Dan Kelly
@CFIB
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President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). In business for your business.
Canada
Joined March 2009
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Day 2 of Toronto/Peel lockdowns:
1. Joe Fresh - still open, independent clothing boutique - closed.
2. Flowers at Walmart - no problem, independent florist - closed.
3. Books at Costco - come on in, independent bookseller - closed.
On what planet is this fair
@fordnation
?
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Visited a small lighting store in North Toronto today. I was the only customer and there were 2 staff. She told me she is forced to close as of Monday and expects her customers will be in giant line-ups at Home Depot. She was in tears and asked me how this makes sense.
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Ontario, home to the one of the longest lockdowns in the entire world, reopens tomorrow (to a 50% capacity restriction). The damage to small business is incalculable. Let this be the last time this measure is used.
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Thousands of small businesses won’t survive another round of lockdowns. Unlike March 2020, many are incredibly weakened after 2 years of painful restrictions. The average small firm has taken on $170K in COVID related debt. We cannot keep doing this.
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Why are there so many people who lectured us all to trust public health officials as they added restrictions who now feel public health officials are wrong to reduce or eliminate them?
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While vaccine passports may make some customers feel more confident to dine, bowl or go to the theatre, public health officials are now questioning whether they accomplish much if anything. It is clear that they do reduce sales & add costs for small biz.
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The number of tweets and emails I've received from business owners ready to defy lockdowns is growing by the minute, especially in Ontario. I don't think govts appreciate how close we are to society's breaking point.
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Shopping for clothes, shoes? The Bay on Queen Street is open. Joe Fresh in Loblaws and Superstore is open. Small independent clothing stores in Toronto/Peel - closed! Not only is this deeply unfair but is bad COVID health policy too.
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Sad to hear that PEI is moving back into lockdown (indoor dining, gyms). We can't keep doing this.
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Ontario's Chief Medical Officer recommends that fully vaccinated people not meet with older people over Christmas unless fully masked AND outdoors. Huh?
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Ontario is simultaneously bragging about its vaccine success and continuing the longest lockdown in the world. Other jurisdictions with similar 1st dose levels have opened their economies much wider. It is time to
#OpenOntario
.
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If the Bay on Queen can open all floors based on selling a bit of food in the basement, I want
@fordnation
to allow every shuttered small firm to sell chips and chocolate and declare themselves as an essential retailer.
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Indoor dining in Toronto will have been closed for 300 days as of tomorrow. The reward for their sacrifice appears to be a further lockdown. Many restaurant owners are losing their homes, bleeding their retirement savings and facing financial ruin.
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Great question by
@ColinDMello
to Premier
@fordnation
. Why can 200 people go into a Costco, but a small firm can't have 5?
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Sad to learn New Brunswick is heading back into lockdown tomorrow (indoor dining, gyms, recreation all closed). We can't keep doing this. Many small businesses will not survive another round of closures.
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As of today, indoor restaurant dining in Toronto has been locked down for 339 days, gyms for 332, hair/nail salons for 261 & retailers for 193 total. These are the longest and deepest lockdowns in North America. Are they working?
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Not so fun fact: if the rumours are true & Ontario’s latest lockdown ends on Jan. 31, indoor dining in Toronto will have recorded 437 days of full lockdown. And they will reopen to a 50% capacity restriction. Does anyone have evidence of a longer lockdown in the world? I don’t.
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The absence of leadership in Ontario is absolutely breathtaking. The government has ceded all responsibility to the economic functioning of the province to unelected local heath officials who refuse even a courtesy discussion with the businesses they are bankrupting.
#lockdowns
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My email is blowing up with messages from angry Ontario business owners. One recreation business owner told me his only real income comes from food and drink sales, which have just been banned at his venue.
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I just received an email from a CFIB member who owns a downtown Ottawa spa. He reports over 75% of his appointments this week have been cancelled due to security concerns. He tells after 2 years of fighting COVID restrictions & lockdowns, he's not in a position to withstand this.
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Premier
@fordnation
: On behalf of Toronto and Peel's independent businesses, it appears we are not all in this together.
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Manitoba's new lockdown shuts down all small retailers to in-store commerce but allows Walmart and Costco to sell t-shirts and TVs because they also sell groceries. Not only is this deeply unfair to small firms, but it makes no sense from a COVID safety perspective.
