Dear Members,
We’re pleased to provide you with an update on the latest COVID-19 Recovery programs and government announcements along with your Chamber response. If you have questions please contact us at chamber@insighttestsite.com.
Federal Government
Last week, the federal Speech from the Throne was delivered to open the second session of the 43rd Parliament of Canada. Highlights from the speech include:
- The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) into next summer.
- The expansion of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).
- A plan to improve the Business Credit Availability Program and introduce further support for hardest-hit industries including travel and tourism, hospitality, and cultural industries like the performing arts.
- A plan to launch a campaign to create one million jobs that will restore employment to previous levels.
Click here to read the Chamber’s response to the Speech from the Throne.
The implementation of these actions is dependent on the Speech from the Throne passing. The Chamber will release more details on these items as they become available.
Provincial Government
Recent announcements from the provincial government include:
- Canada’s Food Island gift cards will be sold to consumers at a twenty percent discount starting September 28th
- Cards can be purchased from Chamber Member businesses Mel’s Convenience and Murphy’s Pharmacies.
- New funding to help Island businesses support employees working from home
- The shift to a work-from-home culture combined with an overall reduction in consumer traffic due to COVID-19, particularly in the downtown core, has left a devastating impact on many businesses. The Chamber has expressed these concerns to both the federal and provincial government.
- In recognition that the shift to a work-from-home culture benefits some businesses and negatively impacts others, the Chamber has advocated for equal funding to support those who have been adversely affected by this transition.
Chamber Meets with Dr. Heather Morrison and Premier Dennis King
On September 28, Chamber President Colin Younker and CEO Penny Walsh-McGuire met with Dr. Heather Morrison and Premier Dennis King to discuss a range of topics. We thanked Dr. Morrison and Premier King for their leadership recognizing the unique place PEI and the rest of Atlantic Canada finds itself in at this time.
In our discussion, the Chamber presented a number of questions and concerns on behalf of our members, particularly those in the hardest-hit sectors. These included:
- The need for messaging from the CPHO and the Premier and a campaign to increase consumer confidence given the public health protocols in place.
- The need to look at options for increasing restaurants capacity to help those struggling while still ensuring social distancing.
- The need for funding to support those who have been hardest-hit by the pandemic and those adversely affected by the work-from-home transition.
- The need to support local businesses with additional shop local messages and shopping incentives as we move into the important holiday shopping season.
- The need to maximize opportunity this fall and winter within the Atlantic Bubble to bridge to a 2021 tourism season.
- The need for scenario planning and communications with industry as we look to the 2021 tourism season.
We would like to thank Premier King and Dr. Heather Morrison for their time and openness to the feedback we shared on behalf of our members. We will continue to provide updates to our members on these items and others.
Please note you can also find Chamber COVID-19 updates in our bi-weekly E-News. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to subscribe to our email list.
As your Chamber, we continue to advocate on your behalf during the COVID-19 recovery period. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
The Chamber team