Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant is calling on the federal government to support small businesses amid the ongoing disputes with the United States.
In an open letter to Minister of Industry Melanie Joly, Gallant says the impacts of tariffs, trade disruptions, rising costs, and economic uncertainty are impacting many small enterprises and should be supported with annual revenues from Canada’s network of Community Futures Development Agencies (CDFAs).
“Many small businesses are facing significant uncertainty,” Gallant says. “While larger firms often have the internal capacity, financial resources, and administrative expertise required to access federal programming, many smaller businesses don’t.”
Gallant noted in a statement that the CDFA has a long-standing record of supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural communities.
“Their (CDFA) local presence and strong understanding of regional economies position them to deliver targeted assistance quickly and effectively,” she says.
Small businesses drive local economies in rural communities, and Gallant adds without proper support local economies could be at risk – both on a micro and macro scale.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies,” she says. “They create jobs, support families, and sustain communities across Canada. When disruption occurs, these businesses often feel the effects most acutely, yet they can be the hardest to reach through traditional funding programs.”
Gallant’s letter asks Joly to establish a dedicated stream within the initiative for businesses generating less than $1 million in annual revenue, saying this approach would fill in the gaps where businesses need them the most.
“It would help protect jobs, strengthen local economies, and ensure federal support reaches entrepreneurs in rural and small-town communities,” Gallant says.
(Justin Baumgardner)
