THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro is taking a measured approach as the city’s economy continues to restart under Stage 2 of the provincial strategy.
Understanding businesses must start to rebound in order to restart the economic engine that drives the community, the mayor said it’s also not time for the public to let down its collective guard.
“There has been lots of concern expressed about the economy, in the city and in the region. I think that people will be excited by the opportunity to see a number of these businesses restart, and obviously as business owners they will be excited by their ability to get back to what they are doing and try to make a living and provide the important services that they do,” Mauro said, adding the city is still weighing its options when it comes to the return of municipal services, including splash pads, which got the go-ahead from Queen’s Park late last week.
“We continue to move into the next phase, but of course we’re still always a bit concerned by what it may mean in terms of people congregating in large numbers, so all of us need to remain cautious.”
Mauro said he’ll defer to the province as the pace of Stage 3 of the reopening strategy, which would allow most remaining workplaces and community spaces, as well as easing restrictions further on gathering sizes.
The province has yet to set a date for Phase 3, or indicate how it might roll out Ontario-wide. Phase 2 was initially supposed to happen all at once, but Premier Doug Ford relented and let certain areas of the province reopen earlier than others.
As of Wednesday, there are six active cases of COVID-19 in the Thunder Bay District Health Unit coverage area, four in hospital and two in First Nations communities.
“The premier now has become open to the idea of regional reopening. If our numbers stay solid, we would probably be considered one of the areas of the province that could see a Stage 3 reopening before others,” Mauro said. “Or maybe there will be others as well positioned as us from a numbers perspective as us.
“But that will be determined by the province and that has not been determined yet. I think it’s a little bit premature to start speculating on when that might be.”
Looking forward at the city’s financial picture, Mauro said council will be receiving an updated projection at the end of next month. By the end of May the city was expected to experience a $5.2 million loss, warning the restrictions put in place by the province could cost the city $1.4 million a month going forward should they remain in place.
At that time upper levels of government had on delivered $75,000 to help alleviate the fiscal shortfall, but Mauro said he expects money will flow from the House of Commons and Queen’s Park at some point to help Thunder Bay avoid having to wipe out reserve funds.
The mayor said the city’s projections will have to take into account the fact that many businesses may not reopen at all.
“We’re all holding our breath a little bit and keeping our figures crossed that (the projections) won’t be worse than what we’ve projected to see. But we won’t know until then,” Mauro said. “And it may change.”
Mauro said the city is taking some actions on cost containment and revenue, and pointed out transit fares will be implemented in July.
“Hopefully as we move forward with some federal and provincial assistance, maybe our position will be better – we hope.”
