Further business support needed as provincial restrictions tighten, Sault Chamber

As the provincial government announced further restrictions Friday amid growing COVID-19 cases in Ontario, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce released a statement on the situation.

Sault Chamber CEO Rory Ring issued a joint statement with Ontario Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Rocco Rossi Friday evening.

Following is the full statement:

“Anxiety among Ontarians, business owners, and workers is at an all-time high. In fact, this anxiety was felt loudly across all industries in anticipation of today’s announcement.

“We are into the second week of our stay-at-home order, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat amidst Ontario’s third lockdown, ICU rates are the highest they have ever been, hospitals have postponed elective surgeries, schools are now closed indefinitely, and just today, Moderna announced it will be reducing deliveries to Canada.

“Public health and the health of our economy are interdependent. The business community is concerned about the rise in COVID-19 case counts. It is also extremely demoralizing for business owners who feel they have shouldered an unfair portion of the burden of restrictions.

“We need an all-hands on deck approach from all orders of government and local public health units to get vaccines to Ontarians. We’d like to see the provincial government continue expediting the vaccination of essential workers who cannot work from home, and the federal government address supply issues and delays which may hamper the province’s goal of vaccinating 40 percent of the population by the end of the stay-at-home order.

“In the meantime, businesses need support to confront the economic repercussions of these measures. New supports must be made available as customers are forced to stay at home and relief is needed for industries that have been left out of previous measures."