Fort Rouge small businesses need more support than offered

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2021 (846 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fort Rouge is home to so many great restaurants and lively gyms.

We’ve got the Oxbow, Cornerstone, Carlos & Murphy’s, Vera Pizzeria and the Oakwood Cafe, to name just a few. And then there are the amazing gyms that help so many of us stay physically and mentally fit – McDole’s, Anytime Fitness, Don’t Survive Thrive Academy, and many more.

Last month’s new health orders allowed some Manitoba businesses to re-open but our local restaurant and gym owners are still struggling.

The government needs to step up now to help these businesses make it through the pandemic so they can continue to provide good jobs, physical activity and wonderful dining experiences in Fort Rouge for years to come.

Helping small businesses survive the pandemic is good for families and good for the economy. We know that big multinational corporations will survive the pandemic. It’s the small, family-owned businesses in our neighbourhoods that need immediate support.

But the Pallister government has failed to listen to Manitoba business owners. Its support programs have been insufficient, overly complicated, and have left out people who desperately need help.

We are calling on the government to make these programs more accessible, increase funding and extend the time frame.

One simple way to do this is to extend the Bridge Grant Program for as long as small businesses are forced to operate at reduced capacities.

The government needs to work harder to communicate clearly with businesses so they can adapt to changing health restrictions.

While big box stores with established online platforms can quickly adapt to new health orders, our local gyms and restaurants need more time and more clarity from the government to transition to new business models.

As part of our public health response to the pandemic, we need to vaccinate Manitobans as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.

But so far the Pallister government’s vaccine rollout has been slow, chaotic, and full of mistakes.

Our NDP caucus will keep pushing for more transparency and efficiency when it comes to the immunization campaign so that we can someday get back to doing the things we love and enjoying the amazing local establishments Fort Rouge has to offer.

The NDP caucus will continue to advocate for a fast and effective vaccine rollout and for Manitobans to get the supports they need.

Contact my office anytime at 204-615-1922 or email me at wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca