The government of Saskatchewan announced a new “Strong Recovery Adaptation Rebate” (SRAR) to help small businesses who have had to come up with ways to stay in business with all the new rules around operating safely in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said that small businesses are the “heartbeat of our economy” and employs over 150,000 people.
In a ministerial statement in the Legislature on Dec. 7, Harrison said, “These small businesses and their employees have been adversely impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, while playing their part in protecting public health and reducing the spread of the pandemic. Our government acknowledges their critical effort, and is committed to helping them remain strong, during, and after the pandemic, through programs that provide the essential assistance that they need to survive these challenging times.
“One such program is the new Strong Recovery Adaptation Grant, the first of its kind in Canada, which our government will launch in the coming weeks.
“The rebate will help small businesses adapt their business models to address the unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these adjustments, businesses have made or will make, include changing the use of square footage, installing physical infrastructure to comply with COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, upgrading technology, such as websites to enhance their business.”
It’s also retroactive to near the start of the pandemic, from shortly after Saskatchewan went on lockdown.
Harrison said, “This program is for Saskatchewan businesses that employ less than 100 people; have, or will incur, expenses to adapt their business model between April 1, 2020, so retroactive, and February 28, 2021; plan to continue operating, and have experienced at least a 30 per cent revenue decline compared to 2019. Eligible applicants will receive a rebate of 50 per cent, up to a maximum of $5,000 for a $10,000 expenditure. The rebate amounts will be determined based on those expenditures, or changing business models.
“Further rebates will be based on the business expenditures incurred between April 1 2020, and February 28, 2021, program will be launched and applications will be available in the coming days.”
He concluded, “Our economy will weather the impact of the fall surge of COVID-19, and our government will continue to support small businesses throughout the economic recovery.”
NDP response
NDP Small Business Critic Aleana Young responded with a take on “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
She started in rhyming couplets, saying, “’Twas three weeks before Christmas and look what they've done,
“The Sask. Party finally realized that for business, COVID, no fun.
“For gyms and for cafés, accountants and brewers,
“The Sask. Party support for small business has been down in the sewers.
“So please listen, do better, and support mom and pop shops.
“For Saskatchewan economy, because this is where the buck stops.”
Shifting gears, Young said, “So thank you to the government for finally acknowledging that their piecemeal and puzzling approach has been inefficient and insufficient for small business. However, we are glad to see them, the government, adopt a program that we called for on November 18.”
She added, “I'll remind the minister that business can't survive or thrive, If COVID is raging out of control. The measures announced will do nothing to help businesses for whom adaptations are unavailable, and their small business support program hasn't been fixed or made accessible to businesses who haven't been closed by public health orders, but have seen their revenues collapse. These remain problems.
“In closing, I'd like to thank small businesses for their leadership and advocating adapting and investing, to keep themselves afloat and keep Saskatchewan safe.”
