Alberta leads the way in firms reopening: study

But one-third of small businesses in province worried about accessing PPE

Alberta leads the country in the percentage of small businesses that have fully reopened as provincial economies begin to relaunch, according to a study.

The latest poll by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that nearly one-third of small firms across the country are back up and running, an increase from just 21 per cent a month ago.

Most cities in Alberta entered Stage 1 of the province’s relaunch on May 14, which allowed retail businesses, hairstylists and barbershops, museums and art galleries, along with restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs (at 50 per cent capacity) to begin reopening to the public.

That move excluded Calgary and Brooks, where the total number of active COVID-19 cases remains higher than other regions within the province.

In those cities, restaurants, pubs and bars are restricted from offering dine-in service until at least Monday. Hair salons must also remain closed until then.

Still, retail businesses, farmers’ markets, museums and art galleries were allowed to reopen, consistent with the rest of the province.

Around 47 per cent of small businesses in Alberta are now fully open, according to the CFIB survey. Manitoba and New Brunswick — each at 44 per cent — are tied for the second most open provincial economies.

Newfoundland and Labrador (22 per cent), Ontario (26 per cent) and Nova Scotia (27 per cent) remain the least open economies.

“While it is good news that more firms are beginning to open across the country, it is important to keep in mind that 67 per cent of businesses remain fully or partially closed due to COVID-19,” CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a news release. “In addition, there is a lot of uncertainty for businesses in the months to come, including how to recall laid-off workers, what new measures they should put in place to protect their staff and customers, and if reopening will even be financially possible if their sales are too low.”

More than one-third of Alberta business owners also indicated that one of the main reasons they are still hesitant to fully reopen is due to concerns about potential shortages of personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. In Alberta, 35 per cent of small businesses are worried about accessing PPE, down from 38 per cent a week ago, according to the CFIB. Meanwhile, 21 per cent of Alberta small businesses said lack of access to PPE is preventing their business from reopening at all.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he expected an announcement from the province on Friday as to whether it would allow city restaurants and hair salons to reopen the following week.

“The real critical thing that we’ve been trying to do is to help businesses be ready to make their choice. They don’t have to reopen, but for some businesses that is the right thing to do,” Nenshi said.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw called recent data surrounding case numbers in Calgary and Brooks “encouraging.”

“At this point, we are not seeing a concerning increase in numbers in Calgary and Brooks, and overall our cases are stable,” Hinshaw said Thursday. “Should we continue to see these encouraging results, we are hopeful that we will be able to move forward with the gradual reopening in Calgary and Brooks.”