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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.