Toronto, May 13, 2021 – Once again, the Ontario government has announced a lockdown extension without any additional financial supports for all shuttered small businesses. What was supposed to be a 28-day closure will have doubled to 56 days by June 3. Only 25 per cent of Ontario businesses are at normal revenue levels, while bills continue to pile up.
The Ontario Small Business Support Grant should be immediately reinstated with a third payment and a broad expansion of eligibility. Every business affected by stay-at-home orders should have access to financial help, including dry cleaners, contractors, and caterers, just to name a few.
It is further disappointing that despite significant expansions to rapid testing availability for small businesses, the government continues to favour blanket shutdowns and full closures. Rapid tests should be another tool to get closed businesses open sooner and safely.
While there is reason for optimism that this really will be the last stay-at-home order extension, we have yet to see a comprehensive reopening plan. Waiting until at least early June to see a plan will be too late. Businesses need to know now exactly when and how they will be able to reopen to customers, and what metrics the Ontario government will use to further relax restrictions. We urge the government to follow Saskatchewan and make a reopening plan public immediately.
-Dan Kelly, President, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
-Ryan Mallough, Director of Provincial Affairs for Ontario
-Julie Kwiecinski, Director of Provincial Affairs for Ontario
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Milena Stanoeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca
About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region, including 38,000 in Ontario. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.
Print Article
Share Article
