The EAQ representing 2,700 entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy, demand urgent support to save the livelihoods of countless Quebec families. It is obvious the government has not been there for us. Image Source:
When members of the National Assembly arrive in Quebec this morning, they will be forced to give considerable thought to the Cemetery of Quebec Businesses.
The purpose of the cemetery is simple. We remind our government that the deaths of thousands of Quebec’s small and medium sized businesses will result in very real collateral damage: poverty, divorce, psychological distress, suicide, drug overdose and many more devastating side effects are already happening because of decisions made by the Legault government.
Entrepreneurs en Action du Québec have announce that 2021 will be a record year for insolvency among Quebec’s small and medium size businesses. All economic indicators point in this direction.
Much of the current disaster is due to the lack of adequate support from the Legault government. This evident lack of concern is best illustrated by Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon's insensitivity to the plight of small entrepreneurs.
For months, EAQ has testified that its flagship program for struggling business, AERAM, was not working. And yet contrary to all evidence available, Minister Fitszgibbon preferred to tell media that it was.
Recently, the CFIB and the ARQ echoed the EAQ in saying that AERAM has serious shortcomings and does not meet the urgent needs of Quebec's small and medium size businesses.
Minister Fitzgibbon's response? The program is working.
"At this point, it is obvious the Legault government is disconnected from Quebec entrepreneurs. We have been totally forgotten and the effects are disastrous" says Samuel Grenier, Vice-President of EAQ.
“Clearly, the government does not realize the critical role of this massive sector of the economy in Quebec. I have observed our political scene for 20 years but I have never seen a government fail so completely in its economic and social obligations", says Benoit Girouard, EAQ President.
“This government breaks the store and runs away without paying for the damage. Here we are, still closed, still waiting for financial assistance, or any assistance at all, from the government”, adds Samuel Grenier.
“There is no choice to be made between the economy and public health because the two are inter-connected both physically and mentally. You can’t destroy the social and economic fabric of society without seriously harming the health and wellbeing of Quebec families", says Benoit Girouard.
The central dilemma is the obvious lack of financial assistance for businesses that have been banned from operating due to Covid 19 restrictions.
The EAQ, representing 2,700 entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy, demand urgent support to save the livelihoods of countless Quebec families.
It is obvious the government has not been there for us, and the bill is coming due.
Press contact:
Michael Ashby, Spokesperson (english media): 514-887-0074
Benoit Girouard, porte-parole : 450-495-1910
Samuel Grenier, porte-parole : 450-420-2606
Email : info@leaq.ca
Website: https://leaq.ca/
