QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement after the Premier announced Ontario was easing restrictions on retail stores starting soon:
“I support the Premier easing restrictions on businesses so they can safely reopen. But the Premier is hanging small businesses out to dry by not banning commercial rent evictions.
41% of landlords surveyed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses said they would not participate in the rent relief program, setting up the potential for widespread evictions.
Without action from the province, it is only large corporations with deep pockets that will survive this pandemic, while local businesses get kicked to the curb.
The Premier must urgently work with the Prime Minister to fix the problems in the rent relief program to get small businesses the help they were promised. ”