The prairie spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is urging everyone to shop local. Marilyn Braun-Pollon says Saskatchewan small businesses are about 60 per cent fully open, but only making about 20 per cent of their usual sales, as the economy continues its recovery from COVID-19.

The CFIB is advocating for help from the federal government on 2 looming bills. One, is to have GST payments to be deferred to the end of the year without gathering interest. Right now, the deferral ends Tuesday. The association of small and medium-sized businesses is also advocating for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program to be extended to September. It was to end June 30th as well, but the federal government has announced a month extension. The CFIB would also like business tenants to be able to access the funds directly if their landlords don’t apply.

Braun-Pollon says despite the challenges, optimism among small businesses owners in Saskatchewan improved in June. The index from CFIB’s monthly Business Barometer rose from 51.9 at the end of may to 59.1. Only 20 per cent of Saskatchewan entrepreneurs say their current state of business is in good shape, 36 per cent say they are in bad shape, 8 per cent are planning to hire full-time staff in the next 3 months and 32 per cent foresee cuts.