Townships businesses benefit from economic development funding
Two businesses in the Eastern Townships are receiving a collective $6 million from the federal government through Canada’s economic development program for Quebec regions. The funding, which has been granted to the Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (ACET) in Sherbrooke and the Miqro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI) in Bromont, is a part of $16,425,487 given out through the program to help boost innovation through 46 different projects across the province.
“Across the country, technology is transforming traditional industries, business development and the way we collaborate,” said Mélanie Joly, the Federal Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, in making the announcement on Monday morning. “Helping businesses to innovate so they can enhance their competitiveness and create good-quality jobs has been at the heart of our priorities for many years now. “
Élisabeth Brière, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke and Parliamentary Secretary to Joly said that in both cases the money is to be used to help improve the service offering of the businesses in question. She noted that particularly in the case of ACET, the investment stands to go even further because of that company’s work in supporting up-and-coming start-ups.
As of Saturday, July 18 masks will be mandatory for anyone aged 12 years and up inside public places, which include restaurants, bars and retail shops.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault made the announcement during a press conference yesterday although there had been rumours about the directive coming for weeks.
The onus will be on business owners to enforce the new rule, and they could face fines ranging from $400 to $6,000 if individuals are found in their establishments not wearing a mask.
Legault pointed out Quebec is first to implement a provincewide mandatory mask policy even though some municipalities in Quebec and other provinces had already started insisting masks be worn in public.
During the press conference, Public Health Director Horacio Arruda explained that the new rule applies to the public. As for employees, Arruda said there is a separate set of guidelines laid out by CNESST to follow involving not only masks, but also visors and gloves depending on the type of work, as well as the disinfection of workspaces.