KELLY: We need COVID control measures that are fair to everyone. torontosun.com/opinion/kelly-…
I've had dozens of discussions w officials on lockdowns over the past few weeks. Here is how they typically go:
Me: Why are you locking down small retailers & leaving big box open to sell similar items?
Officials: We are locking down retailers based on medical advice.
Me: Why are you locking down small retailers & leaving big box open to sell similar items?
Officials: We are locking down retailers based on medical advice.
Me: Will you share the data they are using to support shutting down small retailers?
Officials: The data isn't clear. What is clear is that people need to stay home.
Officials: The data isn't clear. What is clear is that people need to stay home.
Me: But isn't it worse to have everyone line up at the big box store, or drive North of Steeles?
Officials: We have to rely on the medical advice. If anything, lockdowns should be tighter.
Officials: We have to rely on the medical advice. If anything, lockdowns should be tighter.
Me: If lockdowns should be tighter, why allow people to go to buy books, flowers and clothing inside a Costco or Walmart?
Officials: That would cause supply chain pressures on large retailers.
Officials: That would cause supply chain pressures on large retailers.
Me: But my small business members will permanently close if they miss out on holiday sales. Families will lose their livelihoods.
Officials: We feel very badly for them. But people aren't staying home. Opening retail, even a tiny bit, would send a mixed message.
Officials: We feel very badly for them. But people aren't staying home. Opening retail, even a tiny bit, would send a mixed message.
Me: But why does Ontario alone have the policy of locking down small and allowing big box to remain open?
Officials: We need to rely on the medical advice.
Officials: We need to rely on the medical advice.
Me: BC didn't close retail, even in the spring. SK is keeping small open, but limiting big box to 50%, NS/AB limit all retailers to 25% & MB is locking down both small & large. Don't they act on medical advice too?
Officials: No answer.
Officials: No answer.
I am not a COVID denier. I believe it is a deadly, communicable disease. I wear a mask and ensure my family/staff do too. Most business owners are similar. But there is a growing anger against rules that don't make sense & appear to make the risk of spread worse, not better.
CFIB is asking the Ontario govt to allow small firms in "grey zones" to serve no more than 3 customers at a time. But if they aren't willing to do this, we ask them to limit big box stores to grocery/pharmacy products only (as in Manitoba).
Here is CFIB's summary of retail restrictions across Canada: 
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