VANCOUVER -- Despite eased restrictions, and the prospect of welcoming back U.S. visitors on the horizon, small business advocates say it’s still too soon to pull back on critical federal subsidies for rent and wages during the pandemic. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling on Ottawa to halt the current phase-out of the two programs to buy more time for struggling businesses to recover. Though local businesses that have relied on tourism are looking forward to the border reopening to American tourists next month, Gastown Business Improvement Society executive director Walley Wargolet said there’s still no replacing the wave of visitors that used to flood the area with each year’s cruise ship season.