Orillia business owners who had organized a demonstration to protest the regional lockdown are welcoming news that restrictions are going to be eased, but they say the damage has been done.
Melanie Robinson, owner of Eclectic Café, and Max Lamontagne, owner of Lone Wolf Café, had planned to hold a demonstration Friday afternoon in front of Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop’s office. A couple of hours before it was set to begin, it was announced Simcoe County and Muskoka would return to the red (control) zone on Monday, so the protest was called off.
“I’m not surprised (about moving to the red zone) because of the backlash they got from people,” said Lamontagne. “I just wish they weren’t milking it until Monday.”
He is among many local business owners who have spoken out against the most recent lockdown — the third in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic began — saying it unfairly targets small businesses.
“Why are big box stores still open when they have (COVID-19) cases?” Lamontagne asked, pointing out there have been several cases reported at Walmart locations in Barrie. “They’re throwing us under the bus when we’re not responsible for the numbers.”
He’s cautiously optimistic about returning to the red zone, but he’s not getting too comfortable.
“If they don’t start making decisions backed by data, we’re going to be in the same position in a few weeks,” he said.
Robinson said she is “not confident that we won’t be put back into lockdown because the government’s decision making so far hasn’t made us confident.”
While she’s excited to welcome customers back for indoor dining, “it’s still frustrating.”
“With the up-and-down procedures, it’s expensive to keep opening and closing,” she said.
The current lockdown was announced on a Friday afternoon, and Robinson had already placed her product orders. She donated what she could, but she took a financial hit.
“I’m going to incur more costs to reopen with more staff and products while walking on eggshells, wondering if we’re going to be in lockdown again,” she said.
She thanked everyone in the region who spoke out about the effects of the lockdown on small businesses.
“The actions of small-business owners in Simcoe-Muskoka have really shone a light on the issue,” she said.
In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Simcoe County Warden George Cornell called the impending move to the red zone “welcome news.”
“This change in status recognizes the strong message that came from our business community, many residents and our municipalities that requested a balanced approached to support businesses and industry, while still safeguarding public health,” he said.
He also thanked Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), MPPs and the province “for taking the collective input of our regional partners into consideration.”
“This responsible decision supports the wellbeing of our residents, and the livelihoods of so many of our small business owners and their employees,” Cornell said.
“Now is not the time to let down our guard,” he continued. “It is essential that we continue to follow all public health guidelines and respect the concerns of the SMDHU regarding variant spread and the potential impacts of a third wave. Broader vaccination is on the way, and we encourage all our residents to consider being vaccinated once it is made available to you.”
