Ottawa business groups calling on province to revise COVID-19 framework as city heads into red zone

Following news of Ottawa entering the red-control zone, Ottawa’s business groups have come together to send a joint letter to Premier Doug Ford asking for an immediate revision of the business safety framework around COVID-19.

All this in hopes businesses in the city can survive another round of tighter restrictions.

The Ottawa Board of Trade, the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas and the Regroupement des gen d’affaires de la Capital nationale said they have been working on this plan for weeks, which was supposed to be released by the Ontario government soon.

The letter comes immediately after another meeting with Ottawa Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches, to get the most recent facts and details regarding the city's current pandemic situation.

Changes to the framework, they said, would support businesses and ensure equality.

“We need to take the inconsistencies that are obvious, that we have learned over these last few months, and we need to address them and do it urgently,” Sueling Ching, president of the Ottawa board of trade, told CityNews Ottawa. “Because, quite frankly, the businesses that are the hardest hit don’t have the time left, and what we’re starting to see is a lack of willingness and desire to go on.”

The call to put Ottawa back in the red zone is just making a bad situation worse, Ching added. 

“We have been advocating all along for clear and consistent communication with notice because they have to make operational changes. [Business owners have] already spent money in anticipation of being open at their previous capacity. So, it’s just placing more stress on them, but to what end?”

In their letter to Ford, the groups wrote: “We know that all businesses are essential to our overall community health. Therefore, we are calling on you to revise the framework to address inconsistencies, provide equal opportunity to all businesses and ensure the elimination of unintended consequences. This is an urgent matter.”

The changes, they said, support the physical distancing mandate and also ensure the percentage capacity is equal for all businesses.

“We have consistently called upon you to give adequate notice to businesses when there is a status change that affects them,” the letter continued. “Your agreement and adherence to this protocol demonstrates an appreciation for the operational challenges and financial impacts they face when forced to follow new regulations virtually overnight.”

“This last year has taught us all that public health, the economy and mental wellness must be part of the same conversation as we deal with COVID-19 and as we plan for rebound,” they said in a statement.

With warmer weather, the groups said they are anticipating the City of Ottawa’s soon-to-be-released patio strategy to support businesses.