The Mayor will table a motion at tonight’s council meeting with a few goals in mind.
The first checkmark for Bill Mauro is looking to the province to revise the Rules for Areas in Stage 1 under Ontario Regulation 82/20 to address the inequity created between small businesses required to close and businesses permitted to open and continue sales.
“If you’re a large retailer and you sell groceries, you’re considered essential [by the government] so you also can stay open, but you might sell other items as well such as clothing,” Mauro says. “People can go into your store because you’re open and get their groceries but maybe they’re still being able to buy your clothing. A small business doesn’t have that option.”
The second goal will focus on capacity limits, especially in restaurants.
“If there are two restaurants, you own one that’s 5,000 square feet and I own one that’s 1,000 square feet, when you’re allowed to open I can have 10 people and you can have 10 people even though you’re five times my size. I’d like to see the government to take more of a flexible approach when it comes to space,” notes Mauro.
The Mayor stresses public health guidelines should be adhered to but if you’re a bigger retailer you should be allowed more people while following the rules.
