It couldn’t be more appropriate that you bring me to an event that’s focused on food. I just tweeted right before this that this is a great idea to do a virtual food event. After seeing what i just saw i’m looking forward to an in-person food festival as soon as possible.
But look these are crazy days still for small and medium-sized firms in Scarborough and right across Canada. We continue at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for sensible policies to try to help small and medium-sized firms get across the coveted finish line. We’re making some headway there are some reasons to opt for optimism. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel’s not a short one unfortunately but nevertheless there is some light.
The vaccines while slow are starting to roll out across the country. The provincial government of course is lifting some of the restrictions in the days ahead. We are pushing every single day to ensure that that Ontario follows the lead of other provinces in removing some of the restrictions that don’t make sense while maintaining obviously strict measures to keep the health and safety of Ontario business owners their employees and their staff.
We’ve got to find a better balance than the one that we have right now though because of course it is really punishing so many small and medium-sized companies of course. Later today we’re expected to hear from the provincial government about the measures outside of the GTA outside of Toronto Scarborough and what will be allowed to open what won’t in most jurisdictions in Ontario as of Tuesday.
For the restaurant sector for example will be able to seat a limited number of customers in their restaurants. Those in red zones even will be able to seat up to 10. Those in green obviously with greater capacity but that’s not going to be the case unfortunately next week nor even the week after we believe in Toronto and in Scarborough.
We’ve got to make sure that we push the government to ensure that they find a safe pathway for this to happen. After all, the data shows that infections are coming down but they’re driven by what’s happening in people’s homes and we need to find a better balance to ensure that small business owners can at least earn a sustenance income until such time as physical distancing requirements are able to be lifted altogether. That’s going to take a bit of time but we do need some support.
That’s why we pushed for the rent subsidy, the wage subsidy the CERB program which of course has now been expanded. The Ontario small business support grant for those that haven’t applied for those programs please do if you’re getting excluded from the scope of any of those programs. Let us know at CFIB we are advocating for new businesses and those from sectors that perhaps are not eligible for certain of the subsidy programs.
We’re pushing hard to make sure that the government support continues to be there for small business owners until such time as everybody is able to go back to something closer to business as usual but I really congratulate your Scarborough Business Association for its leadership over the last number of months, for sharing information among the business community and events like today’s that focuses on a specific sector of the economy.
This is exactly what people need. They need a bit of a ray of hope at a time when it’s been tough to find one and I’m so grateful to the for the opportunity to be with you today and to bring greetings and congratulations to your association for its incredible work in supporting local businesses in your area.
Of course for me I’ve go to find a way hopefully this weekend I’ll have to ditch my low carb diet for a bit and head out with my in-laws from Trinidad and get out to Mona’s or another of the fine roti shops in Scarborough.