- July 23, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
TORONTO, July 23 (Reuters) – Richard Vanderlubbe, owner of Canadian travel agency Tripcentral.ca, has had to cut active staff to about 15% of the total workforce and close all physical locations since the coronavirus pandemic’s start, despite receiving the wage subsidy and business loan.
As the Canadian economy gradually reopens, the government is winding down these programs. But Vanderlubbe and other businesses hardest hit by the pandemic are calling for the extension of support until all restrictions are lifted, warning that failure to do so could choke many of them at the eleventh hour.
“The subsidies have been a lifeline,” Vanderlubbe said, particularly as travel agencies’ revenues have evaporated even as staff have had to keep working. “The company has to go more into debt or I have to put personal assets into the business… or lose it,” he added.
While the worst-hit businesses from the pandemic are mostly related to tourism, events and recreation,…
