August 24, 2020
 
Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
 
RE: Economic Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs
 
The economic impact on SMEs (small and medium enterprises) has been challenging.  While there are definitely businesses that are doing well, there are also businesses that are not doing very well at all. 
 
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce represents about 900 member businesses in the City and County of Peterborough.  These businesses are a diverse constituency ranging in size from very small to very large, from rural to urban settings, from zero employees to hundreds of employees, from those renting to those owning their buildings, from profit to not-for-profit.  
 
We are hearing their challenges which include:
 
1.Accessing the wage subsidy
2.Participating in the rent assistance program
3.Employees and business owners securing childcare
4.Extra cleaning protocols
5.Finding employees
6.Accessing broadband
 
Accessing the Wage Subsidy
The City and County of Peterborough are heavy tourism areas.  These businesses struggled to access the wage subsidy program as they were not open in the beginning.  Some have been able to do so now, but it’s a challenge with zero revenue coming in.   This is expected to be a challenge for our larger venue spaces – both private and not-for-profit are seeing insurance increases.
 
Participating in the Rent Assistance Program
One member in the property owner business acknowledged that the program has helped them and their tenants but stated that it was very cumbersome to apply for the rebate.   They felt while it was necessary to get the appropriate paperwork, a less cumbersome process would have led to increased take up of the program.
 
Employees and Business Owners Securing Childcare
Childcare has been challenging and there is continued concern about what it would mean for childcare options for working parents, should school-aged children have to return to the home environment.
 
Extra Cleaning Protocols
The cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) along with cleaning supplies has been a concern for many months.  Businesses are worried about the added ongoing cost.  Here’s what one member had to say: “Closing down all of the businesses cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in our store alone. Now with the city making masks mandatory, we have to expense masks to hand out to customers and hire extra staff to man the door to keep people out or hand them a mask.” 
 
This statement reveals that businesses have taken a significant hit since March and revenues have not returned so adding in the cost of cleaning and PPE is another stressor.  Many of the programs available for PPE use are being driven through the private sector through campaigns such as #CanadaUnited.
 
Another member expressed similar concerns:
“My business is in retail apparel. We had to shut down for 2 months, and business has been slow to return.

The financial impact of COVID-19 has been tremendous. Not only has there been a loss of revenue, there has also been an increase in costs, due to the measures which needed to be implemented upon re-opening. Some of these implementation costs have been one-time (ie. store signage) and some will be ongoing (ie. continual supply of PPE and cleaning solutions).

There is also the continuing issue of consumer confidence. Many consumers are avoiding stores for fear of COVID spread.”
 
Finding Employees
Recently, one member expressed that their manufacturing business was unable to secure employees at a $16/hour rate with the opportunity to move to $18+/hour after three months.  
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an issue that has plagued Peterborough and that is matching people with job postings.  Currently in the Peterborough area there are over 1000 job postings (https://www.wdb.ca/map/) and yet there are also there unable to find employment.  There is an ongoing effort to understand what the challenges are and identify a way forward that is productive.  Locally, the Peterborough has both private and not-for-profit employment agencies working with employers and potential employees.  Many of these service providers are working with new provincial contracts so it will be interesting to see if this has an impact on outcomes.
 
Accessing Broadband
The issue of access came barrelling to the forefront of infrastructure needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more businesses turning to online methods to sell goods and services, students using band with for school and many in the workforce working from home the need for improved broadband access has increased. Continued focus on broadband projects is welcomed.
 
Overall, COVID-19 has had an impact. Even if a business has been able to operate online or continue with curbside pick-up or delivery it doesn’t mean they are achieving revenues they were anticipating at the beginning of 2020.  Reopened doesn’t mean recovered.  It means on the road to recovery.  
 
We know certain industries will be the last ones out of the pandemic such as this member in the wedding and event industry: “Devastating impact. Thousands++ of dollars in lost revenue. Minimal work as most events cancelled or postponed. Limited income. Revenues still small as we cannot hold large events.”
 
We also know that the pandemic has led to exposing the cracks in our current institutions.  As another member told us, “This experience points to the need for a national strategy on basic income.  Additionally, the cost of hydro must remain static and there should be no increase for at least 2 years.”
 
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is asking that government:

1. Consider sector-specific relief programs targeting industries that have been particularly hard hit, and will continue to be, such as hospitality, tourism and performance spaces.
2. Build sliding scales into programs so that as a business recovers and their revenues go up their reliance on government programs goes down.
3. In the event of a second wave economic slow-down make program access as simple as possible.
4. Consider a tax deduction for cleaning and PPE supplies for the 2020 and 2021 tax years.

 
Thank you to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs for their work and information gathering on the impact of COVID-19.  Thank you for taking the time to read and listen to the submissions of the business community.  We hope that this information will continue to inform government decisions moving forward. 

Research consistently shows that women in the workforce, whether they be employees, business-owners or entrepreneurs, have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Chamber’s Council for Women’s Advocacy (CWA) aims to reverse that trend.

“As Canada begins planning its recovery from COVID-19, widespread job creation and sustained economic growth will require nothing less than the full participation of women in the workforce. This is not a women’s issue, it is an economic issue,” said Penny Wise, President, 3M Canada Company, and CWA co-chair.

