No more lockdowns: Small firms urge provinces to adopt “Stay Open” plans with new petition

far from business as usual for most SMES in the province,” added Jonathan Alward, Director, Prairie Region. “Only one-in-four business in the province have fully recovered and it will still take 23 months on average for Sask businesses to recover. We can’t go back to lockdowns this fall– small businesses need to know that they will be allowed to remain open going forward.”

The majority (87 per cent) of business owners say they want their provincial governments to adopt a “Stay Open” strategy that aims to avoid further lockdowns, while protecting the health care system. In Saskatchewan, 85 per cent of business owners support a “Stay Open” plan.

CFIB’S proposed stay-open plans should include:

- Clear, evidence-based communications around risks and any decisions leading to additional restrictions;

- The attention of government and the public on hospitalization rates rather than case counts;

- More use of rapid testing, needed;

- Proof of vaccination for travel and large events, if needed;

- Direct provincial funding in place prior to announcing additional restrictions.

“The last 16 months have been incredibly hard on small business owners, not only financially, but emotionally as well. They can’t take more lockdowns. Provincial governments have the opportunity to reassure businesses that lockdowns are an extraordinary measure that will only be used now as a last resort by announcing a clear policy that keeping things open is a priority,” concluded Jones.

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