Call for Extension to CEBA Loan Repayment : 7/24/2023

The Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce joined Chambers across the country to call on the federal government to extend the time frame for businesses to repay the CEBA loan.  The loans came at a time critical for businesses however with the ongoing impacts from the pandemic, rising costs and interest rates businesses may not be in a position to fully repay by the end of December 2023 voiding the forgivable portion of the loan and increasing debt loads.

We are calling on government to extend the current Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline.  

The letter to Minister Freeland follows and the full letter with signatories can be found here

"July 24, 2023

Subject: Industry Associations Call for More Time to Repay CEBA loans

Dear Minister Freeland:

Industry associations representing hundreds of thousands of businesses across Canada are urging you to extend the current Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline by two years to the end of 2025, or at least by one year, while maintaining access to the forgivable portion.

Almost 900,000 CEBA loans were approved across Canada. Many businesses had no choice but to take on this loan due to circumstances beyond their control. This includes businesses in some of the hardest hit industries such as the retail industry and tourism sector. Mandatory business closures and other government health restrictions left businesses with severe income losses and cash flow issues.

Despite their best efforts, high interest rates, inflation and increased labour costs are making it difficult for small-and-medium size businesses to keep their heads above water, let alone make any dent in the debt many had to take on to survive pandemic restrictions. A recent analysis of over 15,000 Canadian businesses found that inflation, input costs, and interest/debt costs are the three most acute obstacles faced by business (at 56%, 40% and 38%, respectively), and the smaller the firm, the more constrained they are by debt.

Moreover, recent surveys focussed on CEBA loan-holder companies reveal that:

• 49% of small businesses are still making below normal revenues;
• 50% of Canadian foodservice operators are currently operating at a loss or breaking even compared to 12% pre-pandemic; and,
• 45% of Canada's tourism businesses are likely or somewhat likely to close within the next three years without government intervention into their mounting debt load.

With each passing day, entrepreneurs who collectively maintain a very considerable workforce, face increasingly daunting financial pressure.

Ottawa needs to act now to extend the CEBA repayment deadline.

Unless the federal government acts quickly to postpone the CEBA repayment deadline, businesses that are unable to repay their CEBA loan in time will lose access to the forgivable portion of up to $20,000, thus further increasing their debt load. Extending the repayment timeline for the CEBA loan without losing access to the forgivable portion would give many small-and-medium size businesses the stability and certainty they need to get back on their feet on a path to prosperity.

We urge you to quickly address this important matter."


The Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce works closely with provincial and federal counterparts to advocate on behalf of local business.