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Premier Ford is hinting more retail closures are coming. Giving the growing evidence that it is large warehouses, not small retailers, where COVID is spreading, perhaps Costco, Walmart & Amazon should take a turn in the penalty box rather than Ontario's independent businesses.
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Regardless of whether you support or oppose additional lockdowns in Ontario, spare a thought for the 1000s of small business owners who will lose everything they've worked for as a result of this decision. Biz owners are hanging by a thread & the Ontario govt is about to cut it.
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Today, we expect to learn if Canada's largest city will be forced into lockdown for a 4th consecutive month. Small retailers would remain closed, big box stores remain open and no data to support any of it.
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Alberta will remove virtually all COVID restrictions on businesses on July 1, including capacity rules, limits on larger events, even masks. This is a day before Ontario makes haircuts a legal activity & nearly a month before ON restaurants can serve a single customer indoors.
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As of today, Toronto business have been closed for most of the past year:
- nail/hair salons: 206 days
- gyms: 278 days
- indoor dining: 287 days
And yet, many officials are telling them "just a couple more weeks to flatten the curve".
@fordnation
, we need a new plan on Friday!
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CFIB questions how shuttering small businesses and sending crowds to Walmart and Costco reduces COVID-19 | CFIB
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Before small businesses in tourism and hospitality miss out on a 3rd summer season, Canada needs to get serious about fixing its government-created travel mess.
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Even in a pandemic, any government that would shutter a small business but allow similar goods to be sold at Costco and Walmart, will have a very difficult time suggesting it understands or supports entrepreneurs.
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Give me a break. The Bay is open in Winnipeg, but CFIB's tiny independent clothing stores are forced to close. On what planet does this make sense?
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As rumours abound of additional Ontario lockdowns and restrictions, my first thought is what is there left to close?
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If any provincial government feels it necessary to shutdown small independent retailers that serve handfuls of customers a day, I will be calling on those governments to limit Costco and Walmart to groceries only.
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Incredibly, the government has made their lockdown unfairness even worse. There is a new curbside pick-up or delivery curfew of 8 pm for small businesses, while Walmart and Costco are fully exempt.
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Rumours of an “early” reopening in Ontario seem to be going cold as another weekend of shuttered businesses passes. As of today, Toronto retailers have been closed for 220 days, hair salons for 288, gyms for 359 & indoor dining for 372. All these sectors are open in most provs.
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Opening movie theatres & other arts/recreation businesses to 50% capacity without allowing concession sales is another in a long line of nonsensical Ontario COVID policies. How is eating in restaurant at 50% capacity different than eating in a theatre at 50% capacity?
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Perspective: Ontario's "fast-tracked" reopening would see retailers and restaurant patios allowed to reopen this Friday, haircuts on July 2 and gyms/indoor dining on July 23. Most of these services have been open in other provinces for weeks, months (or were never closed).
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Great news that Ontario will lessen restrictions to allow some fans to attend the big game tonight. Now is also the time to allow haircuts, patio dining, retail shopping & gym visits. Let’s start a plan to
#OpenOntario
on June 2.
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CFIB has just received confirmation that Ontario small retailers are now prohibited from leaving a product on the doorstep of a consumer after 8 pm. Restaurant deliveries after 8 pm are ok. Yep, that's where we are at.
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It is well past time to safely reopen Canada's small businesses. Capacity restrictions, like many provinces have successfully used through the entire 2nd wave, can help us end blanket lockdowns. Retailers, gyms, hair salons, restaurants, the arts won't survive further lockdowns.
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Just two more weeks to flatten the curve. Where have I heard that before?
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Hair and nail salons, with appointments, masking & other protocols, should be allowed to open in Ontario this week. CFIB urges
@fordnation
to make this happen.
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Boxing Day sales start at Walmart & Costco while retailers in Ontario begin a 14-28 lockdown (or start another round for many). If you think this is unfair & may lead to worse COVID outcomes, please let
@fordnation
and MPPs know.
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Some powerful quotes from CFIB members on the capital gains tax change: "The year before I retire, they decide to increase my taxes retroactive to the beginning of time? I cannot afford a 13.5% decrease in my retirement fund. Imagine if we did this to government pensions!"
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One of the most regular debates I’ve had with politicians, union leaders & others over my 28 years with CFIB is whether or not Employment Insurance & CPP premiums are a tax. And, of course, they are.
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Happy to say my 12 year old son was vaccinated today in Toronto. First dose done for my entire household.
