A new assistant program aimed at supporting small businesses amid the novel coronavirus pandemic has begun to accept applications, but a small business owner in London, Ont., says her landlord was not enthusiastic to apply.
The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program was launched to keep more small businesses in operation and more people employed during the pandemic.
Acceptance for applications began in the last week of May, but Melanie O’Brien, the owner of Madison’s Boutique, says she and fellow small businesses in the same plaza had to “put pressure” on their landlord in order for them to agree to apply for the program. “I was in communication with my landlord, and (they) said they didn’t qualify for the program… but