Sault businesses receive COVID-19 relief funding
The Ontario government is providing $1.8 million for businesses in Sault Ste. Marie to help them adapt to COVID-19 public health restrictions.
It's part of the province's Northern Ontario Recovery Program, which is designed to reimburse businesses for money spent on pandemic-related expenses.
"Any out-of-pocket expense that an individual business would have had to put forward to ensure that their business could continue to operate under the restrictions that were in place during the pandemic, during the lockdown portions," said Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano, who announced the funding Tuesday morning.
Management at the Marconi Cultural Centre used its $25,000 to convert its restaurant to comply with health restrictions -- just in time for Friday's reopening.
"We've been lucky with being able to be outside and offer our services that way, as well," said owner Trevor Zachary. "So the transition should be all right and now that we're prepared with all of our indoor items and barricades and so forth, we'll be ready for then."
Stephen Alexander, owner of live music venue Loplops Lounge, is receiving just more than $24,000, which will help the business with its COVID transition.
"We're going to be opening up an online bottle shop, focus on our takeout food," said Alexander. "We're going to be adding a patio to the front of Loplops either later this summer or the early fall."
Kumon Sault Ste. Marie also received funding to the tune of $19,000, which is being used on a new HVAC system and some new computers.
"It makes it way more comfortable and safer for students and staff to be working in here," said owner Shelly Skinner-Noel. "The second portion that I got was new computers. We had to go online when COVID hit."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Health minister 'deeply appreciative' of doctors but capital gains changes here to stay
Health Minister Mark Holland says while he is 'deeply appreciative' of the work doctors in Canada do, the federal government has no plans to scrap the proposed capital gains tax changes outlined in the latest budget, despite opposition from the Canadian Medical Association.
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
'Of course, yes': Poland latest European country with interest in Canadian LNG
The President of Poland says his country would 'of course' be interested in purchasing Canadian liquefied natural gas if it were available, while the Canadian federal government has said it is 'not interested' in subsidizing future projects.
What Trudeau's podcast appearances say about the Liberals' next ballot box question
Trudeau recently appeared on four podcasts as he travels the country talking up the Liberals' latest budget, which he's pitching as a plan to inject more economic fairness into society for those under 40 — a cohort that has kept Trudeau in power since 2015 but is increasingly turning to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Passage of harsh anti-2SLGBTQ+ law in Iraq draws diplomatic backlash
Human rights groups and diplomats criticized a law that was quietly passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
A munitions explosion at a Cambodian army base kills 20 soldiers, but its cause is unclear
Security was tight around a military base in southwestern Cambodia on Sunday, a day after a huge explosion there killed 20 soldiers, wounded others and damaged nearby houses.