{"id":17409,"date":"2021-12-22T01:08:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T01:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2021\/12\/22\/restaurants-plead-for-help-as-omicron-threatens-to-take-devastating-toll\/"},"modified":"2021-12-22T01:08:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T01:08:14","slug":"restaurants-plead-for-help-as-omicron-threatens-to-take-devastating-toll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2021\/12\/22\/restaurants-plead-for-help-as-omicron-threatens-to-take-devastating-toll\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurants plead for help as Omicron threatens to take devastating toll"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p> \n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> Retail &amp; Marketing <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> News <\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> FP Economy <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p class=\"article-subtitle\"> Ottawa &#8216;actively assessing&#8217; whether new measures needed in light of variant, Freeland&#8217;s office says <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"published-date\">\n<p>Publishing date:<\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"published-date__since\">Dec 21, 2021<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"updated-date__since\">December 21, 2021<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"published-date__word-count\">4 minute read<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>  <span class=\"comment-bubble\"> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M4,0 C2.93914,0 1.921718,0.421428 1.171572,1.171572 C0.421428,1.921718 0,2.93914 0,4 L0,24 L3.846,20.158 L4,20.16 L20,20.16 C21.0608,20.16 22.0782,19.73858 22.8284,18.98842 C23.5786,18.23828 24,17.22086 24,16.16 L24,4 C24,2.93914 23.5786,1.921718 22.8284,1.171572 C22.0782,0.421428 21.0608,0 20,0 L4,0 Z M2,4 C2,3.46956 2.21072,2.96086 2.58578,2.58578 C2.96086,2.21072 3.46956,2 4,2 L20,2 C20.5304,2 21.0392,2.21072 21.4142,2.58578 C21.7892,2.96086 22,3.46956 22,4 L22,16.16 C22,16.69044 21.7892,17.19914 21.4142,17.57422 C21.0392,17.94928 20.5304,18.16 20,18.16 L4,18.16 L3.048,18.126 L2,19.174 L2,4 Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span> 102 Comments  <\/span> <\/div><\/div>\n<figure class=\"featured-image\"><picture class=\"featured-image__ratio\"><\/picture><figcaption class=\"featured-image__caption image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">The Christmas season has become a nightmare for retailers and restaurants as mounting case counts have brought back the restrictions and worries many had hoped were gone for good after the lull in the virus over summer and fall. <\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Christinne Muschi\/Bloomberg<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Small businesses and restaurants in Canada are calling for more government support as fresh restrictions now being imposed to battle the Omicron variant of COVID-19 severely restrict their trade and new \u201cincredibly limited\u201d aid programs fall short.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" id=\"ad-2\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:600px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>In an open letter to Canadian premiers Tuesday the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Restaurants Canada pleaded for immediate help.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPut frankly, tens of thousands of small firms across Canada will receive no support from governments while government restrictions dramatically reduce their ability to serve customers and public health warnings frighten many consumers into staying home,\u201d the groups said.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement late Tuesday, a spokesperson for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland\u2019s office said the federal government is considering possible changes to support measures due to Omicron.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn light of the public health situation and new restrictions in a number of provinces, we are actively assessing if regulatory adjustments are needed to provide additional flexibility for the support measures contained in Bill C-2,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" id=\"ad-3\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Most provinces have now announced further capacity limits to restaurants and businesses; even in those that haven\u2019t, nervous consumers are cancelling reservations and going back to shopping online, the letter said.<\/p>\n<p>Ontario has limited indoor settings to 50 per cent capacity, including shops and restaurants. Bars and restaurants must close at 11 p.m., with the exception of take-out and delivery service. Quebec has shut down bars, casinos, theatres and gyms. Restaurants can serve at 50 per cent capacity during limited hours <strong>. <\/strong> On Tuesday, Nova Scotia added similar restrictions on dining and gym capacity.<\/p>\n<p>Olivier Bourbeau, vIce-pr\u00e9sident of Quebec and federal affairs at Restaurants Canada, said prior to the release of the Federal Government\u2019s statement that he doesn\u2019t think Ottawa will make it easier to qualify for aid. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been asking the Federal (government) to do so,\u201d he said, including seeking to move the threshold back to the 10 per cent that was in place for earlier wage and rent subsidies. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut they stick to their 40 per cent,\u201d Bourbeau said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCFIB and Restaurants Canada also reached out to all Premiers to support us in that demand,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<p>He said the organization is also asking that a Lockdown Support Program apply not only when businesses are fully closed, but with the current capacity limits in place in many provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-4\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Even before the Omicron outbreak, the sales of almost two-thirds of small businesses had not returned to normal, CFIB says. A quarter of those said their businesses could fail within the next six months.