Restaurants call for clarity from province on reopening guidelines
Restaurants in Sault Ste. Marie and the province say they want more clarity and communication from the Ford government when it comes to resuming indoor dining.
That's according to the organization that represents Canadian restaurant owners, Restaurant Canada, which said Wednesday the province needs to be more careful with how it implements reopening guidelines.
"Very little notice and almost no consultation, that's been our issue right from the start of the pandemic," said James Rillet of Restaurants Canada. "It's especially harmful when they give us no notice for closures."
Premier Doug Ford hinted at an announcement this week that would see the easing up of some restrictions in Ontario. On Wednesday, it was announced indoor dining will resume at the end of the month.
Rillet said consultation with restaurants is needed to reopen in a way that doesn't cause further harm to business owners.
"We need some of that information so that restaurants can prepare their restaurants, so that they can order food, so they can get staff ready," he said.
The owner of Q Cafe in downtown Sault Ste. Marie said her customer base is dwindling because of current restrictions. Susan Willems Van Dyjk said she has loyal customers that will stop by to help, but her base now predominantly works from home, meaning there's less reason for them to grab a bite at her cafe.
"We definitely need more time to prepare, which isn't something we've always gotten over the last two years," she said.
"You know, one day things are good and you're rolling along and then it's 50 per cent and then we're going to close everything and we'll give you this date. I know there's no crystal ball but we need some advance notice."
Restaurants Canada said it's also advocating for the deferral of HST payments, increased funding through Ontario's COVID-19 relief grant programming and a re-imposition of Ontario's moratorium on commercial tenant evictions, which expired last month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.