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Another day and another small business owner trying to desperately save their business. The announcement for 25% funding for arts complexes, sports and Agriculture societies is welcomed. The devil will be in the details of ‘approved expenses’ and /2
2. knowing this only helps with expenses over the past year. These groups do not have reserves to address an unknown future. What are the goal posts for reopening. Owners need to plan. Can they scrape by for a few more weeks? Maybe but they need information /3
3. To make those decisions. Do they borrow from friends because they see the light at the end of the tunnel or do they shut it down or open illegally? https://www.lakelandtoday.ca/lac-la-biche-news/mayor-moghrabi-says-he-ordered-the-lasagna-3300798 /4
4. What else can the @jkenney government do? First provide the information by postal code. Deal with the health orders regionally. If there are to be lock downs provide funding particularly for rural businesses because their exit leads to the demise of communities/5
5.provide a utility rebate. Provide a property tax rebate. 2 Work with the ATB to create a no or low interest bridge financing and a similar funding program to the one made available during the BSE crisis and/or Cover the interest in the federal HASCAP program for one year. 6
6. Ensure LTC facilities have upgraded ventilation systems immediately. Top up healthcare wages to attract new employees to meet the demand and to allow financial security for employees to work at only one site. Increase training to healthcare workers. /7
7. Promote ‘buy local’ initiatives. A start on what needs to be done. People and communities are hurting. If thresholds are unknown there is no hope. When there is no hope either the government needs to step up with supports or people will resort to drastic measures.
8. And rapid testing kits must become part of the management of the pandemic. A vaccine may offer a part of the solution but after an entire year we also need a strategy for an endemic.
