The CPA, along with over 60 other leading business organizations, has joined an effort led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce that calls on governments to support a national effort to protect jobs and to postpone non-essential new measures such as increases in taxes.
In a press release on March 21, the coalition noted, “Canadian businesses are ready and able to step up to overcome the challenge of COVID-19. We will work to ensure that Canadians have the food to feed their families, the fuel to heat our homes and to keep essential services moving, the equipment and facilities to treat the sick and the communications systems that unite us even as we are kept apart from one another.”
To win this fight, every possible human and financial resource must be put into action. The federal wage subsidy, which was adjusted from 10 to up to 75 per cent, was a good first step.
From the CPA’s perspective, the federal government must monitor the effectiveness of the subsidy and be open to make any needed adjustments to ensure that businesses, such as members of the CPA, have all the tools they need to be able to survive the COVID-19 crisis.
The group also called on governments at all levels to postpone any increases in taxes, non-essential new regulations, and unnecessary consultations. “Businesses and governments need to be focused 100 per cent on the current crisis, leaving other priorities aside until the crisis abates.”
The CPA will continue to make its voice heard among policy makers and advance the interests of members, whether it’s in direct communications with governments or in association with others such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.