RENFREW COUNTY — A comprehensive survey of Ontario’s Tourism industry by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) has revealed that COVID-19 is having a destructive and immediate effect on businesses across the province.
Conducted between March 18 and March 23 with 3,457 responses, businesses detailed to TIAO the extreme measures already being taken across the province. Over 35 per cent of businesses have already made large-scale layoffs of their staff, some layoffs totalling more than 75 per cent of their entire work force and over 27.5 per cent of businesses who have maintained their staff, have reduced hours. Over half of businesses have already temporarily closed, with approximately 35 per cent have reduced hours whilst 1.25 per cent have already made the decision to permanently close.
“What we are hearing from the front-line is a story of large scale layoffs and temporary and permanent closures with worse on the way if help doesn’t arrive urgently,” said Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAO. “That support needs to include a waiving of government tax and demands, immediate and substantial wage support and interest free credit.”
To counter the crisis, businesses are calling for a package of special measures if implemented urgently, could support businesses in the short term. This package should include government taxes, due and financial demands to be waived for the next 12 months, starting immediately. Financial supports to retain laid off employees, wage subsidies for employees with reduced hours and access to interest free and bridging loans for businesses to survive the impacts of COVID-19.
“In light of the government’s decision today to widen the ‘state of emergency’ in Ontario to close non-essential workplaces, including many of the businesses we represent, the need for support has gone from urgent to critical. Tourism represents 391,000 jobs, 188,000 businesses and $5 billion in tax receipts in our province. If we don’t get the critical support needed to the front-line, thousands of businesses will close, tens of thousands of jobs will be lost and one of the most dynamic parts of our provinces economy will be lost.”
