THUNDER BAY - Small retail businesses will soon be allowed to welcome customers back inside in a limited capacity, which the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president says will help them compete with big box stores and allow people to shop local.
“That’s going to help level the playing field between big box stores that are allowed to open because they have essential items, they are trying to level the playing field to allow small business in a much more limited factor to give them an opportunity to sell their wares rather than being cut out of that in-person option,” said Chamber of Commerce president, Charla Robinson.
The provincial government announced on Monday that the province-wide lockdown and stay-at-home order would remain in effect for most of Ontario until at least Feb. 16.
The province will then return to a revised version of its colour-coded COVID-19 response framework, which will allow small retail businesses to reopen to in-person shopping at 25 per cent capacity.
“Definitely retailers are pleased to see this change to the framework that will allow them to reopen in a very limited way, where previously they could only do curb side pickup,” Robinson said.
The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, along with other business groups and municipal governments, advocated on behalf of small businesses that were struggling through the lockdowns.
“We are pleased with the government listening to these concerns with trying to level the playing field a little bit more for these small retailers,” Robinson said.
“We know that the government is also putting in place additional measures to make a quick change if there is an outbreak. They are taking additional measures to help with community spread and they are allowing businesses to open in a very safe way to be able to give them some revenue opportunities even under the tightest restrictions.”
The colour the Thunder Bay District will be in after Feb. 16 will be based on COVID-19 data, including case numbers, transmission rates, outbreaks in vulnerable sectors of the population, and health care capacity.
“We were not sure if it’s red or it's grey because it’s not just the one number,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro. “There’s at least two or three metrics they use to determine what colour code you end up. I’m not sure where we will end up.”
“Hopefully in a week or so, we will find that number even lower, and we will find ourselves in a better place for reopening.”
Robinson said the business community is anxious to see which colour the district will be in after Feb. 16 in order to prepare for reopening. All businesses are required to have a COVID-19 safety plan and Robinson said any business that doesn’t have one yet should be preparing one this week.
“We know there is going to be very high level health and safety regulations in place, including posting capacity limits and the continued screening notifications, and those are positive things to make sure small businesses can reopen in a smaller way but still offer their goods and services,” she said.
Under the revised COVID-19 response framework, retail businesses will still be permitted to open to 25 per cent capacity even under a Grey lockdown. Under Grey, restaurants would not be permitted to allow in-person dining and other personal care services will remain closed. Under Red or Orange, both would be permitted, with restrictions.
“Restaurants are very limited at what they can do at some of the higher levels of the framework, which is probably where we might be,” Robinson said. “I think restaurants are thinking about just continuing on with the take out option for now until things get more free based on the restrictions.”
