The Hypocrisy of Governments Selling Out Small Business

“As the Covid-19 outbreak continues its vise-grip on health, day to day lives, and economic fortunes, the latest public opinion survey from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds those hardest hit by recent layoffs and mass shutdowns are also those least likely to be able to absorb the financial losses their new circumstances may bring

Angus Reid Poll

“Already, 44 per cent of Canadians say that they or someone in their household has lost hours due to the economic downturn. Among this group, the majority say their employers are not covering any of their now disappeared wages. “Another example of just how precarious the situation is becoming, as Canadians look for financial support: one-in-three across the country (34%) say they worry their household may miss a rent or mortgage payment this month or have to start borrowing money (32%) or have already done those things. “Further, two-in-five (37%) of those who have experienced job loss in their household say they’re not equipped to handle even an extra $100 expense in the next 30 days.

• Among those who are currently working, almost half say it is just a matter of time before their hours are cut as well
• Half of those who have applied for employment insurance (51%) say it has been a difficult process and they have yet to be paid
• Six-in-ten (61%) Canadian households now say the value of their investments have been reduced. But the majority of investors (76%) are so far optimistic about the prospects of this value bouncing back .

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“How does government expect small business to survive especially with Taxes, WSIB, Income Tax, CPP, EI, Property taxes, etc., due? “While a number of Canadians have been running around buying up toilet paper there are a number of small business owners very concerned about more than their personal sanitary needs. These small business owners don’t bank online, they don’t and haven’t any need for electronic anything, and yet government still continues to send out their notices to these small businesses. “Some Canadians don’t understand the small business world. Those who have always been in big business, including government, have no idea what is involved with running a small business, especially a little Mom and Pop and/or family business. “These are business owners who have been asking a number of questions and yet there haven’t been any answers from government. These questions then come to me asking me what they should do. “So, what are some of these questions being asked? “Firstly, the public utilities bills and property taxes.

"How do municipal governments expect small business to pay these bills when there is no money coming in? Some small businesses pay tens of thousands in property taxes alone every year, so how does municipal government expect this to be paid? “Also, shouldn’t municipalities be re-doing their property taxes/budgets considering they don’t need the budget for “parks and rec” any longer? What about all of the fluff items on property taxes like trails, rec centres closed, soccer fields, parks and play grounds closed – shouldn’t those portions of municipal taxation just be gone? “Same can be said for the majority of office staff wages – they are purportedly working from home and yet there is no need for the planning department or the building department because businesses aren’t working, so there is no need for these departments to be either, considering no one should be making application for any of this? All of these staff members should have been laid off as soon as the doors were closed on City Hall. “The only people who should be working are the Councils, the CAO, the Clerk and Treasurer when it comes to admin, to ensure bills are paid and someone is there to receive payment of tax bills, roads, fire, health care, police and water departments to ensure travel is continued throughout the municipalities, and that safety and sewer and water are supplied. Bare bone staff is what there should be and pink slips for the rest. After all, if small business employees have to receive pink slips, shouldn’t unneeded municipal staff? “How do municipal governments expect small business to pay these bills when there is no money coming in? Public Utility Bills – this includes electricity, water and sewer. Again, if no money is coming in how are small businesses to pay these bills? “Did government actually look at any of this before they decided to close businesses?

“Don’t tell small business to go online to pay – they have never needed to and in rural Ontario some can’t even get internet, so they shouldn’t have to try and afford computers and computer courses, if they could find them, now, just because of this hiccup – not to mention all of the fraud and hacking that is happening – so why would they even need to? They don’t. “Don’t tell small business that they need to use preauthorized credit card payments – some don’t even have credit cards – they are small business and haven’t needed one. “Don’t tell them they can’t work from their offices to get this done because they don’t have a computerized system at home – they can’t afford it. “So, pray tell how are small businesses to survive if government is telling everyone they cannot be in their businesses to ensure their bills are paid and how are they to survive when there is no money coming in? “They don’t want government loans – they want to be able to run their small businesses and if grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, etc., can remain open – do you not think sick people aren’t going to be there, as well?"

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