Business, unions join forces to ease impact of virus

Watching the COVID -19 pandemic shut down the economy almost hourly, business and labour leaders are scrambling to create a plan for a problem they’ve never faced before.

“It’s something new every day,” said Windsor-essex Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO/ president Rakesh Naidu. “Its (COVID-19) impact is being felt by the economy, people and industries more and more.

“There’s been some panic in the early days, but I hope that peaks soon. I’m optimistic with the strong action governments are taking, we’ll flatten the curve.”

Naidu said the challenge is creating plans to address difficult economic conditions when the source of the problem has nothing to do with the economy.

“We prepared a tool kit for what steps businesses need to take for continuity, how to handle the disorder and restart with a disaster recovery plan,” Naidu said.

“We’re offering systems and support services. We’re sending out information through our website, social media and emails.

“I’m sending messages directly.” Naidu said much of the information deals with accessing resources, government programs and doing the appropriate paperwork.

“We also want to hear their challenges, the day-to-day issues,” Naidu said.

Naidu, who spoke with Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli this week, said all three levels of government have been proactive in trying to find solutions to a fluid crisis.

He said the chambers of commerce emphasized the need for access to capital and measures to enhance cash flows quickly.

“Small businesses’ cash flow problems are something the province is quite concerned about,”

Naidu said. “They have their own aid package coming in the next couple of days.”

Other chamber suggestions included delaying the addition of new regulations, delays in tax filing, reductions or credits on the provincial portion of property tax, relaxing the employment insurance rules and identifying manufacturing and food processing as essential services.

Automate Canada chair Shelley Fellows said manufacturers are pleased the border remains open to commerce, but who is defined as an essential worker could pose some challenges for local firms.

Fellows, also a vice-president with AIS Technologies Group, said four of the company’s technicians had to go into 14-day self-isolation after going over to Michigan this week for a job.

“They went over and back the same day, but were told to isolate themselves or face stern punishment,” Fellows said. “It won’t be products crossing that’ll be the problem for local companies, it might be losing personnel.”

Windsor and District Labour Council president Brian Hogan welcomed the $82-billion worth of measures Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled Wednesday.

“It looks like the Liberal government is grasping the seriousness of this,” Hogan said.

“They’ve been getting ideas from the chambers of commerce and the Canadian Labour Congress, so we’ve had a voice.”

Hogan added the province could help by bringing back paid sick days.

“The real success of these plans is getting dollars into people’s hands quickly,” Hogan said.

“Cheques for rent, food, medicine, helping people who are quarantined or taking care of family … we’ve got to take care of small business and their employees.”