“Through this evolving pandemic situation women have been at the forefront and burden of this change, affected across every aspect of their lives, from extended work hours to home-schooling to frontline caregiving,” said Kevin McCreadie, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, AGF Management Limited, and CWA co-chair. “We are at an inflection point in our re-openings where funding is needed now to create significant opportunities to foster an inclusive recovery. The actions we take today will help avoid worst case scenarios in the near future.”

The CWA was created to be a unifying national voice of the business community to drive action. It is focusing its initial efforts on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in three key areas for the short-term: facilitating safe, reliable and affordable childcare; supporting women’s entrepreneurship; and supporting job pivots for women.
The CWA is calling on the federal government to immediately realize the following five recommendations to support women, foster inclusive recovery and ensure sustained economic growth:

1. A safe return to school is a critical element of getting women back to work. The CWA calls for the government to build upon the July 2020 ‘safe restart’ initiative, and work with provinces and territories to ensure there are safe policies in place for a full-time return to school in September 2020. This plan should take into account international experiences and best practice to date.
2. Improved childcare options are a must-have to maximize women’s participation in the workforce. The CWA urges the federal government to augment and then expand the mandate of the Expert Panel on Early Learning and Child Care Data and Research. As part of this improvement, the government should:
   Add parent and business community representatives to the Expert Panel to ensure all pertinent stakeholders are at the table and make informed decisions and recommendations.
   Expand the mandate of the Expert Panel to include developing recommendations on tax incentives for both parents/guardians and childcare providers.  This could require transforming the Expert Panel into a National Secretariat by the end of the calendar year, with recommendations to follow shortly thereafter.
3. Extend eligibility for the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy to include hiring in-home childcare so business owners can return to work.
4. Track and break down data for federal funding and programming for businesses, similar to what has been done by Statistics Canada for individuals. This data should include specific measurements of female-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, but also their ratios of applications, rates of successful applications, and timing for funding received. This data should be used to inform improvements in funding and programming going forward.
5. Earmark recovery funding for upskilling and re-skilling women. As a significant and ground-breaking undertaking with a longer-term horizon, it is critically important to start and start now.

There are several programs specific to women entrepreneurs and those interested in starting their own business:

Women Breaking Barriers
Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas
Program: Two cohorts of 10 women aged 18 or older through six months (per cohort) of fast-tracked
programming and mentorship to reduce barriers for female founders to grow and scale their businesses.
innovationcluster.ca

RE3
Northumberland CFDC
Program: One-time, performance-based, and non-repayable funding of up to $5,000 for PPE, workspace reconfiguration & hardware/software upgrades
financingandstrategy.com/re3/

These last few months, Canadians have dealt with more stress than they could ever imagine. COVID-19 has added significant pressure to employers, employees and families, which has not only affected our physical health and economy, but our mental health too. One way to self-care is by prioritizing your mental health, which is why the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce are sharing some free mental health resources that you can use to help manage your anxiety and financial stress, as well as create a more mentally healthy work environment.

Managing Anxiety
From the pandemic itself to the start of reopening our country, many people are facing concerns that can be a high source of anxiety including worrying about risk of infection, new social expectations and the
adjustment of routines.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Guide to Managing Return Anxiety as the Lockdown Lifts identifies six areas:

1. Remember that feelings about returning vary Many aspects of re-entry will be perceived differently from person to person. While some will draw comfort from the increased social contact, others may experience heightened anxiety or dread when returning to social situations
2. Plan to renegotiate social norms The way we interact will look different than before the lockdown. Shared spaces will look different and get-togethers will be less frequent.
3. Continue following public health advice Public health guidelines offer useful parameters to help you feel confident in your decisions and ease back into the world safely.
4. Recognize that different settings may follow different paths People naturally compare themselves to others, but different settings may need to follow different paths in the re-entry phase.
5. Use gradual exposure techniques Exposure is considered the best evidence-based treatment for anxiety. Within public health guidelines, try slowly re-introducing yourself to situations that typically induce some anxiety, rather than confronting them all at once.
6. Monitor your symptoms of stress and anxiety In times of change and uncertainty, some degree of stress and anxiety are expected. It’s important to regularly monitor your feelings to determine whether you need extra support

Managing Financial Stress
If you’re feeling stressed about finances right now, you’re not alone. From uncertain employment to hard-hit investments, very few are immune to the new financial reality brought on by the pandemic.

Maintaining a Mentally Healthy Work Environment
Businesses also have a role to place in promoting self-care for their employees whether they are working in-person or remotely.

On the website for the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge they offer the following on how mental illnesses impact workers and workplaces.

“People who experience a mental illness may doubt their abilities or appear less confident. A person may have a hard time concentrating, learning, and making decisions. Symptoms of a mental illness may feed more serious thoughts. For example, someone who can’t concentrate may then also think that they can’t do their job well or worry about losing their job. It’s easy to see how these changes affect work performance.
Mental illnesses cost Canadian employers billions of dollars in absenteeism or sick days, “presenteeism” (coming to work, even when the employee can’t work well), disability and lost productivity.”

A local Peterborough company, The Staffing Connection recently launched a new program with a focus on mental health for their employees.

“The LIFT Support Program was created because we wanted to remind people that they are not alone, and that there are resources in the community and within the company to help them as they navigate challenging times. ” says Jeff Edwards, LIFT Support Coordinator.

You can also connect with your benefits provider as you may have access to certain resources.