Some N.B. businesses frustrated with province's COVID-19 restrictions, feeling left out from support programs
Some business owners in New Brunswick are feeling frustrated and left out when it comes to the province's current COVID-19 restrictions.
"Don't pick and choose what businesses you shut down, and say that, ‘We shut you down but we're not going to give you the grant because you don't meet this criteria,’" says Pat Corkum, owner of Dynamic Training Centre, a gym in Fredericton.
Corkum says entering the latest lockdown means laying off staff and turning away clients.
He says gyms should be deemed essential to peoples’ mental health as a place to turn during uncertain times.
"The government tends to make it sound like there's tons of money out there for businesses like me, but there isn't. There's always a loophole. There was one before that was a $5,000 grant but you had to make $150,000 to get that," says Corkum. "This new one, the $10,000 grant, well it's not good for a sole proprietor."
Since entering Level 3 of the province's COVID-19 Winter Plan Friday night, many businesses that are considered non-essential in New Brunswick have had to close their doors.
Many are also ineligible for the Opportunities NB Small Business Recovery Grant program, where eligible businesses can receive a one-time payment of up to $10,000.
The official opposition said in a release Monday that they're "calling on the Higgs Government to adjust the criteria for the New Brunswick Small Business Recovery Grant to ensure independent and self-employed small business owners are eligible for financial support during Level 3 of the pandemic.”
The Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick put out a formal petition to reopen or be fairly compensated.
The association says government has to stop brushing them off.
"More than 80 per cent of our association, four in every five members, are women. Many of them are the main breadwinners in their household," says Gaye Cail, a spokesperson for the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick.
One Fredericton business owner opened the doors to his new salon two weeks ago, and faced an immediate two-week shut down.
"It's so frustrating to drive by the majority of businesses still open and conducting business like they do every day," says Brent Sharpe, owner of Sharpe Hairstyles, a hair salon in Fredericton. "It just seems very unfair, especially with how safe we try to stay in here."
According to Sharpe, cosmetologists receive training on infectious disease control, and sanitization.
"It's had a huge financial impact on our industry, on me personally, on our business, on all my staff," Sharpe says.
Public health in New Brunswick responded to CTV with a statement saying, "The measures in place are not to penalize the New Brunswick Cosmetologists Association, or its membership, but to protect the staff, patrons and clients as we navigate the most challenging wave of the pandemic to date."
New Brunswick will remain in Level 3 of its COVID-19 Winter Plan until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 30.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.