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Small business owners: If no one else has said this to you recently, let me. I am very grateful that you have continued to keep your businesses going against incredible odds. Canada needs entrepreneurs like you if we are to get our economy back on track.
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When decisions that can bankrupt a firm are based on the personal opinions of a handful of officials, without the benefit of any public data, it is little wonder small business owners lose confidence in their governments.
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It would be the height of hypocrisy for any political party to engineer a federal election while asking people to remain at home and small businesses to remain closed.
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As someone who has observed the actual mechanics of the Employment Insurance system for decades, I find it difficult to believe that the system would ultimately deny benefits to someone fired for refusing to be vaccinated.
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Toronto has had the longest lockdown in North America, w indoor dining closed for exactly 300 days since the pandemic began. Here is the data:
Restaurants: 171 consecutive days (300 total)
Gyms: 164 consecutive days (293 total)
Hair/nail salons: 129 consecutive days (221 total)
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Loads of calls today from Ontario small biz owners asking whether they should be planning to reopen on May 20th or if this is a pipe dream. As of today, Toronto area retailers have been closed for 200 days, hair salons for 255, gyms for 326 & indoor dining for 333.
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Canadian businesses bankruptcies surge — and some fear this is just the beginning via
@torontostar
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There are other approaches than lockdowns: rolling out rapid testing, resuming largely abandoned contact tracing, faster vaccine schedules. Later this week, indoor dining will have been locked down for 300 days in Toronto, gyms and hair salons for nearly as long. Did it work?
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Just drove past my local federal building in North York. If it weren’t for the PSAC flag, I might have mistaken the crowd for the normal line to get into the passport office.
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It is beyond me why the Ford govt is holding firm in keeping big box stores open while shutting small retailers. I have yet to speak to 1 person outside of govt who thinks this is a good idea, fair or leading to better COVID outcomes.
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I'm hoping that tomorrow does not bring the return of Ontario's bizarre big-box preference policy where quiet independent book stores are forced to close while people crowd around the Costco book table.
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I'll leave it to others to determine whether we are in/near a third wave of COVID-19. Regardless, we cannot return to shutting down the economy to address the concern. Lockdowns were meant to buy a bit of time to ramp up health care capacity, not a semi-permanent policy.
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Just did interview number 20 today, my last of the day. Incredibly touched by the outpouring of support from so many small business owners and the public. The battle isn't over in CFIB's efforts to safely reopen small firms to save Christmas.
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It appears NDP Leader
@AndreaHorwath
is suggesting Ontario go further & include retailers in passport rules. Suggests unvaccinated people shouldn't be able to use washrooms in businesses. Yikes!
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Apparently
@fordnation
responded to a question from
@brianlilley
by saying the vast majority of businesses are open except restaurants and a few other areas. CFIB would like to clarify that only 55% of small businesses are fully open, the second lowest % in Canada.
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You know a Canadian province has been overusing lockdowns when their length is a focus of overseas news agencies. It is well past time to
#OpenOntario
. Small businesses can do this safely.
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A small business owner in Peterborough called me today to share that several businesses are changing their outdoor signs to include the phrase “OPEN ONTARIO”.
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The only reason to tease that "good news is coming" without sharing the good news is to test the Ontario public reaction on ending lockdowns. This should not be what drives decisions on pandemic restrictions.
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I join other business leaders in calling for an end to expensive PCR testing as a requirement to enter Canada. Small businesses, especially in border towns, have already missed out on the busy summer travel season.
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Every time I've tried to shut my laptop today, I receive another email from a business owner who is facing a further drop in sales (particularly in sectors required to use customer passports) while govts continue to close or phase-out key support programs.
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Canada's COVID strategy is a mess. With vaccinations at a trickle, blanket lockdowns are the only tool provinces are using. It would be a lot easier to swallow the irreparable damage to hundreds of thousands of small businesses if there were any signs lockdowns were working.
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Facing evidence current lockdowns in Toronto/Peel aren't working well, the govt is expected to renew the measures for several more weeks. Wouldn't it make more sense to give a different approach a try? Opening small retailers w strict capacity limits would help end big box lines.
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It is bizarre to me that Premier
@fordnation
is stressing the data showing schools are safe while closing quiet, small businesses with even less data supporting the move.
