‘They need to stay open this time:’ Ottawa small business advocate on Ontario’s latest COVID-19 plan

A local business advocate is having mixed feelings about the province allowing small businesses to reopen in Ottawa next week. 

The issue, Michael Wood says, isn't about them reopening — it's about how long they will stay open. 

“I can guarantee that every business will do everything that they can, if not above and beyond, to stay open this time,” says Wood, co-owner of Ottawa Special Events and small business advocate. “We need to make sure that if we remain open, and [COVID-19] case numbers go up, we need another solution as opposed to just locking the doors and shutting everyone down.”

Wood says the hardest thing on businesses is what he calls 'the yo-yo effect.' 

“We're open, we're closed, we're open, we're closed, or there's a threat of closing; so the uncertainty creates problems in people minds and in their business model and plan,” he explains. “When we open and close and lay staff off, we lay off good staff. They go out an get other jobs, because they have to support their families.”

For Wood, businesses need to stay open to stay afloat and he would even like the Government of Ontario to go a step further, by putting plans in place to favor their economic recovery. 

Now that there are additional measures coming with the reopening on February 15, his hope is that if COVID-19 cases go up, then the government will introduce stricter measures and capacity limits instead off shutting them down again. 

“I hope that when people go in [to local businesses], and the see the effort that has taken place, that they feel comfortable, they feel like its a place that's safe and they tell their friends and come back.”