Good Morning All,
I just had a 90 minute meeting with some of our fellow BIAs and John Kiru from TABIA. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a plan to fight for a modified restructuring to the current lock-down.
Here's what we're looking at:
1. Tonight TABIA is having their AGM and Mayor Tory will be up first - we will be pressing him to consider modifying the current restrictions to allow small business retailers to allow By-Appointment shopping - meaning one or two customers in a shop. We decided on this tactic because we think it may be the best one to succeed - it's at least worth a try.
2. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we have our weekly TABIA meeting and first up is Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, Provincial Minister for Small Business and Red Tape.
We will be pushing him on the following:
- We want to know sooner than Dec. 20 if this current lock-down will be extended
- We want him to agree to our modified proposal for retailers
- We need to have the Provincial gov't enact a moratorium on commercial evictions
3. Small Businesses to Take A Stand - Literally
We are proposing that all small business owners (retailers, restaurants, salons, dance studios etc) in the City take a stand this coming Friday, December 11th at noon.
We are asking business owners to stand outside their business with a sign that says any or all of the following:
- I've been in business for x years
- I employ x number of people
- Shop Local
- You can add something else if you like
We are asking that you each agree to make a sign, stand in front of your business from noon to
to 12:30pm this Friday.
We will push this out to all of our media contacts and we will take photos that we can all use on our social media platforms.
The visual impact of this is extremely strong and one that can't be easily ignored by our government officials and the general public. It is also a strong back-up to the items listed above that we're pushing for with Mayor Tory and Minister Sarkaria.
If you are willing to do this could you please email me and let me know that you're in and will take a stand - literally.
Thanks,
Susan