‘A death wish for business:’ Ottawa hairstylist facing pandemic restrictions until July

By Deborah Reiter

An Ottawa hairstylist and owner of salon Tappa is worried and spinning with frustration over the Ford government's latest decision to keep hair salons under pandemic restrictions. 

Tanya Hill has to figure out where $11,600 in rent, plus electrical bills, will come from in order to pay for next month's basic operating costs. 

On CityNews' The Rob Snow Show, Friday, May 21, Hill said federal assistance has been very helpful but the sliding scale approach to receiving funds doesn't compensate for the overall budget she needs and relies on each month.

“We have the same protocols in place as the dental office and massage therapist, and we're still unable to work,” said Hill. She added, those other two business types are her neighbours at the Carlingwood Mall. 

Prior to the stay-at-home order, Hills explained she used to put everyone of her clients through a telephone pre-screening, then ask several safety protocol questions in person and ensure that everyone was masked before entering her business. Plexiglass walls have been installed in between each styling station at Tappa and client visitations are also staggered for cleaning purposes.

Yet, as Hill waits for the government to open her industry back up, she reiterates that she doesn't believe there is any health data to support that her place of business has more potential to be a super spreader than that of her neighbours who remain open.

Listen to Hill's full interview with Rob Snow here.

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