CFIB urges reopening now

Business association urges province to reopen the economy immediately

THE CANADIAN FEDERATION of Independent Business (CFIB) is urging the Ontario government to begin reopening the economy immediately as the provincial stay-at-home order expires Wednesday.

The CFIB is asking the province to allow retailers to open at a 20 per cent capacity, restaurant patios to open along with limited indoor service, hair salons and barbers by appointment and gyms by appointment.

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Under the current reopening plan, outdoor dining and non-essential retail at a limited capacity are planned to reopen on June 14, followed by personal care services 21 days later. The final stage, which comes another 21 days later, allows indoor dining, casinos, indoor sports facilities and gyms to reopen at a limited capacity.

The stay-at-home order has been in effect for the last eight weeks and is expected to expire June 2 as Covid-19 cases continue to drop and vaccinations continue to increase.

In Ontario, over 65 per cent of those eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine have received at least one dose.

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The CFIB says Ontario’ reopening plan should be more in line with the other provinces, such as B.C., Alberta and Quebec, where restaurants have already been allowed to reopen while also allowing regions with low case numbers and hospitalizations to reopen even quicker.

The CFIB is also asking for another round of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant funding.