Windsor - Jun. 23, 2020: The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce along with several local trade and business organizations is calling on the Province to provide urgent support to businesses in the Windsor-Essex region.
Windsor-Essex region is the only region in all of Ontario that has not been allowed to proceed to Stage-2 of re-opening. Businesses in the region have been reeling and suffering due to the 15-week Provincially mandated lockdown and several have closed permanently or are now very close to closing. Every day more businesses are being pushed towards a point of no return and today’s announcement from the Province is very disappointing.
For those businesses that are not allowed to reopen, we are asking for immediate financial support in all sectors, that is specific to our region and unique from other funding programs and resources previously announced. These businesses are at an unfair disadvantage under the current circumstances. Failing of which, catastrophically, several businesses will permanently close or will face permanent closure, which in turn will have lasting negative economic impacts to our region.
While we support all businesses in our local area, it is important to note that the current outbreak is mainly localized in the Leamington and Kingsville municipalities, while our other municipalities are seeing relatively very low COVID -19 numbers. Almost 75% of businesses in the Windsor-Essex region are outside of Leamington and Kingsville region.
Recognizing that the COVID-19 numbers in Leamington and Kingsville need to decrease, the Chamber is urging the Province to allow the selective reopening of Municipalities within the Windsor-Essex region other than Leamington & Kingsville. This will allow a more staged approach that will ultimately ensure most of the businesses in the region will be able to reopen safely.
Supported by:
• Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA)
• Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM)
• Automate Canada
• Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA)
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