GUELPH, ON — In an open letter sent to Premier Ford this morning, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner asked him to respond urgently to record COVID-19 case numbers and listen to the advice of health officials by imposing a targeted closure of businesses in hotspot regions.
Schreiner recommended the Premier to support small businesses through these closures with four concrete actions:
1. Provide financial grants to affected small businesses, comparable to the $15,000 grants that Quebec is providing;
2. Give 3-5 days notice to affected businesses so they can prepare for the closure;3. Ensure that any shutdown does not provide an unfair advantage to big businesses or box stores; and
4. Fix the rent relief program so that small businesses can apply directly.