Mayor Jim Watson endorses temporary pinch as necessary in battle against pandemic
Top city officials on Friday accepted a decision by the provincial government to temporarily ban indoor dining at restaurants in Canada's capital, along with nearly month-long closures of fitness centres, cinemas and some personal care services.
“We accepted the provincial decision because there is a hierarchy at the end of the day. The province and the cabinet have that decision,” Mayor Jim Watson said during a press conference.
Watson said the city-endorsed provincial measure that limited the number of people at restaurant tables to six appeared to be working, but then the COVID-19 case counts started rising over the past week, “and that's obviously cause for great concern on our part.”
The Ontario Progressive Conservative government announced that indoor dining at restaurants would be prohibited for at least 28 days, starting Saturday.
Other businesses forced to close are indoor gyms and fitness centres, gaming establishments such as casinos and bingo halls, performing arts venues, racing spectator areas and interactive exhibits at galleries and zoos.
Personal care services where face coverings must be removed also must temporarily stop.
Watson received a briefing on the restrictions from Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Rod Phillips earlier in the day.
“We will use this 28-day period to analyze, in fact, if the closure of the restaurants has been effective and if we start to see the numbers go down significantly then it was obviously the right decision,” Watson said.
“If not, then we'll have that discussion with the premier because this is an important part of the economy. While we have to consider health as the first priority, we also have to consider the health of the economy as well.”
Mark Kaluski, chair of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, predicted a “devastating” impact to small businesses and many owners “are generally feeling this is a bit of a nail in the coffin.”
“Everyone is just frustrated and at the end of their rope,” Kaluski said.
Kaluski said the province's decision won't be a shock to businesses but it will be a gut-punch to restau
We will use this 28-day period to analyze, in fact, if the closure of the restaurants has been effective.
rant owners who have followed the guidance from public health officials.
The timing is also brutal because restaurants count on business during the Thanksgiving weekend, Kaluski said.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury said while the public health protections are necessary, it's “extremely worrisome” for his commercial areas, especially the ByWard Market, which is packed with restaurants.
The viability of ground-floor businesses is at risk, he said.
Fleury said the province should consider offering loans for businesses so they can get immediate relief and pay back the borrowed money after the pandemic.
“If not, you're going to have blocks and streets of vacant storefronts on all main streets in Ottawa,” Fleury said.
Ford announced $300 million for businesses impacted by the new restrictions in Ottawa, Toronto and Peel Region to help with provincial taxes, municipal property taxes and energy bills.
The federal government announced a new emergency rent subsidy program and an extension of a wage subsidy program to help pay for the costs of operating businesses.
Both programs run until next June.
The feds also announced an expanded program that offers interest-free loans to businesses.
At Ottawa City Hall, managers are seeing which municipal programs will be impacted by the provincial restrictions.
Recreation programs, and their revenue streams, will take a hit with the forced closure of gyms.
Arena rentals could drop off because the province's 28-day prohibition also applies to games and scrimmages.