Ontario’s main streets are the backbone of our communities and economy. Having been in existence for the entire history of Canada, they have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Through the measures put in place by all levels of governments, the majority of main street businesses have been shut down. During the 11 weeks of the pandemic, our storefronts have been targets for a growing number of break and enters, with one police service citing a 113 per cent increase.
Many of these businesses, as sole proprietors who often only take dividends and not a salary, have slipped through the cracks of government programs while still being expected to pay for their primary residence, food, employees, insurance, utilities and commercial rent. They have no protection from eviction, unless their landlord applies for the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program.
Additionally, until recently they were not able to provide curbside pickup, while businesses such as Walmart and Costco have been fully open, allowing customers to shop for a full range of products.
Our main streets are our community centres. Our communities look to their local business improvement area (BIA) or main street area for their day-to-day interactions — a visit to the coffee shop, dinner or lunch out or a community event.
In a second, all of this vanished. With this, the lifestyle of Ontarians also vanished.
With increasing protocols around the reopening, margins on businesses that will return are being diminished; they will no longer be able to provide entertainment through our musicians and artists; they will no longer be able to support the local dance troupe or soccer team.
Ontario needs to provide sound investment in our main streets if they have any hope to recover. Many business owners have, for the most part, not received revenue for more than two months and will have no choice but to close. We may be facing a glut of vacancies.
To avoid leaving you on a negative note, I would like to point out that our main street areas are the most resilient sector; we are down, but we are not out. When we, as a province, do safely reopen we will need every one of you to visit, to shop, to socialize and to invest in our lifestyle.
Kay Matthews is the executive director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.
Ontario’s main streets are the backbone of our communities and economy. Having been in existence for the entire history of Canada, they have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Through the measures put in place by all levels of governments, the majority of main street businesses have been shut down. During the 11 weeks of the pandemic, our storefronts have been targets for a growing number of break and enters, with one police service citing a 113 per cent increase.
Many of these businesses, as sole proprietors who often only take dividends and not a salary, have slipped through the cracks of government programs while still being expected to pay for their primary residence, food, employees, insurance, utilities and commercial rent. They have no protection from eviction, unless their landlord applies for the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program.
Additionally, until recently they were not able to provide curbside pickup, while businesses such as Walmart and Costco have been fully open, allowing customers to shop for a full range of products.
Our main streets are our community centres. Our communities look to their local business improvement area (BIA) or main street area for their day-to-day interactions — a visit to the coffee shop, dinner or lunch out or a community event.
In a second, all of this vanished. With this, the lifestyle of Ontarians also vanished.
With increasing protocols around the reopening, margins on businesses that will return are being diminished; they will no longer be able to provide entertainment through our musicians and artists; they will no longer be able to support the local dance troupe or soccer team.
Ontario needs to provide sound investment in our main streets if they have any hope to recover. Many business owners have, for the most part, not received revenue for more than two months and will have no choice but to close. We may be facing a glut of vacancies.
To avoid leaving you on a negative note, I would like to point out that our main street areas are the most resilient sector; we are down, but we are not out. When we, as a province, do safely reopen we will need every one of you to visit, to shop, to socialize and to invest in our lifestyle.
Kay Matthews is the executive director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.
Ontario’s main streets are the backbone of our communities and economy. Having been in existence for the entire history of Canada, they have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Through the measures put in place by all levels of governments, the majority of main street businesses have been shut down. During the 11 weeks of the pandemic, our storefronts have been targets for a growing number of break and enters, with one police service citing a 113 per cent increase.
Many of these businesses, as sole proprietors who often only take dividends and not a salary, have slipped through the cracks of government programs while still being expected to pay for their primary residence, food, employees, insurance, utilities and commercial rent. They have no protection from eviction, unless their landlord applies for the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program.
Additionally, until recently they were not able to provide curbside pickup, while businesses such as Walmart and Costco have been fully open, allowing customers to shop for a full range of products.
Our main streets are our community centres. Our communities look to their local business improvement area (BIA) or main street area for their day-to-day interactions — a visit to the coffee shop, dinner or lunch out or a community event.
In a second, all of this vanished. With this, the lifestyle of Ontarians also vanished.
With increasing protocols around the reopening, margins on businesses that will return are being diminished; they will no longer be able to provide entertainment through our musicians and artists; they will no longer be able to support the local dance troupe or soccer team.
Ontario needs to provide sound investment in our main streets if they have any hope to recover. Many business owners have, for the most part, not received revenue for more than two months and will have no choice but to close. We may be facing a glut of vacancies.
To avoid leaving you on a negative note, I would like to point out that our main street areas are the most resilient sector; we are down, but we are not out. When we, as a province, do safely reopen we will need every one of you to visit, to shop, to socialize and to invest in our lifestyle.
Kay Matthews is the executive director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.