Tweet

Dan Kelly

8 Dec, 11 tweets, 2 min read

It is hard to imagine a more anti-small business policy than Ontario's grey zone retail rule (shutting small businesses down while leaving big box stores open). CFIB is hearing reports the govt will expand this measure to other parts of Ontario this weekend.

We need a different approach to protect the public. One that doesn't entirely close quiet small retailers and send their customers to giant lines in/out of Costco and Walmart.

88% of Ontarians agree that closing small retailers to in-store shopping while allowing the same goods to be sold in-store at big box stores is unfair.

76% of Ontarians agree that if small retailers are required to be closed for in-store shopping, then big box stores should not be allowed to sell those same items in store (as is now the case in Manitoba).

72% of Ontarians report feeling safer in a small, local business with reduced capacity than a big box store. This option is unavailable to them.

93% of Ontarians believe small, local retailers should be allowed to open with a limited number of customers in-store at a time (e.g. max of 3).

To date, no government or public health official has provided any evidence that shopping for TVs, toys and t-shirts in a big box store is safer than at a small, local business. But one is allowed and the other is not. This policy will kill thousands of small retailers.

The only arguments that have been offered by govt are that we can't close big box stores because of their supply chain issues or that we need to shut small businesses down in order to get the public to understand COVID is still serious.

If we are going to make the decision to use small businesses as cannon fodder in the fight to get the public to take COVID-19 seriously, then the province needs to get its cheque-book out. It is deeply unfair to wreck the lives of business owners without 100% compensation.

CFIB has suggested a "Small Business First" COVID retail strategy. It would allow small retailers to serve up to 3 customers at a time, taking pressure off of giant big-box lines. If you agree, sign our petition: cfib.ca/saveontariobus…

Here are today's retail rules across Canada.

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More from @CFIB

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

11 Dec

As small businesses across Ontario brace for a potential expansion of the province's bizarre "Grey Zone" retail rules (which close small businesses and push customers to line-ups at busy big box stores), here are my reflections:

1. No other province or public health official in Canada has adopted Ontario's counter-intuitive practice. Most provinces have adopted capacity restrictions for all, SK focuses on reducing crowds at big-box stores, MB closes both small & large to non-essential retail.

2. The province has provided no data to support its small business retail closure policy. When asked, most officials admit it is intended to send consumers a message to stay home, not because shopping is riskier than other business/personal activities.

Read 11 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

9 Dec

@NEWSTALK1010

Please listen to this @NEWSTALK1010 interview with York Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karim Kurji. He expects that the province will put York into lockdown this weekend, but doesn't recommend it. iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/…

Dr. Kurji says he must consider "the downside of mental health issues, social isolation and economic ruining for small businesses in particular".

Dr. Kurji goes on to say that "going into lockdown won't necessarily help anyone", they will have "minimal effect" and that Toronto/Peel lockdowns haven't had the expected results.

Read 5 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

4 Dec

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: 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.

Read 11 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

2 Dec

@JohnTory

It was good to meet w Toronto Mayor @JohnTory together w other business assocs to share the impact the Toronto/Peel lockdowns are having on small business.

CFIB shared our member data. In Toronto:
- 47% of small firms are fully open
- 15% are earning normal levels of revenue
- 52% are losing money every day they are open
- 31% are concerned about permanent closure

Toronto & Peel are the only regions in all of Canada that require small retailers to close while allowing big box stores to remain open. Sask allows small firms to remain open, but limits big box stores to 50% capacity. Isn't that a better approach?

Read 4 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

9 Sep

I've been asked a lot of what would happen to small business if a second wave of COVID-19 prompts a further round of economic shutdowns. Here are a few thoughts.

1. In March, governments bluntly shutdown most of the small business economy in order to protect society. Support programs to help small firms survive were just not in place. This was, to an extent, understandable.

2. It took months to get programs up and running and governments did quite a poor job of listening to what was needed. But, with some programs like the wage subsidy, they got there.

Read 16 tweets

Dan Kelly

@CFIB

20 Aug

While it is good news that EI rates are frozen for 2 years and the new benefits are temporary (for now), CFIB's biggest concern is that a worker can now collect $400 per week for a half-year if they've been working a part-time job with 3 hours a week (or less).

So my part-time job in high school (washing dishes at a pizza place for 3 hours each Friday night) would qualify me to collect over $10,000 if I decide NOT to work.

Small firms in retail, hospitality, arts/recreation & the service sector were the hardest hit by COVID-19. Now that they are allowed to open, many will struggle to get their part-timers back, making them more vulnerable to bankruptcy & slowing Canada's economic recovery.

Read 6 tweets

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