Small businesses need regional approach to re-opening

To the Editor:

Reflecting on the past year and the latest announcement of the slow re-opening made by Ontario premier Doug Ford, May 20, I am appealing to the premier to revisit the colour-coded framework by region.

In Grey-Bruce, since mid-May, we have been ready to re-open in the green regional phase.

Last June, small businesses, including outdoor patios, all opened in Grey-Bruce and maintained the green status the entire summer season. One year later, we have a vaccine.

Grey-Bruce should be open NOW under the green stage criteria. We currently are at a 58-per-cent vaccination rate in Grey-Bruce.

I realize some people believe tourists will flock to our area, but remember last summer, there was not a rental or cottage to be found, and Grey-Bruce maintained green status - and now have a vaccine.

The major concern with the third shutdown is how the projected re-opening dates keep moving. First the expectation was May 20. It came as no surprise, with the approaching Victoria Day long weekend, that we heard an announcement to move this date back. May 25 was the date many felt would be the start of a Phase 1 re-opening plan.

But no, Ford has not only extended the date past June 2, but now he has moved it to June 14, based on medical and scientific input - and only if a 60-per-cent vaccination rate is achieved across Ontario. And he has scrapped the colour-coded framework.

It is time to stop holding back the province’s small businesses! Just last weekend, a car rally of at least 500 people took place in Pickering; beaches and parks full of people and the two weeks previous; and a major party in a warehouse in downtown Toronto. Plus, all of the unreported police call-outs.

Ford needs to look at colour-coded framework regional approach, and get this province back on its feet.

We have been, and always will be, prepared to follow all public health guidelines as we did in June 2020, under the colour-coded framework.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Alexander
The King’s Pearl
Tiverton