Dan Kelly Profile picture
16 Jun, 11 tweets, 3 min read
Ontario's COVID case count has dropped dramatically & the province is only days away from meeting all its reopening vaccine thresholds. But its plan is stuck with nearly a month & a half of ongoing lockdowns before one can eat in a restaurant, go to a gym or see a movie.
As Ontarians have been locked down for so long, CFIB believes many have lost any perspective of how other provinces (together with their public health officials) are handling COVID policies such as lockdowns.
Ontario has the longest lockdown in Canada, the longest in North America & we believe now has the longest lockdown in the world. As an example, indoor restaurant dining in Toronto has been locked down for 382 days since the pandemic began.
Ontario's reopening plan is ridiculously slow, requiring a 3 week interval between each tiny step. Just to highlight how out of touch this policy is, CFIB has prepared graphics to compare the reopening dates of a handful of low risk business activities.
For small retailers in Ontario malls, they are to remain closed until July 2. But they weren't closed for a single day in 2021 in BC, AB, SK or NB. Ontario's mall reopening is 5 months later than Quebec's. Image
The Ontario beauty industry (eg. hair, nail salons, tattoo parlours) are to remain closed until July 2. Hair salons weren't closed for a single day in 2021 in BC or SK and they reopened in early February in Quebec. Image
Ontario gyms are to remain closed until July 23. They weren't closed for a day in BC or SK in 2021. They will reopen 6 weeks later than Quebec gyms. Toronto gyms have been closed for 369 days (as of today) since the pandemic started! Image
Ontarians won't be able to see a movie in a theatre until July 23. Movie theatres have remained open in SK for all of 2021 and reopened in Quebec on February 26. Arts and entertainment businesses have been among the hardest hit sectors of the economy. Image
Indoor restaurant dining in Ontario won't reopen until July 23 - 6 weeks later than in Quebec. Saskatchewan has kept some capacity open for all of 2021. Image
The only province that comes anywhere close to the slow pace of Ontario’s reopening plan is Manitoba. But MB is dealing with a much more challenging scenario than ON at the moment. Despite this, MB’s reopening plan is weeks ahead of ON’s for gyms, entertainment & indoor dining.
Some have correctly noted the Delta variant prompted the UK to slow down its reopening. But let’s have a look at what this really means. Virtually all UK business sectors are, & will remain, open. Remaining restrictions are capacity limits for entertainment & major sports events.

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More from @CFIB

18 Jun
With 21% of Ontarians fully vaccinated, we have surpassed the threshold to move to reopening Step 2. With more than 1% of the province getting a second dose each day, we should reach 25% fully vaccinated on Monday, the threshold set for Step 3.
CFIB calls on @fordnation to prepare to skip Step 2 & move the province to Step 3 next week. This would allow personal services, malls, gyms, entertainment/event venues & indoor dining to reopen (w capacity/other restrictions). These services are currently open in most provinces.
Malls: Ontario is the only province still in lockdown (4 provinces have been fully open in 2021). Image
Read 11 tweets
17 Jun
We've likely already hit Ontario's 70% first dose/20% second dose threshold earlier today. This should enable the province to move to Step 2 of its reopening plan (personal services, malls) this weekend. We need to drop the 3 week interval rule immediately.
Malls are open in every other province in the country, including Manitoba. Personal services are open in every other province except Manitoba. Quebec has allowed haircuts since Feb. 8 and salons weren't closed for a single day in 2021 in SK or BC.
Why the ON govt continues to make it illegal for a masked stylist to cut the hair of a masked client is beyond me. Why the ON govt won't allow a small retailer in a mall to serve 15 or 25% of its capacity (like other retailers) is also beyond me.
Read 7 tweets
11 May
The number of tweets and emails I've received from business owners ready to defy lockdowns is growing by the minute, especially in Ontario. I don't think govts appreciate how close we are to society's breaking point.
CFIB does not recommend business owners break the rules. But I do not dismiss the concerns of those ready to take this extraordinary step either. If you were in the position of losing your business, your economic future, your home, what would you do?
We need to find an immediate pathway to provide support to business owners facing permanent closure due to COVID restrictions. This means finding ways to allow them to operate with limited capacity. It means full economic supports from the feds and provinces for ALL affected.
Read 7 tweets
10 May
Looking forward to introducing Economic Development Minister @melaniejoly in a special webinar for CFIB members. Over 1200 small business owners registered to join us today.
The first question for Minister @melaniejoly is on the need for support for new businesses that can't access any of the federal COVID support programs. She shared govt is still working on this.
Lots of questions from CFIB members raising concerns about the planned summer reduction in the levels of the wage/rent subsidies. With fresh restrictions popping up across Canada, govt should be extending current levels for the summer months.
Read 4 tweets
9 May
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms running their own businesses, and the many who can’t open their doors due to ongoing lockdown restrictions. Brighter days are ahead!
Mother’s Day is a bit tough at my house today. This is the first Mother’s Day after my wife lost her mom and we haven’t been able to visit my mom in Calgary in over a year despite her breast cancer treatment.
Thanks to @piejunkieyyc in Calgary for helping me surprise my mom with some freshly baked butter tarts, a pie and cookies. Can’t wait to try your stuff myself on my next trip out west. #smallbusinesseveryday
Read 4 tweets
19 Apr
Some good news in #Budget2021 for small business: extension of the rent/wage subsidy to the fall, a major new hiring incentive and a promise of lower credit card processing fees.
Here is CFIB's full release: cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-…
Sadly, the federal budget does absolutely nothing to fix the many gaps in access to CEWS, CERS or CEBA. New firms and thousands of others remain entirely left out. Fixing this is CFIB's top priority.
Read 8 tweets

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