官网网址�

Blaney also expressed her grief and solidarity with the rest of Canada with regards to the tragic shooting in Nova Scotia.

B次元官网网址淢y prayers and thoughts are with everybody in that province and especially in those small communities who have lost something very precious, which is our sense of safety in our communities.B次元官网网址