I received a call for advice from someone looking to open a really great bakery concept in a former restaurant space. Makes sense right... the heavy lifting was done by the former owner and you could build out that space for half what it cost originally.

That dream of entrepreneurship is incredibly important to rebuilding our economy in #Ontario. It is what allows landlords to rent, tradespeople to construct, suppliers to supply, employees to be employed, owners to dream and governments to collect tax.

The present supports from province and Fed’s have been critical to those pushing through this to the other side. But ultimately there are a couple of key issues governments may not be aware of that put our longer term recovery at risk, particularly for new entrepreneurs...

Financing and insurance. The bakery idea sounded great however without solid gvmt backed small business lending programs that backstop risk at the banking level, many will find it impossible to get financing, even with asset backed real estate. The second issue is insurance.

My agent shared with me that unless you’re already in business, that you will be turned down or be given a “yes” that is as much as rent in some cases. Jumpstarting this very cold engine of hospitality will be difficult as it is, yet alone the new investment required to thrive.

These two issues need a close watch as they are material roadblocks on our provincial path to recovery and let’s face it, budding entrepreneurs dream much larger than a big box store do. @PrabSarkaria @fordnation @JustinTrudeau @HamiltonsMayor @bdc_ca @JohnTory #HamOnt