Premier Brian Pallister has announced the creation of the Manitoba Gap Protection Program (MGPP), to support small and medium-sized businesses in the province, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pallister says the current federal support programs are good, but the provincial program will cover gaps in those federal programs.

The six-thousand dollar loans are non-interest-bearing, and will be forgiven on December 31st, if the businesses can prove they have not received any major non-repayable federal supports, or sector-specific grants.