TORONTO The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the Ford government to revise its reopening plan and “immediately reopen” parts of Ontario’s economy, including non-essential retail, restaurants, and gyms. In an open letter released on Tuesday, the CFIB slammed the Ford government’s reopening plan for being too slow and urged the premier to revise Ontario’s reopening dates so they are “in line with other provinces.” “Yes, other provinces have used business lockdowns at various points during the pandemic. But no jurisdiction in North America – and very few in the world – have locked down businesses for the length of time businesses have been closed in Ontario,” the letter read.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the Ford government to revise its reopening plan and “immediately reopen” parts of Ontario’s economy, including non-essential retail, restaurants, and gyms.
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The NDP says small businesses need more financial support when Ontario re-opens.
Leader Andrea Horwath says that includes a vastly improved round of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant.
“People need to buy inventory, they need to get ready for customers coming back in and so access to forgivable loans is something we want to see,” states Horwath.
Horwath adds they have a four-point plan to help small business owners survive and are ready to re-open.
“We’ve seen so many Main Streets with papered-over windows and For Lease signs. I think businesses are hurting and when we hear from organizations like the CFIB (Canadian Federation of Independent Business), organizations like the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, that it is really clear there are businesses falling through the cracks.”