November 30th, 2020
November 30th, 2020
QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) told the Ford government Monday that struggling businesses in Niagara need urgent financial assistance if they are to stay afloat after new restrictions were introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
“It has been two weeks since I told the premier that Niagara’s medical officer of health instituted an additional regulation to try to stop the spread of COVID-19. It has been two weeks since I told the premier that Niagara’s medical officer of health instituted an additional regulation to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 which has put restaurants and bars, the tourist sector, operators and the wineries in a very tough spot financially,” said Gates during question period at the Ontario legislature.
The regional chair of Niagara has asked the premier for support, and today the Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake has joined the growing calls for action from the province to help the region’s businesses.
“You can’t punish our local businesses because the medical officer acted proactively in a way he believed he had to,” said Gates.
“Will the premier tell the businesses of Niagara today that help is on the way and they’ll be giving them the financial support they should have given them two weeks ago?,” asked Gates.
After the province’s finance minister responded without any new commitments for the region, Gates told the Ford government that without more help, Niagara’s restaurants, bars, wineries, tourist operators and other small businesses risk losing everything.
“I don’t need an education from the finance minister, telling me what programs are available to Niagara. I’ve talked to you guys for the last two weeks. Niagara should be entitled to the $600 million that is out there, because the medical officer put us in a section 22 and it’s killing our businesses. So I understand the program, I’m saying to you we should qualify for that program,” said Gates in the legislature.
“The regulations passed in Niagara means you can only dine with three other people and they must be from your household. Our medical officer of health implemented this additional regulation because he felt he needed it in order to halt the spread of COVID-19 in Niagara. You can’t tell people they must listen to public health experts and follow the regulations, and then let their businesses fail when they don’t follow the rules,” added Gates.
“Will the premier listen to the appeals from me, from the community mayors, from the Niagara region, and immediately approve emergency financial funding for our small businesses?,” asked Gates.