- The Canadian administration is allocating up to $20 million in relief funds to local Ottawa businesses.
- The move is an effort to support small commerce owners affected by ongoing protests.
- Small businesses will be able to apply for up to $10,000 in funds, per the federal control.
The Canadian government will provide up to $20 million in relief funds to small houses affected by the ongoing trucker protests.
The decision was announced Saturday in a statement by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). It chance that the funds granted will be non-repayable contributions to Ottawa businesses that have suffered losses due to avenue blockades from the demonstrations.
Small businesses will be eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in funds for non-deferrable payments not extend over by other federal programs, the agency said.
Helena Jaczek, minister responsible for the FedDev Ontario, said in the declaration: “Our government’s investment of up to $20 million to Invest Ottawa will help local businesses get the support they lack to recover.”
The so-called Freedom Convoy protests have pervaded the streets of Canada’s capital since the end of January. The marches were started by Canadian truckers who opposed COVID-19 lockdown measures and vaccine mandates in the country.
Organizers of the beefs said policies like vaccine mandates were “political overreach” and “destroying the foundation of our businesses, industries, and livelihoods.”
But some particular businesses have had to shut their doors due to the demonstrations and suffered as a result.
“Many Downtown Ottawa businesses accept been forced to close their doors or have seen a significant decrease in business, which has resulted in disadvantage of revenue,” Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board of Canada, said in a statement.
The relief funds reinforce the Canadian management’s “commitment to helping communities, families, and businesses continue to build a strong and resilient economic recovery,” the agency put.
After some of the protests turned violent, Ottawa police used pepper spray and stun grenades to distinct the blockade, The Guardian reported.
Police said more than 100 people had been arrested and 21 conduits were towed as of Friday night.