Senators are getting a head-start on their study of a pandemic-relief bill that supports Canadian businesses.

Bill C-9 proposes to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until summer 2021 to help businesses cover part of their employees’ wages. It also introduces the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to help businesses cover rent and mortgage costs.

The Senate agreed to a pre-study on Thursday, which allows the subject matter of the bill to be referred to a Senate committee for review before the legislation arrives in the Senate – giving Senators the opportunity to begin examining the principle and policy of the legislation. The bill must still go through three readings in the Senate once it arrives.

Senator Marc Gold thanked senators for agreeing to a plan that allows in-depth study of the bill while also recognizing the urgency of the legislation for Canadian businesses. He said it is his expectation that the bill will come to a final vote in the Senate on the week of November 16, following the committee study.