Whereas in May 2020 the City of Burlington and Team Burlington (Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Burlington, Burlington Downtown Business Association and the Aldershot Village BIA) formed the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN). The Burlington Economic Recovery Network has strategically brought together key stakeholders and business leaders from across Burlington to develop a robust local strategy that will prepare our economy for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis; and
Whereas when the Province of Ontario entered modified Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopening on January 5, 2022, the restrictions forced many small businesses to either close their doors or significantly decrease their capacity until January 26, 2022; and
Whereas both supply chain issues in the procurement of rapid tests and recent changes to criteria for PCR testing have left many critical supply chain manufacturers and their workers without testing to ensure worker safety and minimize workplace COVID-19 outbreaks; and
Whereas the Ontario Chamber of Commerce met with the Honorable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, to discuss business concerns and wrote an open letter to the minister requesting immediate business support which can be read in the appendix; and
Whereas the Province of Ontario announced the Ontario Small Business Relief grant on January 7, 2022, we continue to ask that the full $20,000 grant be reinstated in line with the 2021 grant and that access be expanded to businesses who are not fully closed but required to reduce capacity.
Therefore, be it resolved that Burlington City Council, in partnership with the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) and Team Burlington, call on the Provincial governments to provide the supports outlined in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce letter Re: Dire Straits for Ontario’s Small Businesses including:
- Extend the Small Business Support Grant for a third round targeted towards all businesses whose revenues are directly and/or indirectly impacted by current public health restrictions. Eligibility should include businesses previously eligible for the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant and businesses losing revenue as a result of restrictions affecting their clients (e.g. food service suppliers).
- Work with the federal government to increase rental subsidies provided under the newly expanded Local Lockdown Program similar to the enhanced Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program for businesses directly or indirectly impacted by public health restrictions.
- Immediately open the recently announced portal which would allow businesses to access rebates for property taxes and utilities, accompanied by rapid disbursements for eligible business expenses.
- Expand access to rapid antigen tests and PCR testing, with priority given to Ontarians unable to work from home, both to limit unnecessary isolation time and allow workers to demonstrate eligibility for paid sick days and other supports.
- Work with financial institutions and the federal government to forgive loans for businesses most severely impacted by public health restrictions.
- Offer an additional grant to businesses required to implement the government’s enhanced vaccine certification protocols and to cover increased pandemic-related expenses for PPE, improved ventilation etc.; and
Further that the Mayor and Council representative on BERN be directed to write a letter, jointly with BERN and Team Burlington, advocating for the actions outlined above to support the survival of small businesses to the Premier of Ontario; and
That the City Clerk be directed to send a copy of the letter and resolution, once approved, to:
- The Premier of Ontario
- Provincial Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
- Provincial Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Provincial Minister of Health
- Provincial Minister of Finance
- Burlington Members of Provincial Parliament Jane McKenna, Effie Triantafilopoulos and Parm Gill
- Halton Regional Council
- Councils of the Towns of Milton, Halton Hills and Oakville
- Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
- Ontario Big City Mayor’s Caucus (OBCM)
- Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO)
- GTHA Mayors and Chairs
- Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC)
- Milton Chamber of Commerce
- Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce
- Oakville Chamber of Commerce
- Team Burlington (Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Burlington, Burlington Downtown Business Association and Aldershot Village BIA)
- Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN)
- Burlington Restaurant Association
- Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA)