November 23, 2020
For Immediate Release
Mississauga Board of Trade Objects to
Moving Peel To Grey – Lockdown Status
Mississauga, Ontario — Today the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) expressed its objection to moving the Peel Public Health Unit area into the Grey – Lockdown status as it will further hurt local business and lead to permanent business closings.
“The very businesses the Provincial Government is shutting down have not contributed to the COVID19 pandemic cases we are seeing today,” said David Wojcik, President & CEO, Mississauga Board of Trade. “The damage to these businesses will be severe and we expect some may not re-open when this is over.”
“Large public and private congregate settings, annual celebrations and people generally having disregard for the public health rules are the problem. Restaurants, retail stores, small businesses, entertainment facilities and related businesses did not cause this pandemic and they are not the cause of high numbers in Peel Region,” Mr. Wojcik said.
Further, MBOT remains disappointed that Mississauga continues to be lumped in to Peel Region numbers. Case numbers in Mississauga have been comparable to regions that continue to be in the Red or Orange zones but when combined with Brampton have skewed local numbers.
When MBOT wrote to Premier Ford on October 30, 2020 we called for an “activity based” analysis so that very low risk businesses can continue to be open. The Provincial Government ignored that advice and MBOT continues to be confused at how these decisions are being made.
As MBOT said in its October 30, 2020 news release, “the reality is that the new world means that businesses and the economy need to continue to operate in a COVID19 world with appropriate safeguards and measures in place. Prolonged shutdowns will not solve this problem.”
These are exactly the issues MBOT’s Mississauga Economic Recovery Group (MERG) intend to pursue, so science and statistics guide decisions.
With respect to financial support, MBOT urges both the Federal and Provincial Governments to get their programs up and running right away and ensure money flows to these businesses immediately.
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Media Contact:
David Wojcik
President and CEO
905-273-3527
About the Mississauga Board of Trade
Since being established in 1961, MBOT has played an important leadership role serving and representing the interests of business of all sizes and sectors in our community.
Mississauga is Canada’s sixth largest city and third largest in Ontario – with a population of close to 800,000 residents and over 50,000 businesses employing over 440,000 people, including 60 Fortune 500 Canadian headquarters. Mississauga is where successful companies choose to do business.
MBOT’s large, diverse and active membership has made us one of the most vibrant business associations in Canada.
As the “Voice of Business” we advocate on policy issues that impact local business at all levels of government and are influential in helping to shape policy decisions. MBOT also offers a wide variety of valuable business services and professional development programs, networking events and marketing opportunities, to help business grow, prosper, and get connected.
