The next steps towards reopening Ontario’s economy will be announced later this week, but first, some more help for small businesses.
Ontario will now allow changes to how small businesses operate during the pandemic. Specifically, the government wants to hear helpful suggestions from small business owners via a new online portal called ‘Covid-19 Tackling the Barriers’.
If business owners believe temporary Provincial regulation changes will help, the portal is where their suggestions should be made.
For example, businesses working to retool their operations to produce health-related products, or those that want to continue their operations in this new environment of physical distancing, can submit any potential roadblocks they are facing to the website.
Once received, the Province will determine which suggestions have merit and where they would make most sense.
“Any way we can support small businesses (we will),” pledged Premier Doug Ford. “They are the backbone of our economy and province – millions of people are employed in small businesses.”
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, noted that already, the Province has allowed trucks to provide 24-hour deliveries and restaurants to provide take out food orders.
He says the new portal will eliminate other existing roadblocks for small businesses which keep them from running as smoothly as possible
For more details on the new portal, click here
The Premier adds that the next steps in reopening the overall economy will include clear, sector-specific guidelines for how businesses can operate safely. These guidelines will be released later this week.
The innovation and creativity of people in Ontario will help us jumpstart our economic recovery in the months ahead. Today we launched a new website where businesses can submit rule or regulatory changes that would help them be successful. https://t.co/OTmmmL38SV pic.twitter.com/dtZ3XzhePV
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 28, 2020
Premier @fordnation and our government is committed to supporting small businesses.
This is why we worked out a deal with our federal partners to lower commercial rent payments by 75%, providing immediate relief to many small businesses in #Ontario! #onpoli pic.twitter.com/LzJyDoywDC
— Prabmeet Sarkaria (@PrabSarkaria) April 26, 2020
To Watch Premier Doug Ford’s full April 28th address, see below.
https://www.cpac.ca/en/direct/cpac3/448057/premier-doug-ford-and-ontario-ministers-provide-covid-19-update-28/