Business association urges governments to exercise caution when considering restrictions

The Canadian Federal of Independent Businesses (CFIB) is asking governments to avoid sparking panic and exercise caution if considering any restrictions on businesses in light of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

They ask any limits be made as a last resort and if restrictions need to be introduced, they are accompanied by an immediate round of supports from the provincial and federal government.

The group claims businesses are already experiencing losses based on the dialogue about rising COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant despite no restrictions being imposed yet.

“Small firms have paid a deep price for COVID restrictions and cannot bear another round of lockdowns or capacity restrictions,” read a press release from the CFIB President Dan Kelly.

The release stated only 36 per cent of businesses report being back to their normal sales, while 22 per cent of those not making normal sales say they can survive less than six months at their current level.

So far, Ontario has only introduced restrictions for large venues holding over 1,000 people including sports arenas, theatres and concert venues.

Quebec announced a 50 per cent capacity limit on shops, bars, restaurants and churches which comes into effect on Monday.

The Ontario COVID-19 science advisory table has recommended “circuit breaker” measures be introduced to cut contacts by at least 50 per cent.

Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s science table, said the table isn’t calling for a lockdown or stay at home order, but “specifically those things that reduce contacts, that may be capacity limitations in different settings, it may be a strong enforcement of masking indoors.”

The CFIB represents over 95,000 members who own small to medium-sized businesses across Canada.