Gates calls for financial support for Niagara restaurants
Province says it recently announced $300 million to support businesses struggling with COVID-19 pandemic
Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates is calling on the provincial government to immediately release emergency funding for Niagara restaurants and bars, after new restrictions were introduced by the local public health unit.
“The premier knows that Niagara is a tourist destination. We depend on our restaurants and bar industry,” said Gates in the Ontario legislature Wednesday. “In fact, 13 per cent of all jobs in Niagara are tied directly to this sector, which doesn’t include thousands of spinoff jobs. These businesses cannot survive without financial help. The premier holds that power in his hands.”
During question period, Gates called on Premier Doug Ford to let Niagara’s restaurant and bar owners know that he “hears their cries for help” and to help them “weather the storm” of these new public health restrictions. Last week, using his powers under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Niagara’s acting medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, implemented a regulation that restricted restaurants to only allowing six guests from the same household to a table. The most recent measures from the province reduced that to a maximum of four people.
According to a report released by the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, the Conservative government has not used $9.3 billion earmarked for pandemic funding, said Gates. That figure includes $6.7 billion specifically earmarked to combat the pandemic and $2.6 billion in contingency funds, he added.
“Restaurants and bars are reaching out to elected officials for their help. I am echoing their voice in this house to the premier directly,” said Gates.
“When we heard about this regulation from the Region, myself and my fellow NDP MPPS in Niagara immediately wrote to the premier asking for emergency financial help for these businesses. They don’t want to be closed — they want to be open, serving our guests and our tourists. But if they’re going to close, then the premier has an obligation to make sure they don’t close permanently and drown in debt.”
Ford did not respond to Gates, but Lisa MacLeod, minister of tourism, did.
She said the finance minister recently announced $300 million to support businesses.
“This government is absolutely committed to working with Restaurants Canada and the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association to make sure that we are able to proceed, after COVID-19, with many of these institutions within our province,” said Macleod.
“We will be continuing to engage in hyperlocal marketing through the Destination Ontario agency, which is responsible to me to support this critical infrastructure across the province, including restaurants.”