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If lockdowns are extended to Mar 9, retailers in Toronto and Peel will have been closed to in-store sales for 162 days (from Mar 24-May 19 & again starting on Nov 23). This represents nearly half a year of lost in-store sales.
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To the Tory MPPs who are pushing behind the scenes for a plan to quickly, safely and firmly reopen Ontario's economy, small businesses thank you.
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If the rumours are true that Ontario retailers will remain fully closed to instore sales after June 2, it will signal that the province intends to be the absolute last to reopen its economy.
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PEI appears to be out first with a 3 step reopening plan. 50% capacity for many businesses begins on Feb 17. Vaccine passports end for most businesses on March 17 and for all on April 17.
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Ontario’s "reopening" plan is a plan to ensure it is the last region on the continent to allow business activity to resume. Yet again, govt is adding another 2 wks to Canada’s longest/deepest lockdown. This isn't the glimmer of hope many small businesses are desperate to see.
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With reports that Quebec will begin reopening its economy next week, this leaves Ontario as the only province without a plan to end its full lockdown. This needs to change immediately.
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Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax. CFIB will be watching closely as small firms pay up to 50% of the tax, but get back only 7% of the rebates. It is deeply unfair to small businesses in AB, SK, MB & ON.
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First experience with Ontario’s vaccine passport today at the Toronto airport lounge. The employee’s eyes must be a lot better than mine to get any information from her 1 second glance at my phone. Consider me skeptical that this is going to accomplish much.
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To those calling on Ontario to pull the "emergency brake", doesn't one have to turn on the engine first? Canada's largest city remains in full lockdown & has been for 3 straight months. Toronto/Peel have been in lockdown longer than anywhere in North America.
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No credible reason has been offered why Ontario allows big box stores to sell anything in lockdown regions while small retailers are fully closed to instore sales. If
@fordnation
refuses to allow small firms a limited pathway to instore sales, then he must lockdown the big guys.
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CFIB is calling on the Ontario govt for a new reopening plan. As it builds one, tomorrow, June 2, the province should open:
- all retail to 20%
- restaurant patios
- hair salons
- appointment based gym services
NEW: Ontario is reporting 699 new cases of COVID this morning, and 9 more deaths.
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CFIB has confirmed that independent retailers inside Ontario malls must remain closed unless they have an exterior door. This is deeply unfair - the playing field between the big guys & small business needs to be level. Let's find a way to safely reopen all.
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Should government employees who cannot work be paid their full salary or be required to use Employment Insurance or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit like most private sector workers? An expanded wage subsidy would help improve fairness between the public and private sectors.
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1. End vaccine mandates for air, rail and cruise travel - both for Canadians and international guests.
2. Fix the mess at airports to ensure the rules are simplified and customs/security staffing levels meet the demand.
3. Reopen Canadian Nexus centres for interviews.
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It’s time to reopen: Ontario remains the only province with no plan to end lockdowns | CFIB
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And more than anything, I need you to adopt CFIB's "Small Business First" COVID retail strategy that would allow small "non-essential" retailers to serve 3 customers at a time to help them salvage the critical Christmas season and have a shot at surviving the winter.
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Let me get this straight, Ontario's small garden centres/nurseries can now offer curbside pickup & delivery only, but Costco garden centres are wide open to customers? This unlevel playing field needs to end.
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Saskatchewan has allowed smaller retailers to remain open, but put capacity restrictions on big box stores. This seems like a much better approach to combatting COVID-19 if the goal is to ensure greater physical distancing and less time in large groups.
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I need you to explain why a department store (that doesn't sell groceries) can open with hundreds of customers and staff, but a small, independent business cannot.
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CFIB is calling on all Ontario MPPs to put pressure on
@fordnation
to immediately revise the reopening plans. Tory MPPs, many small business owners are incredibly angry at you. NDP MPPs, many ON biz owners recognize BC's NDP govt's work to avoid lengthy/deep lockdowns.
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Saskatchewan found a common sense pathway to retail restrictions. Big box stores limited to 50% capacity, all other smaller retailers remain open. If greater physical distancing & fairness are the goals, this works. Congrats
@PremierScottMoe
!
cc:
@fordnation
@BrianPallister
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So Canada's borders will be open around the same time someone in Ontario will be able to get a haircut.
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CFIB urges Ottawa to reverse trucker vaccine rule amid driver shortage, higher costs via
@torontostar
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A growing number of public health officials are suggesting passports for customers are making less and less sense.
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