THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay's retail and restaurant operators are steeling themselves for the second lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 26, the Ontario government's order will require non-essential retail stores and restaurants across the province to switch to curbside pickup, drive-through or delivery only.
In Northern Ontario, the lockdown will be for two weeks.
Representatives of the local business community say they completely understand the need for the lockdown, given the rising incidence of COVID-19.
Some are also taking solace from the fact that traffic traditionally slows down in the period immediately after Christmas, so the impact might not be as severe as it would be at a different time of the year.
Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, says "a lot of businesses are closed a fair amount in the last week of December, the first week of January, so it's a slow time for them anyway."
The vice-chair of the Fort William Business District District Business Improvement Association, Jim Hupka, agrees.
"There's no good time, but certainly this might be a time that we are able to handle it a little better," Hupka said.
Hupka said he understands why the lockdown is necessary.
"Just reading any of the articles that are out there about North America and the rest of the world. All these cases are breaking out. How are we going to get a handle on it if we don't do some type of lockdown?"
On the other side of town, Waterfront District BIA Chair Jim Comuzzi said "Some tough decisions had to be made. The safety and the health of our community is at the forefront of what we're doing here."
Comuzzi said he had planned to shut down his business for the Christmas week anyway, for the first time in 19 years.
He's not sure yet whether he will stay open in the second week of the lockdown for pickup and delivery service.
Comuzzi said 2020 has been tough for small businesses, but they have shown their ability to adapt.
"During this Christmas season, I know many of our local shops have been extremely busy with online sales and curbside pickups, and our restaurants, our boutiques and our shops have been resilient."
Hupka is glad the speculation that the lockdown would start two days earlier turned out to be wrong, as this gives merchants an extra day to stay open before Christmas.
He also hopes the community stays behind small businesses going into the new year, asking "for all our people to shop local and support our local businesses."
Robinson is pleased to see additional government supports for small business.
She referred to "a new business support grant to help small business of course by going into this type of a shutdown," adding that "businesses can also apply for property tax and energy cost relief as well, so there are some additional programs to help, which will be appreciated and needed for those businesses that will be required to close their doors."
However, Robinson noted that not all the details of the support programs were immediately available.
Hupka said he's waiting for clarity as well.
Going into 2021, Comuzzi is expressing optimism.
"We have to put 2020 in the rear-view mirror and look at how we're finally going to get out of this thing in the next five to six months. We'll get through this. We've had a tough nine months, and we've got a few more months in front of us that are going to get better as we go."
On Tuesday morning, the government issued a memo outlining how the lockdown affects businesses and services:
Essential Businesses List as of Dec. 26, 2020
What Will Be Open:
·Supermarkets, convenience stores and indoor farmers markets
·Big box and discount stores that sell groceries
·Pharmacies
·Liquor stores
·Supply chain businesses and those declared essential
·Childcare centres and home- based child care
·An outdoor recreation amenity (skating rink) can be deemed open if participants can socially distance.
·Hotels, lodges, cabins, motels – must close any indoor fitness areas, pools, restaurants.
Curbside Pick Up/Appointment Only:
·General retail (small businesses) for curbside pick-up or delivery only
·Restaurants for take-out, drive-thru and delivery only
·Pet stores curbside pick up only, veterinary clinics to use curb side pick up/drop off.
·Cannabis stores for curbside pick-up or delivery only
·Garden centres for curbside pic-up or delivery only
·Motor vehicle sales by appointment only
·Vehicle and equipment rental by appointment only
·Car mechanic by appointment only
·Home sales will be done by appointment only
What Will Be Closed:
·Shopping malls closed for in-person retail
·Salons
·In-person driving instruction except for commercial vehicles.
·Indoor sports and recreation
·Museums, zoos and similar venues
·Drive-in or Drive through events are not permitted
·Night clubs and strip clubs
·Ski hills