<\/p>\n<p>Government support programs, including those announced last week by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, are restricted to the hardest hit and don\u2019t fill all the gaps, according to the industry groups and those who work closely with the hospitality industry.<\/p>\n<p>Help from Ottawa is now \u201cincredibly limited,\u201d the CFIB said,\u00a0noting that data \u2014 even before Omicron \u2014 showed that 80 per cent of the small businesses that need help no longer qualify for aid.<\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel2410540311499757593617228501592657\" class=\"more-topic\" data-carousel-component=\"\" data-carousel-icon-button=\"\" data-carousel-type=\"list\"> <button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-prev\" data-carousel-prev=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"previous\" type=\"button\"\/> <\/p>\n<ol class=\"more-topic__items list-unstyled\" data-carousel-slide-list=\"\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said in an interview with Financial Post editor-in-chief Kevin Carmichael that additional supply disruptions could further stoke inflation.\n\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tiff-macklem-1217.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> Omicron hit likely short-lived but supply chains may suffer, says Bank of Canada governor <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"None\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/help-wanted-1215.jpeg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> Labour shortage threatens to become economy&#8217;s biggest bottleneck <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"more-topic__item\" data-carousel-item=\"\">  <picture class=\"more-topic__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"The World Economic Forum has postponed its annual meeting in Davos next month.\" class=\"lazyload\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80&ssl=1\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=96&strip=all&quality=80,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=192&strip=all&quality=80 2x,\n                                    https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/financialpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/wef-1220.jpg?h=288&strip=all&quality=80 3x\" width=\"96\"\/><\/picture>\n<h3 class=\"more-topic__item-text\"> <span class=\"more-topic__item-text-clamp\"> Omicron swiftly put an end to World Economic Forum&#8217;s Davos meeting in January <\/span> <\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><button aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"more-topic__button-next\" data-carousel-next=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" title=\"next\" type=\"button\"\/> <\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-5\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Under Ottawa\u2019s new programs, a restaurant that has lost 35 per cent of its revenue, and a retailer that has lost 45 per cent, will no longer receive support, according to the open letter.<\/p>\n<p>Federal \u201clockdown\u201d support is only available to businesses which have been almost completely shut down. If the business has had to restrict operations to 50 per cent, it is ineligible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore help is certainly needed as the current criteria for eligibility disqualify many restaurants,\u201d said Chad Finkelstein, a lawyer whose practice at Dale &amp; Lessmann LLP in Toronto is heavily focused on the restaurant industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen restrictions were previously lifted, many restaurants saw a few months of sales growth that now \u2014 in a sad, ironic twist \u2014 disqualify them from most support programs as a result,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-6\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Dan Kelly, head of the CFIB, told the Canadian Press that businesses are likely to have burned through reserves or cushions built up in periods when restrictions were loosened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny little glimmer of hope that many businesses saw at the end of this two-year tunnel is quickly being extinguished,\u201d he told the Canadian Press.<\/p>\n<p>The CFIB letter calls for the premiers to introduce a new round of provincial small business grants. They also asked the provinces to urge Ottawa to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Return wage and rent subsidies to spring of 2021 levels<\/li>\n<li>Revise extra lockdown supports so that businesses facing partial restrictions are included<\/li>\n<li>Reopen the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan program with a larger loan, a larger forgivable portion and delayed repayment requirements<\/li>\n<li>Ensure that new firms can qualify for all programs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Advertisement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-acceptable=\"\" data-ad-loc=\"1\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-acceptable\" style=\"--desktopHeight:250px;--mobileHeight:250px\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot1\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories4116012504843429586961148240317583\" class=\"newsletter-widget fp-headlinenews\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 75w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 100w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 150w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 240w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 320w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 500w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 640w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 800w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg 1600w\" alt=\"Top Stories Newsletter logo\" class=\"newsletter-widget__logo newsletter-widget__logo--FP_HeadlineNews\" height=\"80\" loading=\"lazy\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/9.2.3\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg\" width=\"97\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"FinancialPostTopStories4116012504843429586961148240317583\">Financial Post Top Stories<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. 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